Project Explorer of LabVIEW

Use projects to group together LabVIEW files and non-LabVIEW files, create build specifications, and deploy or download files to targets. When you save a project, LabVIEW creates a project file (.lvproj), which
includes references to files in the project, configuration information, build information, deployment information, and so on.

You must use a project to build applications and shared libraries. You also must use a project to work with a real-time (RT), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or personal digital assistant (PDA) target. Refer to the specific module documentation for more information about using projects with the LabVIEW Real-Time, FPGA, and PDA modules.

Project Explorer Window

Use the Project Explorer window to create and edit LabVIEW projects. Select File»New Project to display the Project Explorer window. You also can select Project»New Project or select Empty Project in the New dialog box to display the Project Explorer window.

The Project Explorer window includes two pages, the Items page and theFiles page. The Items page displays the project items as they exist in the project tree. The Files page displays the project items that have a
corresponding file on disk. You can organize filenames and folders on this page. Project operations on the Files page both reflect and update the contents on disk. You can switch from one page to the other by right-clicking a folder or item under a target and selecting Show in ItemsView or Show in Files View from the shortcut menu.

The Project Explorer window includes the following items by default:

• Project root:Contains all other items in the Project Explorer
  window. This label on the project root includes the filename for the
  project.
  
  
• My Computer—Represents the local computer as a target in the
  project.
  
• Dependencies—Includes items that VIs under a target require.
  
• Build Specifications—Includes build configurations for source distributions and other types of builds available in LabVIEW toolkits and modules. If you have the LabVIEW Professional Development System or Application Builder installed, you can use Build Specifications to configure stand-alone applications, shared libraries,installers, and zip files.
  

When you add another target to the project, LabVIEW creates an additional item in the Project Explorer window to represent the target. Each target also includes Dependencies and Build Specifications sections. You can add files under each target.

Project-Related Toolbars

Use the Standard, Project, Build, and Source Control toolbar buttons to
perform operations in a LabVIEW project. The toolbars are available at the
top of the Project Explorer window, as shown in Fig-1. You might
need to expand the Project Explorer window to view all of the toolbars.

Fig.1 - Project Explorer Window

You can show or hide toolbars by selecting View»Toolbars and selecting the toolbars you want to show or hide. You can also right-click an open area on the toolbar and select the toolbars you want to show or hide.

Creating a LabVIEW Project

Complete the following steps to create a project.

1. Select File»New Project to display the Project Explorer window. You can also select Project»Empty Project in the New dialog box to display the Project Explorer window.
   
   
2. Add items you want to include in the project under a target.
   
3. Select File»Save Project to save the project.
   

Adding Existing Files To A Project

You can add existing files to a project. Use the My Computer item (or other target) in the Project Explorer window to add files such as VIs or text files, to a LabVIEW project.

You can add items to a project in the following ways:

• Right-click My Computer and select Add»File from the shortcut menu to add a file. You also can select Project»Add To Project»File from the Project Explorer menu to add a file.
  
• Right-click the target and select Add»Folder (Auto-populating) from the shortcut menu to add an auto-populating folder. You also can select Project»Add To Project»Add Folder (Auto-populating) to add an
  auto-populating folder. LabVIEW continuously monitors and updates the folder according to changes made in the project and on disk.
  
• Right-click the target and select Add»Folder (Snapshot) from the shortcut menu to add a virtual folder. You also can select Project»Add To Project»Add Folder (Snapshot) to add a virtual folder. When you select a directory on disk, LabVIEW creates a new virtual folder in the project with the same name as the directory on disk. LabVIEW also creates project items that represent the contents of the entire directory, including files and contents of subdirectories. Selecting a folder on disk adds contents of the entire folder, including files and contents of subfolders.
  

NoteAfter you add a virtual folder on disk to a project, LabVIEW does not automatically update the folder in the project if you make changes to the folder on disk.

• Right-click the target and select New»VI from the shortcut menu to add a new, blank VI. You also can select File»New VI or Project»Add To Project»New VI to add a new, blank VI.
  
• Select the VI icon in the upper right corner of a front panel or block diagram window and drag the icon to the target.
  
• Select an item or folder from the file system on your computer and drag it to the target.
  

Removing Items from a Project

You can remove items from the Project Explorer window in the following
ways:

• Right-click the item you want to remove and select Remove from Project from the shortcut menu.
  
• Select the item you want to remove and press .
  
• Select the item you want to remove and click the Remove From Project button on the Standard toolbar.
  

Organizing Items in a Project

The Project Explorer window includes two pages, the Items page and the Files page. The Items page displays the project items as they exist in theproject tree. The Files page displays the project items that have a corresponding file on disk. You can organize filenames and folders on this page. Project operations on the Files page both reflect and update the contents on disk. You can switch from one page to the other by
right-clicking a folder or item under a target and selecting Show in ItemsView or Show in Files View from the shortcut menu.

Use folders to organize items in the Project Explorer window. You can addtwo types of folders to a LabVIEW project, virtual folders and auto-populating folders. Virtual folders organize project items. Right-click a target in the Project Explorer and select New»Virtual Folder from the shortcut menu to create a new virtual folder. Auto-populating folders update in real time to reflect the contents of folders on disk. Add an auto-populating folder to the project to view project items as they appear on disk.

Auto-populating folders are visible only on the Items page of the Project Explorer window. You can view the disk contents of an auto-populating folder but you cannot perform disk operations such as renaming, reorganizing, and removing project items. To perform disk operations ofitems in an auto-populating folder, use the Files page of the Project Explorer window. The Files page displays the location of project folders ondisk. Project operations on the Files page both update and reflect the contents of the folder on disk. Likewise, LabVIEW automatically updates the auto-populating folder in the project if you make changes to the folder on disk outside of LabVIEW.

You can arrange items in a folder. Right-click a folder and select ArrangeBy»Name from the shortcut menu to arrange items in alphabetical order. Right-click a folder and select Arrange By»Type from the shortcut
menu to arrange items by file type.

Saving a Project

You can save a LabVIEW project in the following ways:

• Select File»Save Project.
  
• Select Project»Save Project.
  
• Right-click the project and select Save from the shortcut menu.
  
• Click the Save Project button on the Project toolbar.
  

You must save new, unsaved files in a project before you can save the project. When you save a project, LabVIEW does not save dependencies as part of the project file.