Lab 1: Introduction to LabVIEW Environment

Objective:
Understanding LabVIEW environment.

Keywords:
Front panel Virtual interface (VI) Control palette Indicator
Block diagram Function palette Control Constant

Procedure:

1. Click on the LabVIEW icon on your desktop and you will have an interactive app opened on
your desktop/laptop screen as shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 1: LabVIEW initial page has two options; either you can open a new VI/new project or import an existing one. Your task is
to click on the blank VI

Figure 2 The two window panels of a VI. 1 is the block diagram and 2 is the front panel

By Rabya Bahadur
 2. The basic working interface of LabVIEW is referred to as a VI (Virtual Interface). A VI is has two
pages, i.e., Front Panel window & Block Diagram window. When you select a Blank VI the
following windows will be observed as provided in Fig. 2. The front panel is responsible for input
and output referred to as control and indicators, respectively. While the block diagram is
responsible for the process from input to output. Both the windows are internally connected.
3. To work simultaneously on both windows and observe the effect of one on another, both the
windows need to be visualized together. Click on Windows tab on either of the front panel
window or block diagram window, then choose either Tile Left and Right or Tile Up and Down,
as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 Choose whether you want to have both windows visualized in horizontal or vertical stack view.

Figure 4 By right clicking on the front panel you can explore the control panel where each icon can be explored in detail further.

By Rabya Bahadur
 4. To generate an input, right click on the front panel window and you will observe a control panel.
This control panel enables you to choose different kind of inputs (controls) and outputs
(indicators). You have multiple controls/ indicators options such as Numeric, String, Boolean or
Graphical. Explore the control panel for further information, a general knowhow development
diagram as shown in Fig.4.
5. If you right click on the block diagram, you will be able to view a function palette, it can also be
accessed from the View tab on the block diagram as shown in Fig. 5. This function palette gives
you access to multiple processes, that will be discussed in detail during the lab demonstration.
Feel free to access and explore this palette as its your key to LabVIEW programming.

Figure 5 Providing a procedure for accessing function palette

6. Some execution buttons and additional icons are provided in Table 1 for your assistance.

Table 1 Basic icons used in a VI

Icons Tasks
One time run
Continuously Execute
Stop Execution
Help
Clean my diagram
Search

7. Pay attention to the Lab Demonstration by your Lab Instructor/ Lab Engineer and develop the
following given task.

Task:

By Rabya Bahadur
Develop a convertor that takes time in seconds as an input and produces a combination of days, hours,
minutes, and seconds (hint: single numeric control and four numeric indicators).

Note: Submit your solution in next Lab in a hardcopy, you are required to maintain your lab manual very
strictly as Lab Manual maintenance is 20% of your final evaluation. CLO1 is evaluated on your punctuality
of class attendance as well as timely submission of report. CLO2 is evaluated during the Lab based on your
participation as well as task achievement. CLO3 is assessed on the basis of your report submission as well
as your programming expertise.

Lab Assessment:
CLO1 CLO2 CLO4
A3-(20%) P4-(40%) C4-(40%)

Course Instructor Signatures: _________________________

By Rabya Bahadur