is it worth it to make custom icons for a custom control/indicator?

[billko]

I was making custom icons (well not very custom, but still at least somet ext) for controls and indicators, when I realized that the only times you see them are when you open the control, itself, ot if you hover over it in the project with context help on.

So the question is:

Is it worth it to create a custom icon for each custom control you make, if it will be seen only rarely?  (The exception being a cluster, since, in the later versions of LabVIEW, you can actually represent your cluster on the BD as the icon you made for it, so it definitely IS worth it to make an icon for it.)

Thanks!

[moderator1983 · Accepted solution]

You said it correctly, not very frequently (I'll not say RARELY) we see the icons for a custom control... however I prefer to create icon for each custom control as it definitely adds value.
I often use VI Hierarchy window, Context help window and here a custom icon helps.

[altenbach]

---

moderator1983 wrote:

I often use VI Hierarchy window, Context help window and here a custom icon helps.

---

Most importantly, if you add the control to the user control palette, an icon is a must.

[billko]

---

@moderator1983 wrote:

You said it correctly, not very frequently (I'll not say RARELY) we see the icons for a custom control... however I prefer to create icon for each custom control as it definitely adds value.
I often use VI Hierarchy window, Context help window and here a custom icon helps.

---

Haha - I COMPLETELY FORGOT that one of the first things I do is uncheck the "Place front panel terminals as icons" box so I never see the actual icons!  So that answers my question right there - it is good to make them.  🙂

[billko]

That's a good point also.  I'm glad that my first instinct is always to make an icon.

edit:

Sorry I can only accept one as a solution.

[Hooovahh]

I'd like to add another time that you see the control's icon, is when it is a type def cluster, and you have it as a constant on the block diagram.  Then double click the border to shrink the cluster.  It will shrink to the size of the control's icon.

I also hardly ever make a control icon.  Only when it is on the palette in a reuse package.

[billko]

---

@Hooovahh wrote:

I'd like to add another time that you see the control's icon, is when it is a type def cluster, and you have it as a constant on the block diagram.  Then double click the border to shrink the cluster.  It will shrink to the size of the control's icon.

I also hardly ever make a control icon.  Only when it is on the palette in a reuse package.

---

Yeah,t hat's what I meant in my original post, although you CAN represent a cluster constant on the BD as an icon - but it's just the little thing on the bottom of the typdef'd cluster because it obviously has no actual icon.  🙂