Make numeric display format auto-set to what you input

[Dominik-E2]

Instead of having to open the "Display Format" window everytime you want to drop a control/indicator/constant with a special format value (i.e. 2400000000 as 2.4G) make the control/indicator/constant automatically set to whatever format you put in. For example

Typing in 2.4G sets the Display Format to "SI notation".

Typing in 2.4E9 sets the Display Format to "Scientific"

Typing in 2400000000 sets Display Format to "Automatic formatting" etc

[Smootastic]

Thank you.  Seriously, thank you.

[GregSands]

Would you want this to change at run-time as well as edit-time?

[fabric]

I think it is a great idea for constants, but I'm not sure I'd want this for controls and indicators...

There are times I could use this for controls/indicators at edit time, but at run time?? There would have to be a way to turn it off...

[Dominik-E2]

I wouldn't mind it changing at run-time. If a user inputs a number in a certain way, it is most likely because they want it displayed in that way. However, I would settle for this feature only working in edit mode.

[fabric]

Ahhh yes, so often users *think* they know what they want! 

What they most often need is for us to tell them what they want... To tell them in a carefully thought out and intuitive interface where all the controls and indicators are in perfect harmony with their surroundings. Take suggestions, incorporate feedback, but don't go sprinkling the UI with colour pickers...

Edit-time mutation can help us to make good UIs. Run-time mutation will probably make us look like bad developers.

[A-T-R]

This is a nice idea!

But I'm not so sure, if it would be that brilliant to have this feature all the time...so it should be configurable in the VI options!

[PaulG.]

Great idea as it stands. No ifs, no buts. Runtime or edit mode. I typed it in in the format I wanted. If I want to change it I get to change it. I'm sick of LV telling me what I want. 

[Intaris]

It it's automatic even at runtime, I want an event for changing the representation.  Sometimes you just want to keep all indicators or controls the same (for comparison purposes)

Shane

[Dominik-E2]

Just saw this, also a good idea that could be extended to controls/indicators -> http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Autoadapt-numeric-constant-radix-plus-automatic-radix/...

[altenbach]

It should only work if the format has not been specified by the user (i.e. if it is still at the default format). Else we get never-ending surprises.

For example once it is at 2.4G in your example, and the user types in 1000000, should it now switch back to 1000000 or format it as 1M? It probably should stay in the SI format.

In any case, it should only happen at edit time.