The front panel Controls palette provides LabVIEW controls and indicators for building user interfaces for VIs. Use controls to define how users interact with a VI, and use indicators to display data to users of the VI.

Table 2. LabVIEW Subpalettes for Front Panel Controls and Indicators shows the subpalettes on the Controls palette. Use the subpalettes to choose controls and indicators to build the front panel for your LabVIEW application.

Note The availability of front panel controls and indicators might vary depending on the subpalette style you choose. Refer to the Modern, Silver, System, or Classic subpalette in LabVIEW to see which front panel controls and indicators are available for each.
Table 2. LabVIEW Subpalettes for Front Panel Controls and Indicators
Subpalette Description
Data Containers
  • Use array and cluster controls and indicators to group data elements in unsorted order.
  • Use set or map controls and indicators to group unique data elements in sorted order.
  • Use matrix controls and indicators to enter and display matrix data.
Boolean Use Boolean controls and indicators to enter and display TRUE/FALSE value with buttons, switches, and lights.
Layout Use layout controls and indicators to group other controls and indicators or to display the front panel of another VI on the front panel of the current VI.
Decorations Use decorations to graphically group or separate front panel objects without affecting the functionality of the VI. Decorations include objects such as boxes, lines, or arrows.
Graph Use graph and chart indicators to plot and display numeric data.
I/O Use I/O name controls and indicators to to communicate with an instrument or a device. I/O name controls and indicators pass names that are associated with I/O hardware configurations to I/O VIs.
List, Table & Tree
  • Use list and tree controls and indicators to give users lists of items from which to select.
  • Use tables to display strings of data in columns and rows.
Numeric Use numeric controls and indicators to enter and display numeric data.
Refnum Use refnum controls and indicators to reference files, directories, devices, and network connections.
Ring & Enum Use ring and enumerated (enum) controls and indicators to create a list of items for the end user to select from.
  • Ring controls and indicators support only the numeric data type.
  • Enumerated controls and indicators support the numeric data type alongside a corresponding string.
String & Path
  • Use string controls and indicators to enter or display text.
  • Use path controls and indicators to enter or return file or directory paths.
Variant & Class Use variant and class controls and indicators to interact with variant and object-oriented data.