Bring Web UI Builder features into LabVIEW

[remywizard]

I just took a look at the LabVIEW Web UI Builder and was very impressed with the way it lets you buy a UI. I started to become very jealous and wondered why core LabVIEW does not have these features. A couple that I first noticed was when placing a button alignment lines were drawn so you can properly align with current objects on the front panel. Another cool feature was on the block diagram and along the top the properties of the currently selected item shows up to allow quick easy editing.

There was all kinds of great features this had that make builder a great UI that really need to be in LabVIEW. I have been wishing for something like this to come out in a future version and seeing this gives me hope.

Another great feature this has was having the palette docked on the left side so you can easily see and drag everything onto the panel.

[AristosQueue (NI)]

Duplicate:

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Change-the-way-new-elements-are-placed-on-panel-diagra...

and

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Unused-items-tray/idi-p/1391958

[remywizard]

That idea to me is referring to how items are placed on the block diagram and front panel automatically in what seems to be a random way. I am referring to the tools and helpful features the Web UI provides the user to design a User Interface.

[G-Money]

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Change-the-way-new-elements-are-placed-on-panel-diagra...

[10Degree]

Aristos Queue & G-Money,

I don't know if you guys really read remenakb's original post very carefully.  It seems like the idea is unique.  He is recommending modernization of the UI layout tools in LabVIEW that will provide some of the convenience and polish that products like Visual Studio and Delphi include in their UI design tools.  I think that the Web UI Builder is starting to provide some enhanced design metaphors that would be nice in the full-blast LabVIEW desktop product as well.

-cb

[remywizard]

10Degree is correct. This is not a duplicate. The 2 links posted want to incorporate the unused controls container method from the Web UI Builder tool. While that is a great idea and it has always bothered me that my controls will sometimes get placed in never never land, it is different than what I am suggesting.

I am suggesting to update the UI layout tools in LabVIEW.

[GregR]

I'd have to agree that this is not a duplicate of the other ideas. The one it is supposedly a duplicate of is specifically about the unplaced items tray. This idea says to take all the editor changes, specifically mentions 3 and none of those are the unplaced items tray.

On the other hand, just saying take all the editor changes is not going to get much traction. If anything is going to get implemented anytime soon, it would have to be individual changes. I would suggest submitting separate ideas for the specific parts you like the most.

[remywizard]

G-Money, it seems to be a consensus that this is not duplicate. Can the status be changed back to active or whatever the state is?

I could make an individual idea for each element I think should be brought into LabVIEW core, but I think the UI tools need to have a major overhaul and not just give us one little piece at a time. If NI is going to work on this section they should do it right and make a lot of changes.

[AristosQueue (NI)]

> but I think the UI tools need to have a major overhaul and not just give

> us one little piece at a time. If NI is going to work on this section they

> should do it right and make a lot of changes.

A request for a general reworking the entire UI is defintely already a suggestion.

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Revamp-front-panel-controls-and-user-interface-design/...

It's only got 22 kudos, and if you notice, the first comment is "This suggestion is too broad to garner kudos." And that comment was not made by someone who works for NI.

Here's a fairly broad "we need new controls" request:

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Update-Front-Panel/idi-p/1020307

It has 173 kudos at  the moment. On the other hand, it made specific suggestions for the type of controls to be created.

We are definitely aware of the need for generally improving the UI of LabVIEW's panel. Asking for that is neither useful nor particularly unique. Asking for specific projects to be prioritized is helpful.

[remywizard]

Those ideas listed are suggesting an update to the front panel controls and what is available to place on the front panel to create a UI. I am not suggesting updating the front panel controls. I am suggesting updating the UI design toolset that is available for a LabVIEW programmer to easily create a UI. Furthermore I am suggesting incorporating the tools and features available in the Web UI Builder, giving a focus to what is available there.

[10Degree]

JackDunaway said in his reply in Aristos Queue's first “rework UI” link above:  “I completely, completely agree with this statement, but it's too broad to Kudos. Even if it got 1000 votes, where would R&D start with this idea?”

R&D needs to start with the realization that posted requests to overhaul the UI design tools in LabVIEW will not embody a specification for new functionality.  The magnitude of the request is too great to capture in one single post and there is too much product design that needs to be thought through in order to deliver a holistic and well integrated solution.  No single, heftily-kudo’ed post will be able to deliver a complete specification for R&D to go out and craft a new UI design tool.  If kudos are the metric for R&D to add features, I would guess that the kudo aggregate for all UI design improvement requests probably tally’s in the thousands.  The point being that there is considerable demand for improvement and modernization of the UI tools, and suggestions are sprinkled throughout the forums as to what specific improvements would be appreciated.

If NI R&D needs a concise list, a search could be made, or better yet, this thread (or a new one) can be used for developers to start a list of desirable features and improvements.