Can a thermometer display have multiple inputs at separate times

[vsrinivasan]

Hello,

We are new to the labview programming.  We are currently writing a program to use at our facility that will involve mainly temperature sensors and a few solenoid controls.  We will have a thermometer type display on the "front panel".  The problem is that when we wire the output of multiple while loops in a flat sequence to the thermometer we get an error.  I assume this error is due to having multiple inputs, how can we solve this?

Thanks,

Josh and Vaishnavi

[James.M]

1. If you have an error share the error
2. You probably have an array that you are trying to write to the thermometer, which isn't going to work.
3. Before anything else, go through some tutorial, because from the sound of it this isn't going to be the only problem you have if you don't know how LabVIEW works.

Here are some free training tools primarily focused on LabVIEW and NI hardware to help get started.

NI Learning Center

NI Getting Started

-Hardware Basics

-MyRIO Project Essentials Guide (lots of good simple circuits with links to youtube demonstrations)

-LabVEW Basics

-DAQ Application Tutorials

-cRIO Developer's Guide

Learn NI Training Resource Videos

3 Hour LabVIEW Introduction

6 Hour LabVIEW Introduction
Self Paced training for students
Self Paced training beginner to advanced, SSP Required
LabVIEW Wiki on Training

[GerdW]

Hi Josh,

put your measurement values in an array. Use an IndexArray function to index the value to be displayed. Make the index control available to the user…

I assume this error is due to having multiple inputs, how can we solve this?

By THINKING DATAFLOW! 😄

[altenbach]

A plain thermometer can only display exactly one temperature at a time.

If you have multiple values, you need to decide which value you want to display. You could place several thermometer indicators, you could average all values, display only the latest, etc.

If several stages of your program need to update the same indicator at different times, it is best to change your flat sequence to a state machine architecture. It will be much more maintainable. (A less elegant alternative would be the use of local variables.)

Please show us your code.

[aputman]

Maybe I am misunderstanding the question but sliders can be added to a thermometer indicator to show multiple values.  Use a cluster to bundle the values together. 

[altenbach]

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@aputman wrote:

Maybe I am misunderstanding the question but sliders can be added to a thermometer indicator to show multiple values.  Use a cluster to bundle the values together. 

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I intentionally did not bring that up, because thermometers are not really suitable for multiple sliders. You would need to carefully play with the fill setting and the sorting of values. I recommend against it.

[aputman]

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altenbach wrote:

I intentionally did not bring that up, because thermometers are not really suitable for multiple sliders. You would need to carefully play with the fill setting and the sorting of values. I recommend against it.

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My bad.  I may have just unintentionally created another forum post on how to use sliders.  

[vsrinivasan]

Ok basically to make this program simple while we are learning I'd like to possibly display the "latest" value. basically imagine 3 sequences, each of which need to have the temperature output.  After the first sequence that temperature would stop and the one in the second sequence would start on the same thermometer.  Does that make sense?  Any suggestions.  Sorry we seem so stupid but we were thrown into all of this less than a week ago and its rough. haha

Thanks 

Joshua

[altenbach]

Yes, use a state machine instead of a sequence. Now you only need one terminal. Otherwise use local variables.