Consistent block diagrams

[Christie]

It would be great if block diagrams saved the position and size of objects such as local variables instead of relying on the Labview settings.  This will avoid objects moving around on new versions of Labview or when fonts are changed.  I would rather have fonts not fit than diagram objects move around.  Like Word documents and websites, I expect block diagrams to look the same between versions of Labview.  I understand that front panels are different as they can be affected by the operating system.

[smercurio_fc]

I'm not sure I understand. Could you clarify with a specific example of what currently happens, and what you want to see happen? For example, if I write a VI in LabVIEW 8.2 and I have the Boolean block diagram constant on the block diagram and I open that VI in 2010 do you want 2010 to draw the Boolean constant like it was in 8.2? The Boolean constant, for instance, does not look the same in 2010. Also, the size of the local variable nodes are different. Are you saying you'd want 2010 to draw the local variable node to look exactly like it was in 8.2? What would be the benefit of this?

[Christie]

Yes, I do get what you are saying and I agree it's not a simple problem.  I am particularly referring to the fact that changing the font size changes the layout/alignment of objects, even for different copies of the same version.  In your example of loading 8.2 code into 2010, I would like to see a dialog telling me what has changed and ask me how I would like my code to be loaded.  So for your boolean example, I would like the option to choose "left align to previous position".  I left align all my objects and I would like to still have them aligned in a new version of Labview, even if they are smaller.  Either Labview could store alignment information when I use an align command, or when loading code into a new version, it could try and be clever by looking for alignment.  Well, we all know how terribly wrong things can go when programs try to be smart, so I'm not sure if this is a good option.  Maybe one should be able to set the size of objects such as local variables and have them load the same in all Labview versions, independent of font.  I'm sure there are many problems and solutions presented by the challenge of having consistent block diagrams.  The guys at NI would have to have a scrum (maybe they already had and decided it's too hard.)

[shb]

similar idea: Fix-font-behavior-...

[Christie]

Yes, that's what I do as well.  I use Arial, though.

[Darren]

Any idea that has received less than 4 kudos within 4 years after posting will be automatically declined.