Differences between LabVIEW and G Web Development Software

Learn the differences between LabVIEW and G Web Development Software so that you can identify the areas in your application that may change during conversion.

The following table lists terminology differences between LabVIEW and G Web Development Software.

Note This table is not an exhaustive list of all terminology differences between LabVIEW and G Web Development Software.
LabVIEW G Web Development Software
Application Directory Relative Paths
Unbundle By Name/Bundle By Name (Clusters) Cluster Properties
CTL (Strict Typedef) Type Definitions
Formula Node No equivalent behavior.
Global Variable No equivalent behavior.
LabVIEW Class No equivalent behavior.
Local Variable Duplicate Terminal
Get Waveform Components Waveform Properties
VI Server Panel Manipulation

The following table lists behaviors in G Web Development Software that differ from LabVIEW.

Note This table is not an exhaustive list of all behavioral differences between LabVIEW and G Web Development Software for which you may need to modify your application or settings when migrating code.
LabVIEW G Web Development Software
Build Specification - Installer Package or Package Installer
Call Library Function Node JavaScript Library Interface
CTL (Control Definition) No equivalent behavior.
CTL (Typedef) Type Definition
Creating Actors and Messages with Actor Framework No equivalent behavior.
DataSocket API No equivalent behavior. See Communicating Data with a Web Application for more information about other networking APIs.
Express VIs SubVIs
Flattening and Unflattening to Binary No equivalent behavior. Consider using To Variant and Variant to Data VIs for compatible use cases.
Invoke Nodes Invoke nodes are replaced with VIs that have corresponding behavior.
MathScript No equivalent behavior.
Merge Errors Retain First Error behaves similarly. Consider using Multiplex Errors for handling multiple errors on the same wire.
.NET Constructor Nodes and Invoke Nodes No equivalent behavior. See JavaScript Library Interface for more information about calling JavaScript libraries.
Packed Project Libraries No equivalent behavior.
Polymorphic VIs An overload VI or a multi-mode element.
Sub-panels No equivalent behavior.
String Encoding The string data type is UTF-8.
Note

Casting other data types, such as binary, to a string may cause unexpected behavior when displaying or manipulating the string.

Tree Control Tree Control
VI Package Manager Use NI Package Manager for distributing and updating both source code and deployed applications.
XControls No equivalent behavior.

The following table lists common keyboard shortcuts that differ between LabVIEW and G Web Development Software.

Note This table is not an exhaustive list of keyboard shortcuts that differ between LabVIEW and G Web Development Software.
Command LabVIEW G Web Development Software
Create branch from wire Click near a wire Hold Ctrl to change to the wiring cursor while hovering over a wire (Default preference setting, which you can change.)
Create constants for all unwired inputs <Ctrl-Space> then <Ctrl-Shift-D> <Ctrl-M>
Create constants for required unwired inputs No equivalent behavior. <Ctrl-Shift-M>
Go through case/event structures on diagram <Ctrl-Scroll Wheel> <Ctrl-Shift-Scroll Wheel>
Insert on wire <Ctrl-Space> then <Ctrl-I> Right-click on wire and select or search for new VI. Error wires automatically connected if applicable.
Pan on canvas <Ctrl-Shift-Drag> <Space-Drag>
Remove wire and rewire <Ctrl-Space> then <Ctrl-R> <Ctrl-Del>
Replace object <Ctrl-Space> then <Ctrl-P> Right-click on VI and select a new VI.
Show Panel and Diagram in separate windows Default Right-click on Panel/Diagram switcher or document tab and select Float in new window.
Show/hide panes <Ctrl-\> <Ctrl-T>
Wire objects <Ctrl-Space> then <Ctrl-W> <Ctrl-J>