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LabVIEW UI Tips and Tricks

LabVIEW UI Tips and Tricks. Agenda. Definitions, rules and advice (not LabVIEW specific, but important) Some cool UI techniques for LabVIEW (and why you would consider using them in your application) Where to go to download some reusable components (because everybody loves free stuff).

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LabVIEW UI Tips and Tricks

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  1. LabVIEW UI Tips and Tricks

  2. Agenda • Definitions, rules and advice(not LabVIEW specific, but important) • Some cool UI techniques for LabVIEW(and why you would consider using them in your application) • Where to go to download some reusable components(because everybody loves free stuff)

  3. What is a UI? • Literally: User Interface • How user interacts with program • First thing user notices • Make the user’s job easier • Don’t be frustrating

  4. UI and Usability UI Superfluous eye candy Visual elements that help the user perform a task in an efficient manner Background Task or Process Usability

  5. Some General Rules • Don’t be innovative • Less is more • Think About Your User

  6. 1. Don’t Be Innovative Use familiar elements • Buttons • Icons • Terminology • Dialogs • Menus

  7. 1. Don’t Be Innovative Still some license for creativity • Don’t change the way similar looking things behave • Polish, don’t reinvent

  8. 2. Less is More • Too much on screen at once is distracting • Allow your user to focus on what is important

  9. 3. Think About Your User • They probably don’t know as much as you • Explain what buttons do • Keep them informed about what your program is doing • Know how the user plans on using your application • Mouse, Keyboard? • Touch Screen  Large Buttons • Outdoors  High Contrast

  10. Let’s Take a Look at Some UIs • Windows Desktop App • Small Touch Screen App • Informative Kiosk Display

  11. Windows Desktop App

  12. Applying the Rules Desktop Windows Application

  13. Use Appropriate Controls You can change your default type in Tools»Options»Front Panel

  14. Add Decals to Buttons

  15. Add Decals to Buttons - Demo

  16. Tooltips

  17. Tooltips - Demo

  18. Recolor Graphs

  19. Recolor Graphs - Demo

  20. Hide the LabVIEW Toolbar

  21. Hide the LabVIEW Toolbar - Demo

  22. Customizing the Run-Time Menu

  23. Customizing the Run-Time Menu - Demo

  24. Spawning Dialogs

  25. Spawning Dialogs - Demo

  26. Using Panes Title Area Menu / Commands Expandable Content Area Status Bar

  27. Using Panes – Demo

  28. Hiding Panes

  29. Status Bar

  30. Busy Cursors

  31. Busy Cursors - Demo

  32. Keeping the User Updated

  33. Small Touch Screen App

  34. Applying the Rules Small Touch Screen

  35. Tab Controls • Tab controls are a familiar way to put more information on a screen than would otherwise fit • Since the tabs themselves can be hidden and changed programmatically they are also useful for some less obvious UI techniques

  36. “Hidden” Tab Controls Sliding Tab Control Main Content Tab Control

  37. Sliding a Control – Move.vi • Moves an object to the Desired Position • Moving half the remaining distance in each loop iteration gives a natural sliding appearance

  38. Putting It Together When the Menu Button is clicked slide the invisible tab control into view. Store the old position of the menu so we can slide it back. When a new view is selected, change the Main Content Tab Control to the selected page Again, store the old position of the menu so we can slide it back.

  39. Informative Kiosk Display

  40. Applying the Rules Informative Console Display

  41. Panel Background

  42. Panel Background - Demo

  43. Create Decorations in PowerPoint

  44. Create Decorations in PowerPoint - Demo

  45. Transparent Indicators

  46. Transparent Indicators - Demo

  47. Transparent PNGs in a Picture Ring

  48. Transparent PNGs in a Picture Ring - Demo

  49. Heavily Customized Controls

  50. Free Stuff - UI Interest Group http://decibel.ni.com/content/groups/ui

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