Customizing Individual Parts of Controls and Indicators

All controls and indicators in LabVIEW are built from smaller parts. You can use the Control Editor to customize controls and indicators at the level of these individual components.

For example, the following illustration shows the individual parts of a slide control.

Figure 9. Individual Parts of Control
Diagram showing parts of a slide control, including name label, pixel increment, housing, digital display, slider, fill, cosmetic part, unit label, pixel decrement, and scale.

In customize mode, the Control Editor shows all parts of the control or indicator, including any parts that are hidden in edit mode, such as the name label or the radix on a numeric control. Because the parts of the control or indicator are detached from each other, you cannot operate or change the value of the control or indicator while in customize mode.

You can also use the Control Parts window within the Control Editor to size and position the individual parts of a control or indicator. The Control Parts window identifies the parts of the control or indicator and shows the exact position and size of each part in pixels. When you move or resize a part in the Control Editor window, LabVIEW updates the position and size in the Current Part and Part Position and Dimensions sections of the Control Parts window.

To use customize mode of the Control Editor to customize individual parts of a control or indicator, complete the following steps.

  1. Open the Control Editor: Accessing the Control Editor.
  2. Switch to customize mode in the Control Editor window: click Edit mode icon with a wrench symbol..
    The icon changes to Customize mode icon with a tweezer symbol.. In customize mode, the parts of the control or indicator become independent. You can make changes to each part without affecting any other part.
  3. Customize individual parts of the control or indicator.
    OptionDescription
    Rearrange multiple parts
    1. Use the Positioning tool to select two or more parts of the control or indicator.
    2. Rearrange the parts with the Align Objects, Distribute Objects, and Reorder pull-down menus on the toolbar.
    Size and position the individual parts of a control or indicator
    1. Select Window » Show Parts Window.

      The Control Parts window appears.

    2. Customize individual parts of the control or indicator:
      • Display and select among all the parts of the control or indicator: Click the Current Part display.

        The Current Part section of the Control Parts window contains an image and the name of the part you selected in the Control Editor window.

      • Scroll through the parts of the control or indicator: Click the Current Part increment or decrement arrow.
      • Set specific size and position values:
        1. Enter the position and size values directly in the Part Position and Dimensions section.
        2. Press Enter or click the left mouse button for the changes to take effect.