Engineering Computations with LabVIEWArithmetic VI Unit
Arithmetic VI Unit Review
After watching the screencasts from the Arithmetic VI unit and creating the associated VI, you should be able to answer the following questions. Because we will be introducing LabVIEW topics in the context of programming projects, we will typically cover a number of topics in each lesson. It is important that you take time to process the information from each unit before moving on to the next unit. Investing a little time to answer these questions thoroughly will pay off as you move through the units that follow. Your answers to these questions can serve as great study notes for the tests that will follow! The ultimate goal of this assignment is for you to become familiar with and understand the LabVIEW and programming topics covered in this unit.
You must submit the following items via Assignment Center in the LMP.
- An original screencast that must:
- Briefly discuss your answer to the questions below that are shown in orange.
- Be no more than 120 seconds in length.
- Be saved in an mp4 format as Lastname_Arithmetic_VI_Review.mp4[1] in your Arithmetic VI folder.
- A well-formatted pdf document that must:
- Includeyour answers to the questions below.
- Be saved as Lastname_Arithmetic_VI_Review.pdf in your Arithmetic_VI folder.
Answer the following questions in the space provided. Feel free to add additional space, as needed. If the addition of screenshots would help to answer/explain, then include screenshots. Submit a copy of this file to your teacher when you have completed the assignment.
Front Panel & Block Diagram
- How can the controls palette be accessed in LabVIEW?
- For the most part, the controls palette contains what two classifications of items?
- How are controls and indicators selected and placed on the front panel?
- How can an existing control or indicator be replaced without having to rewire anything on the block diagram?
- How can controls, indicators, and function blocks be moved once they are placed on the front panel or the block diagram?
- When a control or indicator is placed on the front panel, what appears on the block diagram?
- What is the difference between the terminal for a control and the terminal for an indicator?
- Does resizing a control on the front panel affect the size of the terminal on the block diagram?
- How can the range of values associated with a control (like a dial or slider) be changed directly?
- To what does the term “representation” refer in LabVIEW?
- What is the default data type for numeric controls and indicators in LabVIEW?
- How can the data type for a numeric control or indicator be changed from the front panel?
- How can the data type for a numeric control or indicator be changed from the block diagram?
- How can a digital display be added to indicators like meters and tanks?
- What is the benefit in adding a digital display to indicators like meters and tanks?
- How can items on the front panel or blocks on the block diagram be aligned exactly?
- How can the spacing between items on the front panel or blocks on the block diagram be adjusted easily?
- How can the functions palette be accessed in LabVIEW?
- How are blocks organized within the functions palette?
- What is a coercion dot? What is happening behind the scenes when a coercion dot appears?
- How can indicators be created from the block diagram?
- Describe how blocks can be wired together on the block diagram.
- How can controls and indicators be renamed?
- What is the shortcut for cleaning up broken wires on the block diagram?
- What is Context Help in LabVIEW? How can it be accessed? Why is it called “context” help?
Program Execution
- What is your initial understanding of the difference in a data flow programming language (e.g. LabVIEW) and a sequential programming language (e.g. MATLAB)?
- How is pressing the “Run” button different than pressing the “Run Continuously” button in LabVIEW?
- What does the “Highlight Execution” feature do in LabVIEW?
- How is a while loop created in LabVIEW?
- What additional blocks are added to the block diagram when a while loop is created? Describe the purpose of each block.
- How can a while loop be used to avoid using the “Run Continuously” feature in LabVIEW?
[1] You should introduce yourself by your full name at the beginning of the screencast.