Can I have an array of controls without having them in the array front panel holder?

[MarkRobinson]

I would like to link a number of boolean control buttons in an array without grouping them on the front panel the way it does when you make an array and then put in a boolean control.

Here's the background:

I have 8 linear motors controlled by CANbus, and so each button type (Move, Stop, Home, etc) is duplicated 8 fold.  I have an event structure that is currently triggered with a separate case for EVERY button with only a very small difference in the code inside each case.  Ideally I could have the buttons in arrays and then check the new array value against the old value on a value change event.  The alternative for me is to have each case handle the 8 buttons (with a Mouse Down? filter event) and then use the Boolean.Text value from the CtlRef and search an array of all Boolean.Text Values for the 8 buttons to see which name matches and process accordingly.  I have something like 200 buttons, so making the arrays of Boolean.Text values from the reference nodes is WAY too time consuming as I have to go through like 5 levels of right click menus.  Any suggestions?  

[Wayne.C]

Mark,

You might consider using clusters on the front panel.  Create a type def'd cluster that has all the boolean controls for 1 channel.  You can drop 8 of these on the front panel and the event structure can detect a change in a cluster.  Easy to convert cluster to array behind the scenes.  Remember that order of cluster determines index of value in array.

Message Edited by Wayne.C on 04-09-2010 05:19 PM

[RavensFan]

No.  You could create an array of references to all of those controls.

Unless someone has some clever ideas, I think you are going to need to use the method you are doing now.

But to assist in creating these arrays, there a number of scripting tools you can use to get rid of the tedium of creating these arrays.  Check out the JKI Right Click Framework.

[MarkRobinson]

Hmm.  Is it possible to hide the cluster shell so that the items will be considered clustered on the block diagram but be separable and distinct on the front panel?  That could work.

[RavensFan]

Use a cluster container out of the classic pallette, and you'll be able to paint all elements of it transparent.