Opens the front panel window. If the front panel is already open, this method changes the state of the front panel window to the state you wire to this method.

Use the Front Panel:Close method to close the front panel window.

You also can use the Front Panel Window:State property to set the state of a front panel window that is already open.

Parameters

Name Data type Required Description
Activate? cbool.png No

If FALSE (default), the front panel window does not open as the active window. If TRUE, the front panel window opens as the active window.
State cenum.png No

Sets the state in which to open the front panel window.

0Invalid—If you set the input to this value, the method returns an error.
1Standard (default)—Opens the front panel window but does not minimize, maximize, or hide the window.
2Closed—If you set the input to this value, the method returns an error.
3Hidden—Opens the front panel window as floating but not visible. If you set the input to this value and close all references to the front panel, the window remains open but hidden. Because the VI is open, the Getting Started window does not appear. To solve this problem, open the VI from the operating system. For example, on Windows, double-click the VI in Windows Explorer to open the VI.
4Minimized—Opens the front panel window as minimized.
5Maximized—Opens the front panel window as maximized.

Remarks

The following table lists the characteristics of this method.

Short Name FP.Open
Data type No return value
Available in Run-Time Engine Yes
Available in Real-Time Operating System Yes
Settable when the VI is running Yes
Loads the front panel into memory No
Need to authenticate before use No
Loads the block diagram into memory No
Remote access allowed Yes
Must wait until user interface is idle No
Available with control VIs Yes
Available with global VIs Yes
Available with strict type definitions No
Available with polymorphic VIs Yes

Examples

Refer to the following example files included with LabVIEW.

  • labview\examples\Application Control\VI Server\VI Properties\VI Properties - Front Panel States.vi