Debugging made easier with 'Retain Wire Values for the Whole Hierarchy'

[Vishal Devanath]

Debugging in LabVIEW is sometimes difficult because of the reason that the error happens not in the top level VI we are debugging, but in some of it's subVIs (or maybe a subVI inside a subVI and so on..). We need to run the VI repeatedly to see what's causing the error after doing a 'Retain Wire Values' on subVIs.

Instead, we can have a method by which you can specify to 'Retain Wire Values for the Whole Hierarchy' before running the VI. And then debug the VI and its subVIs without having to re-run everytime you figure out that the erroris happening is one of the subVI. What do you guys think about this and would it be useful to have such a feature?

[craigc]

I Personally do not use this feature as it stands however I believe it could be quite usefull for future developments.  Although what of sub vi's in multiple places / reentrant.  How does this affect performance / memory, obviously something you would only use for debug.

Sounds interesting though and always nice to have multiple debug options 🙂

[parthabe]

It WILL definitely be useful.

[Vishal Devanath]

I have attached a small VI which does retains wire values for the entire hierarchy. Copy the VI to your LabVIEW x\project\ folder and restart LabVIEW. You will find a new option in Tools menu >> "Retain All Wire Values". Select this option on the Top level VI and wire values are retained in all its subVIs. Select it again and it removes retain wire values in all its subVIs. Let me know if it's useful. (VI is saved in LabVIEW 8.5, therefore works for 8.5 and above)

[AmitKaria2k]

Hello Vishal,

The VI is really useful. Thanks for sharing the application. Can you post the source code as well?

[P@Anand]

Debugging would be much easier if this Idea is implemented.