How to create Pen-up and Pen-down option in X-Y graph ?

[franerr]

Hi,

I would like to create a basic digital version of XY plotter. I sorted out everything (scales, offsets, ranges, printing) except for Pen-up and Pen-down option. This application will be use to take multiple plots one after another. I need to print them on the same sheet. Basically when I run the test I plot one "line", then I take pen up, move it (with offset), put the pen down and draw another "line". Up to probably 6-8 "lines". My problem is that when I put the pen up and then down it connects old "line" withe the one that I just started to draw. (I assume that use of shift registers and a buffer needs to be involved??)

I'm new to Labview and I would appreciate any help.

Thx.

[altenbach · Accepted solution]

Insert one dummy point containing NaN as value between traces.

[gsussman]

I can think of two solutions right off the top of my head.

1) Set each independent X-Y "line" to be it's own plot.

    Each "Pen Up/Pen Down" pair would create new index in a multiplot X-Y graph

2) Add an "NaN" value between each segment of the line in which you want to see a Pen Up and Pen Down operation

[franerr]

Hey Gyus ! Thanks for help. It worked. Attached is the print screen of practise vi which I created to see if I could do it. Is there a way to do it better?

[franerr]

Sorry! No attachement before. Here is the link: http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7365/plottervi.jpg

[CoastalMaineBird]

The NAN option creates a problem if you want to read the data from the graph later on.

Consider ending one plot and starting another when you want to do PEN UP or PEN DOWN.

Set the color to TRANSPARENT if the pen is up and something visible if the pen goes down.

[franerr]

Hello again.

Thx for all the replays. It works great.

I would like to add another function to the plotter. The guy who is using it wants to write on the plot - I mean he draws a line and then he needs to mark it as A, then he draws another line and he wans to mark it as B, C and D. Then also he is reading some values from digital displays and he wants to be able to write it down on the plot while the plotter is running (then he prints it out).

I think the only way to do that would be to use cursor name. Set as many cursors as I want (for now I would need 8), place them in the corner (for a start, so I wouldnt see them on the printput, only the name) and drag their name to wherever I want. 

I wanted to do that but...I have a bit of a problem. When I'm setting property nodes for cursors (name visible, cursor visible, allow dragging, cursor name, cursor position) I'm only able to do that for one cursor. How can I create another one and set properties of that one?  Also is there a possibility of having a transparent cursor and a colored cursor name??

frannerr

[CoastalMaineBird]

When I'm setting property nodes for cursors (name visible, cursor visible, allow dragging, cursor name, cursor position) I'm only able to do that for one cursor. How can I create another one and set properties of that one?

There is a property called "Active Cursor" - set that to 0, and further cursor properties affect cursor #0.  Set it to 1, and further cursor properties affect cursor #1, and so on.

Beware - if you operate on cursors 0 and 1, then the next time you address a cursor property, it will still be #1 you act on.  If you're going to use ACTIVE CURSOR, use it EVERY TIME, for safety.

[franerr]

Hi,

Does anyone know if there is a way to change the size of the the cursor name on the xy chart??  There is no property node responsible for that and the person who is using my plotter and the cursors, simply doesn't see the name of the cursor properly because the letters are quite small.

[Ramprakash0111]

can u send me ur vi .... pls

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@franerr wrote:

Hi,

I would like to create a basic digital version of XY plotter. I sorted out everything (scales, offsets, ranges, printing) except for Pen-up and Pen-down option. This application will be use to take multiple plots one after another. I need to print them on the same sheet. Basically when I run the test I plot one "line", then I take pen up, move it (with offset), put the pen down and draw another "line". Up to probably 6-8 "lines". My problem is that when I put the pen up and then down it connects old "line" withe the one that I just started to draw. (I assume that use of shift registers and a buffer needs to be involved??)

I'm new to Labview and I would appreciate any help.

Thx.

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