Block Diagram Objects

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Block Diagram Objects

Objects on the block diagram include terminals and nodes. You build block diagrams by connecting the objects with
wires. The color and symbol of each terminal indicate the data type of the corresponding control or indicator. Constants
are terminals on the block diagram that supply fixed data values to the block diagram.

Block Diagram Terminals

Front panel objects appear as terminals on the block diagram. Double-click a block diagram terminal to highlight the
corresponding control or indicator on the front panel.
Terminals are entry and exit ports that exchange information between the front panel and block diagram. Data values
you enter into the front panel controls enter the block diagram through the control terminals. During execution, the
output data values flow to the indicator terminals, where they exit the block diagram, reenter the front panel, and
appear in front panel indicators.
LabVIEW has control and indicator terminals, node terminals, constants, and specialized terminals on structures. You
use wires to connect terminals and pass data to other terminals. Right-click a block diagram object and select Visible
ItemsTerminals from the shortcut menu to view the terminals. Right-click the object and select Visible
ItemsTerminals again to hide the terminals. This shortcut menu item is not available for expandable VIs and
functions.
You can configure front panel controls or indicators to appear as icon or data type terminals on the block diagram. By
default, front panel objects appear as icon terminals. For example, a knob icon terminal, shown as follows, represents a
knob control on the front panel.

The DBL at the bottom of the terminal represents a data type of double-precision, floating-point numeric. A DBL
terminal, shown as follows, represents a double-precision, floating-point numeric control.

Right-click a terminal and remove the checkmark next to the View As Icon shortcut menu item to display the data
type for the terminal. Use icon terminals to display the types of front panel objects on the block diagram, in addition to
the data types of the front panel objects. Use data type terminals to conserve space on the block diagram.
Note Icon terminals are larger than data type terminals, so you might unintentionally obscure other block
diagram objects when you convert a data type terminal to an icon terminal.
Control terminals have a thicker border than indicator terminals. Also, arrows appear on front panel terminals to
indicate whether the terminal is a control or an indicator. An arrow appears on the right if the terminal is a control, and
an arrow appears on the left if the terminal is an indicator.
Control and Indicator Data Types
The following table shows the symbols and uses for the different types of control and indicator terminals.
The color and symbol of each terminal indicate the data type of the corresponding control or indicator. Many data types
have a corresponding set of functions that can manipulate the data, such as the String functions on the String palette
that correspond to the string data type.
Refer to Numeric Data Types for more information about using numeric data types.
Control Indicator

Data Type

Use

Default Values

Single-precision,
floating-point
numeric

Saves memory and does not overflow the range of

the numbers.

0.0

Double-precision,
floating-point
numeric

Is the default format for numeric objects.

0.0

Extended-precision, Performs differently depending on the platform.

Use only when necessary.
floating-point
numeric

0.0

Complex singleprecision, floatingpoint numeric

Same as single-precision, floating-point, with a real 0.0 + i0.0

and an imaginary part.

Complex doubleprecision, floatingpoint numeric

Same as double-precision, floating-point, with a

real and an imaginary part.

0.0 + i0.0

Complex extendedprecision, floatingpoint numeric

Same as extended-precision, floating-point, with a

real and an imaginary part.

0.0 + i0.0

8-bit signed integer

numeric

Represents whole numbers and can be positive or

negative.

16-bit signed
integer numeric

Same as above.

32-bit signed
integer numeric

Same as above.

64-bit signed
integer numeric

Same as above.

8-bit unsigned
integer numeric

0
Represents only non-negative integers and has a
larger range of positive numbers than signed
integers because the number of bits is the same for
both representations.

16-bit unsigned
integer numeric

Same as above.

32-bit unsigned
integer numeric

Same as above.

64-bit unsigned
integer numeric

Same as above.

<64.64>-bit time
stamp

Stores absolute time with high precision.

12:00:00.000 AM
1/1/1904
(Universal Time)

Enumerated type

Gives users a list of items from which to select.

Boolean

Stores Boolean (TRUE/FALSE) values.

FALSE

String

Provides a platform-independent format for

information and data, which you can use to create
simple text messages, pass and store numeric
data, and so on.

empty string

Array

Encloses the data type of its elements in square

brackets and takes the color of that data type. As
you add dimensions to the array, the brackets
become thicker.

A matrix of complex The wire pattern differs from that of an array of the
elements.
same data type.
A matrix of real
elements.

The wire pattern differs from that of an array of the

same data type.

Cluster

Encloses several data types. Cluster data types are

brown if all elements in the cluster are numeric or
pink if all the elements of the cluster are different
types.

Path

Stores the location of a file or directory using the

standard syntax for the platform you are using.

empty path

Dynamic

(Express VIs) Includes data associated with a

signal and the attributes that provide information
about the signal, such as the name of the signal or
the date and time the data was acquired.

Waveform

Carries the data, start time, and

Digital waveform

Carries start time, x, the digital data, and any

attributes of a digital waveform.

Digital

Encloses data associated with digital signals.

Reference number
(refnum)

Acts as a unique identifier for an object, such as a

file, device, or network connection.

Variant

Includes the control or indicator name, the data

type information, and the data itself.

I/O name

Passes resources you configure to I/O VIs to

communicate with an instrument or a
measurement device.

Picture

Includes a set of drawing instructions for displaying

pictures that can contain lines, circles, text, and
other types of graphic shapes.

Select consistent and simple data types to optimize memory usage.

t of a waveform.

Symbolic Numeric Values

Undefined or unexpected data invalidate all subsequent operations. Floating-point operations return the following two
symbolic values that indicate faulty computations or meaningless results:
z NaN (not a number) represents a floating-point value that invalid operations produce, such as taking the square root

of a negative number.
z Inf (infinity) represents a floating-point value outside of the range for that data type. For example, dividing 1 by

zero produces Inf.

LabVIEW can return +Inf or Inf. +Inf indicates the largest value possible for the data type and Inf indicates the
smallest value possible for the data type.
LabVIEW does not check for overflow or underflow conditions on integer values.
Overflow and underflow for floating-point numbers is in accordance with IEEE 754, Standard for Binary Floating-Point
Arithmetic.
Floating-point operations propagate NaN and Inf reliably. When you explicitly or implicitly convert NaN or +Inf to
integers, the value becomes the largest value for that integer data type. LabVIEW converts -Inf to the smallest integer
value for that integer data type. For example, converting Inf to a 16-bit signed integer produces the value 32,767, the
largest possible value for a 16-bit signed integer.
Before you convert data to integer data types, use the Probe tool to check intermediate floating-point values for
validity. Check for NaN by wiring the Comparison function Not A Number/Path/Refnum? to the value you suspect is
invalid.
Constants
Constants are terminals on the block diagram that supply fixed data values to the block diagram. Universal constants
are constants with fixed values, such as pi ( ) and infinity (). User-defined constants are constants you define and
edit before you run a VI.
Label a constant by right-clicking the constant and selecting Visible ItemsLabel from the shortcut menu. Universal
constants have predetermined values for their labels that you can edit by using the Operating tool or the Labeling tool.
Most constants are located at the bottom or top of their palettes.
Universal Constants
Use universal constants for mathematical computations and formatting strings or paths. LabVIEW includes the following
types of universal constants:
z Universal numeric constantsA set of high-precision and commonly used mathematical and physical values, such

as the natural logarithm base (e) and the speed of light. The universal numeric constants are located on the
Additional Numeric Constants palette.
z Universal string constantsA set of commonly used non-displayable string characters, such as line feed and

carriage return. The universal string constants are located on the String palette.
z Universal file constantsA set of commonly used file path values, such as Not a Path, Not a Refnum, and Default

Directory. The universal file constants are located on the File Constants palette.
User-Defined Constants
The Functions palette includes constants organized by type, such as Boolean, numeric, ring, enumerated type, color
box, string, array, cluster, and path constants.
Create a user-defined constant by right-clicking an input terminal of a VI or function and selecting CreateConstant
from the shortcut menu.
You cannot change the value of user-defined constants when the VI is running.
You also can create a constant by dragging a front panel control to the block diagram. LabVIEW creates a constant that
contains the value of the front panel control at the time you dragged it to the block diagram. The front panel control
remains on the front panel. Changing the value of the control does not affect the constant value and vice versa.
Use the Operating or Labeling tool to click the constant and edit its value. If automatic tool selection is enabled, doubleclick the constant to switch to the Labeling tool and edit the value.

Block Diagram Nodes

Nodes are objects on the block diagram that have inputs and/or outputs and perform operations when a VI runs. They
are analogous to statements, operators, functions, and subroutines in text-based programming languages. LabVIEW
includes the following types of nodes:
z FunctionsBuilt-in execution elements, comparable to an operator, function, or statement.
z SubVIsVIs used on the block diagram of another VI, comparable to subroutines.
z Express VIsSubVIs designed to aid in common measurement tasks. You configure an Express VI using a

configuration dialog box.

z StructuresExecution control elements, such as For Loops, While Loops, Case structures, Flat and Stacked Sequence

structures, Timed structures, and Event structures.

z Formula and Expression NodesFormula Nodes are resizable structures for entering equations directly into a block

diagram. Expression Nodes are structures for calculating expressions, or equations, that contain a single variable.
z Property and Invoke NodesProperty Nodes are structures for setting or finding properties of a class. Invoke Nodes

are structures for executing methods of a class.

z Call By Reference NodesStructures for calling a dynamically loaded VI.
z Call Library Function NodesStructures for calling most standard shared libraries or DLLs.
z Code Interface Nodes (CINs)Structures for calling code written in text-based programming languages.

Polymorphic VIs and Functions

Polymorphic VIs and functions can adjust to input data of different data types. Most LabVIEW structures are
polymorphic, as are some VIs and functions.
Functions are polymorphic to varying degreesnone, some, or all of their inputs can be polymorphic. Some function
inputs accept numeric values or Boolean values. Some accept numeric values or strings. Some accept not only scalar
numeric values, but also arrays of numeric values, clusters of numeric values, arrays of clusters of numeric values, and
so on. Some accept only one-dimensional arrays, although the array elements can be of any type. Some functions
accept all types of data, including complex numeric values.