Design a VI front panel that is clear and easy to use. Group related controls and indicators, use decorations and whitespace, avoid overlapping objects, and use consistent labels and alignment tools for a uniform layout.

The main components of the front panel are controls and indicators. Use the following guidelines to design the front panel to serve as a user interface:

  • Consider how users interact logically with the VI. Group controls and indicators accordingly.
  • Place related controls in clusters or add decorative borders around them.
  • To group or separate objects with boxes, lines, or arrows, use the decorations located on the Decorations palette for a front panel control style.
  • Leave blank space between objects to make the front panel easier to read. Blank space also prevents users from accidentally clicking the wrong control or button.
  • Avoid placing objects on top of other objects. Partially covering a control or indicator with a label or other object slows down screen updates and can make the control or indicator flicker.
  • Assign specific names to buttons such as Start, Stop, and Save. Use common terminology.
  • Use the Align Objects () and Distribute Objects () pull-down menus to create a uniform layout.