Type cast array to cluster

[apapr]

Is there any real difference between the 'array to cluster' function and simply type casting to a cluster?  The image below shows a simple example.  Aside from providing the names of each cluster element, the type cast function automatically sets the cluster size, which is a nice feature when working with a typedef.  I am really wondering whether there is any downside to type casting when the array and cluster elements are the same data type.

Thanks in advance.

[Darin.K · Accepted solution]

Type Cast man knows where I live, so my opinion is biased.  When I have to make such a conversion, which is practically never, but not equal to never, then I go with the Type Cast.  You hit the biggest points, meaningful labels and the ease of going from six to seven to eleven elements with the Type Def.  When I do this conversion it is typically because I need to do some property magic which arrays do not allow (all elements must share properties except value).  Creating a control from the Array to Cluster function is let's say a Clusterflop, from the Type Cast, exactly what I am looking for.  Besides, that Array to Cluster function obfuscates code, is always left at 9 elements, and otherwise needs to go away, or at least do this:

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Remove-Default-Behavior-from-Array-To-Cluster/idi-p/17...

First of all, ask yourself if you really should be doing this, if the answer is yes then I say Type Cast.

[apapr]

Hey Darin, thanks for the quick reply.  I actually have a pretty big typedef'd cluster which serves as the input to a statechart, and I need to replace certain cluster elements to allow a user to change timer values, etc. from the HMI.  The easiest way that I found to deal with this was to use arrays for the communication and then convert to a cluster in the RT loop with the statechart.  I'm not sure if this is the best approach, but it works very well.  I will follow your advice and stick with the type cast.  This way I won't have to manually edit the cluster size whenever I change the typedef.

By the way, I agree with your comments about the array to cluster function and gave your idea kudos a while back.  Thanks again!