Lesson 4

Using Loops
Recognize the different components of a LabVIEW loop
structure and apply a For Loop or a While Loop
appropriately
A. Loops Review D. Timing a VI
B. While Loops E. Data Feedback in Loops
C. For Loops F. Plotting Data

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 LESSON 4 Using Loops

A. Loops Review
Recognize loop structures and explain how to use them.

• While Loops—Review
• For Loops—Review
• For Loop/While Loop Comparison

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A. Loops Review

While Loops—Review

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A. Loops Review

For Loops—Review

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A. Loops Review

For Loop/While Loop Comparison

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LESSON 4 Using Loops

Activity 4-1
While Loops vs. For Loops

Review four scenarios and determine the best type of loop to use for each one.

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 LESSON 4 Using Loops

B. While Loops
Recognize tunnels and explain their purpose on a loop
structure and demonstrate how to use error checking and
error handling inside a loop.
• Tunnels
• Error Checking and Error Handling

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B. While Loops

Tunnels

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B. While Loops

Error Checking and Error Handling

Stop the While Loop if an error

occurs.

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 LESSON 4 Using Loops

Exercise 4-1
Pass Data Through Tunnels

Use a While Loop and an iteration terminal and pass data through a tunnel.

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 LESSON 4 Using Loops

Exercise 4-1
Pass Data Through Tunnels

How many times is the Number of Iterations indicator updated? Why?

Why do we include the Increment function?

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 LESSON 4 Using Loops

C. For Loops
Demonstrate how to add a conditional terminal to a For Loop and
describe how numeric conversion occurs on the For Loop count
terminal.

• Conditional Terminal
• Count Terminal Numeric Conversion

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C. For Loops

Conditional Terminal

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C. For Loops

Count Terminal Numeric Conversion

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 LESSON 4 Using Loops

D. Timing a VI
Identify scenarios that require loop timing and apply the
appropriate function.

• Reasons to Use Timing

• Wait Functions and Express VIs

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D. Timing a VI

Why do you need timing in a VI?

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D. Timing a VI

Wait Functions Inside a Loop

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D. Timing a VI

Wait Function Timing

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D. Timing a VI

Elapsed Time Express VI

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LESSON 4 Using Loops

Demonstration
Wait Chart VI

Compare and contrast using a Wait function and the Elapsed Time
Express VI for software timing.

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 LESSON 4 Using Loops

E. Data Feedback in Loops

Apply shift registers when appropriate and predict the
correct value at different iterations of the loop.

• Introduction to Shift Registers

• Using Shift Registers
• Creating Shift Registers

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E. Data Feedback in Loops

Introduction to Shift Registers

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 LESSON 4 Using Loops

Multimedia Module
Using Shift Registers

• Shift Registers • Default for Unwired Values

• Initializing Shift Registers • Compound Shift Registers

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LESSON 4 Using Loops

Demonstration
Creating Shift Registers

Create shift registers and convert existing tunnels to shift registers.

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 LESSON 4 Using Loops

Exercise 4-2
Calculating Average
Temperature
Use a While Loop and shift registers to average data.

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 LESSON 4 Using Loops

Exercise 4-2
Calculating Average
Temperature
You calculated the average of the last 5 temperature readings. How would you
modify the VI to calculate the average of the last 10 temperature readings?

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 LESSON 4 Using Loops

F. Plotting Data
Use data feedback in a loop to plot waveform charts.

• Waveform Chart
• Waveform Chart Properties

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F. Plotting Data

Waveform Chart

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F. Plotting Data

Waveform Chart Properties

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 LESSON 4 Using Loops

Exercise 4-3
Temperature Monitor VI—Plot
Multiple Temperatures
Plot multiple data sets on a single waveform chart and customize the chart
view.

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 LESSON 4 Using Loops

Exercise 4-3
Temperature Monitor VI—Plot
Multiple Temperatures
In what ways do the following tools allow the user to interact with the plot?
• Plot Legend

• Graph Palette

• Scale Legend

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LESSON 4 Using Loops

Activity 4-2
Lesson Review

Refer to the participant guide to answer questions about what you have learned
in this lesson and then discuss the answers as a group.

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Lesson Review

1. Which structure must run at least one

time?
a. For Loop
b. While Loop

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Lesson Review

1. Which structure must run at least one

time?
a. For Loop
b. While Loop

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