Add option to disable Shadows on Floating Objects on Front Panel

[JackDunaway]

Here's something that makes FP design difficult: shadows behind floating objects on FP. Add an IDE preferences option to disable shadows.

NOTE 1: The default is for shadows should be enabled. This is a handy feature that alerts a new FP designer that something may not be right with the arrangement.

NOTE 2: This does not apply to the BD. I think you should ALWAYS correct objects floating over structures on the BD.

NOTE 3: Give us an option to "Show Floating Objects." Like Show Buffer Allocations, SFO would flash the floating objects. Alternatively, give a list of floating objects (this should work on BD and FP)

[AristosQueue (NI)]

When the panel is running, the shadows disappear, so they do not interfere with the end user using your FP. What is the advantage of not showing the shadows during design time? I see that as a valuable hint to anyone working on the VI that the control won't (for example) disappear when you change tabs. I'm just trying to get a better idea what your goal is with making this optional. 

Also:

Do you imagine this as a "per VI" option (saved with the VI) or an "all VIs in memory" option (not saved with the VI and different depending upon which machine is displaying the panel)? 

[JackDunaway]

Good criticisms, I appreciate constructive arguments. Now that you mention it, I think I would like a per-VI setting better than an environment setting. The only VI's where this is truly useful are customized HMI VI's. The main reason I want this option is to decrease iterations in development of run mode/edit mode/run mode/edit mode. It's just easier to develop when you're looking at a FP that is as close to the end product as possible. Shadows interfere with alpha shading on customized controls, to-the-pixel alignment, color balance of the FP, they add "extra weight" to the FP object that visually looks "slimmer" when you run it... The list goes on, but bottom line, it would be handy for shadows to optionally go away as a per VI preference.

[Mads]

It is fine that the shadows disappear when the VI is running, however the shadows can make it difficult to evaluate the layout of the front panel...It would be nice to be able to hide them while in edit mode (hide/show keyboard shortcut instead of or in addition to the option?).

[Neil.Pate]

I agree with Jack.

Often when designing relatively complicated UIs I have to overlayclusters on top of each other. Usually some are controls, some are indicators etc. The shadows make this look horrible during development, and harder to get pixel perfect alignment.

Also, although I know the shadows go away during running I always have to explain to a customer when going through the code that this will happen.

[JackDunaway]

I have become accustomed to CTRL+M... evaluate.... CTRL+M.... resize... shift 3px to the right... CTRL+M... reevaluate.... CTRL+M .... 1 pixel up and to the right.... CTRL+M... tilt my head sideways, evaluate....

This iterative procedure has become natural, but I still think it could be improved by toggling FP floating shadows to "off".

[Neil.Pate]

Never thought about Ctrl-M! (only used this in the past to go out of run-mode for re-entrant VIs). Nice tip, thanks!

[Darren]

Any idea that has received less than 3 kudos within 3 years after posting will be automatically declined.