Version-aware LabVIEW launcher

[Intaris]

I, like many others I am sure, have multiple LV versions installed on my computer.

I have often wished for a small launcher program (linked into Explorer.exe under Windows) which has a peek to see what version a VI (or ctl or whatever) is BEFORE calling the respective LV version.

It could also have an option to show a dialog whenever a VI is double clicked in a version different to a version of LV which is ALREADY open asking if it should be opened in the native version or in the currently opened version.

An alternative would be to treat VIs opened from a different version as locked (read-only), forcing either a manual setting of write permissions or saving under a different name.

Shane.

[Dragis]

For the reasons given in previous comments, http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/LabVIEW-Compatibility-Modes/idi-p/1227398 still seems like a better solution : )

[Hooovahh]

I haven't seen my LabVIEW Tray Launcher mentioned yet so I figured I'd provide a few links.

https://lavag.org/topic/11333-labview-tray-launcher/?do=findComment&comment=116021

http://www.brian-hoover.com/Navigation/Code%20Repository/LabVIEW/LabVIEW%20Tray%20Launcher.php

It takes over the .VI file extension and then launches the right version of LabVIEW for the code, showing you all the possible options if there are more than one version installed that is compatible.  There's a few other features too like aborting, task killing, and restarting LabVIEW.  But honestly I'd rather this be built into the IDE, kudo'd.

[kosist90]

9 years passed, and still nothing is done for this... Of course, it is quite questionable to launch some another version of LabVIEW when LabVIEW is already launched (while opening VIs/projects from Windows explorer, I agree with Stephen), but when no LabVIEW instance runs it could be opened just the corresponding LabVIEW version, and not the last one opened...

[Hooovahh]

Did you try the tool I linked to?  It basically does what you asked for.  I realized a 1st party solution from NI is more preferred but until that happens it does show how you can open a VI in a specific version of LabVIEW, regardless of what versions are running.  Source on LAVA, installer linked to on that page.