LabVIEW Basics

Overview
• LabVIEW modules are broken down into Visual 
modules are broken down into Visual
Instruments (VIs).
• The Front Panel provides the GUI front end to 
The Front Panel provides the GUI front end to
the program.
• The Block Diagram
Th Bl k Di contains the logic behind 
i h l i b hi d
the scenes connecting the Front Panel 
components.
 Front Panel
Front Panel
• Contains input and output elements
Contains input and output elements
– Ex. Dial, switches, thermostat, speedometer
• Very easy to create front ends.
Very easy to create front ends
 Block Diagram
Block Diagram
• Flow of data in LabVIEW is done by connecting 
blocks together with wires.
 Running Code
Running Code
• There are two options for running code:
There are two options for running code:
– Run (arrow): 
• code
code executes through once.
executes through once
• The inputs will flow though wires to the outputs one 
time.
– Run Continuous (two arrows looping around): 
• Code executes repeatedly.
• Input ‐> output flow executes over and over.
 Highlighting Execution
Highlighting Execution
• The
The light bulb
light bulb
• Shows the flow and values of data through the 
wires.
wires
• Code runs slowly, shows that a block will not 
generate output until it receives all inputs.
il i i ll i
 Basic Arithmetic
Basic Arithmetic
• There are many built
There are many built‐in
in functions (VIs)
functions (VIs)
 Cases
• Condition
Condition for the case statement is wired to 
for the case statement is wired to
the ‘?’
• There is a different tab for each possible case.
There is a different tab for each possible case
 While Loops
While Loops
• Everything
Everything in the while block will execute 
in the while block will execute
continuously as long as the condition is true.