Use tab controls in LabVIEW to overlap multiple sets of front panel controls and indicators in a smaller area.

A tab control comprises pages and tabs:

  • Page—Area of a tab control that accommodates controls and indicators.
  • Tab—Area of a tab control that identifies each page and selects the constituent pages.

    • Add front panel objects to the pages of the tab control and use the tab as the selector to display each page.

    On the block diagram, the tab control is an enumerated control or indicator.

    • As a control, you can pass the value of the active page to other block diagram nodes.
    • As an indicator, you can wire nodes to control which page is displayed.

    You do not need to wire the tab control terminal for the tab control to operate.

    To create a tab control, complete the following steps.

    1. Add a tab control to the front panel window (Controls » Style » Layout).
    2. Switch between pages of the tab control in either of the following ways:
      • Use the Operating tool to click the tab for the page you want.
      • Right-click a tab and select Swap Pages or Go To Other Page.
    3. Add any front panel objects to the active page.
      A page is active when the tab for that page is flush with the page and the objects on the page are visible.
      Tip When you add objects to a tab control page, frequently go to the block diagram window and arrange the newly added terminals. When you add several objects to a tab control, the terminals on the block diagram can become cluttered.
      Tip You can wire the enumerated control terminal of the tab control to the selector of a Case Structure to produce cleaner block diagrams. With this approach, you associate each page of the tab control with a subdiagram in the Case Structure. You add the control and indicator terminals from each page of the tab control—as well as the block diagram nodes and wires associated with those terminals—into the subdiagrams of the Case Structure.

      If you need a component of a VI to run continuously, even when its controls are hidden, do not use a Case Structure, because the structure executes only one case at a time.

      Terminals for controls and indicators you add to the tab control appear as any other block diagram terminal.
    4. Rename tabs by double-clicking on the tab label and entering a new name.