LabVIEW Idea Exchange
Problem: Currently wiring an error wire to a structure input tunnel that does not continue as a wire clears the error that exists on the wire.
Happy case: When running the VI shown below, Automatic Error Handling correctly detects that the error out terminal of Error Cluster From Error Code.vi is unwired, and handles the error (displays the error as a dialogue window).
Unhappy case: Wiring the error wire from the error out terminal of Error Cluster From Error Code.vi to a structure input tunnel clears the error. Automatic Error Handling does not detect or handle the error.
In my opinion this was simply an unfortunate design decision (can happen to all of us) back when it was made, decades ago. IMO there is no logical argument to support this behaviour. The fact that the error wire is wired to an input tunnel does not mean that the error was handled. At best, when a programmer intentionally used this technique, it represents a non-self-documenting coding practice (why not use the self-documenting Clear Errors.vi?). At worst, it means clearing errors simply because the programmer forgot to wire the wire through the structure. It means clearing errors when the programmer did not explicitly ask for this. It means "sweeping errors under the carpet", and can result in overly "optimistic" applications (apps that seemingly execute without error when in fact unhandled errors are being generated).
Please note that even though the screenshot above shows a Flat Sequence Structure input tunnel, the behaviour applies to every structure (case structure, for loop, while loop, etc).
To summarise, the problem is that the screenshot above is functionally equivalent to explicitly using the Clear Errors.vi, as seen below.
Clear Errors.vi is of course the self-documenting, recommend method of clearing errors. It should also be the only method of clearing errors.
Ironically, Clear Errors.vi itself uses the "clear error by wiring it to input tunnel" technique inside its "0" case, as seen below.
To its credit, Clear Errors.vi uses a correct technique for clearing errors inside its other, default case.
Another example found "in the wild" of a VI using the "clear error by wiring it to input tunnel" technique. This VI ships with LabVIEW and is found at <LabVIEW installation folder>\vi.lib\Utility\EditLVProj\Identify VIs Among Project Items.vi.
Solution: Disable the "clear error by wiring it to input tunnel" behaviour. This would fix what IMO is an incorrect design decision. Unfortunately, fixing this decision now would result in VIs that use the "clear error by wiring it to input tunnel" technique to start throwing unhandled errors if AEH is enabled. This is not ideal, but it might be worth accepting this short-term drawback for long-term gain.
Moreover, it may be useful to introduce a Clear Errors node (primitive function). The Clear Errors.vi could then make use of the Clear Errors node inside both of its cases. Alternatively, the Clear Errors node could simply replace and supersede the Clear Errors.vi.
