Configure attributes of controls and indicators to change how objects appear or behave. You can configure many options interactively, and you can configure some options or behavior programmatically.

You can use the shortcut menu or the Properties dialog box or to interactively configure attributes of controls and indicators.

  • The shortcut menu exposes the full set of configuration options.
  • The Properties dialog box exposes a subset of configuration options across multiple tabs.

To configure controls and indicators, complete the following steps.

  1. Access the configuration options.
    Tip To perform a common operation on multiple objects simultaneously, you can select all of the objects.
    OptionDescription
    Configure with the shortcut menu Right-click the control or indicator.
    Configure with the Properties dialog box Right-click the control or indicator and select Properties.

    You cannot display Properties dialog boxes while a VI runs.
  2. Select among the available options.
    The following options are common to the shortcut menus of all controls and indicators. Properties exposes a subset of these options across multiple tabs.

    If you selected multiple objects, LabVIEW displays only the configuration options that apply to all of the objects.

    OptionDescription
    Visible Items Lists the parts of an object you can choose to hide or show, such as the name label and the caption.
    Find Terminal Highlights the block diagram terminal for the control or indicator.

    Use this option to identify a specific object on a complex block diagram.
    Change to Indicator, Change to Control Changes the current object to a control or indicator.
    Description and Tip Displays a dialog box where you can enter and view object descriptions and tips for using the object.
    Create Creates a local variable, reference, property node, or invoke node to control various properties of the object programmatically.
    Replace Replaces the front panel object with a different control or indicator without losing all of the editing options you applied to the object up to that point.
    Data Operations » Reinitialize to Default Value Sets the control to its default value.

    You can also use the Reinitialize To Default method to reinitialize a control to its default value programmatically.
    Data Operations » Make Current Value Default Makes the current value of the control its new default value.

    You can also use the Default Values:Make Current Default method to set the default value of all front panel controls programmatically.
    Data Operations » Cut Data, Copy Data, and Paste Data Cuts, copies, or pastes the contents of a front panel object.

    Because LabVIEW saves the data you cut or copied in the clipboard, you can paste the data outside LabVIEW.
    Advanced » Synchronous Display Displays every update. Use this feature to display animations.

    You can also use the Synchronous Display property to set this option programmatically.
    Advanced » Customize Displays the Control Editor window, which you can use to customize front panel objects.
    Advanced » Hide Control or Hide Indicator Hides the front panel object from view.

    To access a hidden object, right-click the block diagram terminal and select Show Control or Show Indicator.

    You can also hide and reveal controls and indicators programmatically.
    Advanced » Enabled State Determines whether an object is enabled, disabled, or disabled and dimmed.