Polymorphic VI Window

In the Create New list of the New dialog box, select VI»Polymorphic VI and click the OK button to display this window. You also can right-click a polymorphic VI on the block diagram and select Open Polymorphic VI from the shortcut menu to display this window.

Use this window to build polymorphic VIs.

This window includes the following components:

Option Description
Edit Icon

Displays the Icon Editor dialog box so you can edit the icon of the polymorphic VI. You also can double-click the icon to display the Icon Editor dialog box.
Instance VIs

Lists the instance VIs included in the polymorphic VI and the names that appear on the shortcut menus of the polymorphic VI and its selector for each instance.

When the polymorphic icon needs to be fixed, the following icons appear on the left side of the VI Name.

Appears when the VI is broken.
Appears when the VI has a different connector panel than the previously listed VI.
Move Up

Moves a selected instance in the Instance VIs list up in the list order. The instance at the top of the list is the default instance of the polymorphic VI. The order of the instances determines the order on the shortcut menus of the polymorphic VI and its selector.
Move Down

Moves a selected instance in the Instance VIs list down in the list order. The instance at the top of the list is the default instance of the polymorphic VI. The order of the instances determines the order on the shortcut menus of the polymorphic VI and its selector.
Add

Displays a file dialog box in which you can select the VIs you want to include in the polymorphic VI. Each VI must have the same connector pane pattern.
Remove

Removes the selected instance from the polymorphic VI.
Edit Name

Renames an instance as it appears on the shortcut menus of the polymorphic VI and its selector.
Block Diagram Appearance Specifies the appearance of the polymorphic VI on the block diagram.
  • Draw Polymorphic VI Icon—

    Displays the polymorphic VI icon on the block diagram and displays the description of the polymorphic VI in the Context Help window when you move the cursor over the polymorphic VI.

  • Draw Instance VI Icon—

    Displays the instance VI icon on the block diagram and displays the description of the instance VI in the Context Help window when you move the cursor over the polymorphic VI.

  • Show Selector by Default—

    Displays the polymorphic VI selector by default when you place the polymorphic VI on the block diagram. To hide the selector, right-click the polymorphic VI and select Visible Items>>Polymorphic VI Selector from the shortcut menu.

  • Allow Polymorphic VI to Adapt to Data Type—

    Displays the Automatic item on the shortcut menus of the polymorphic VI and its selector. Remove the checkmark from this checkbox to hide the Automatic item on the shortcut menus. If you remove the checkmark from this checkbox, the data types you wire to the polymorphic VI inputs do not determine the instance to use, so users must select an instance manually.

If the polymorphic VI is broken, a broken symbol appears at the top of the Polymorphic VI window. Click the broken symbol to display the Error List window. If the polymorphic VI currently is running, a reserved symbol appears at the top of the window. If the polymorphic VI belongs to a licensed library where the license is either in evaluation mode or invalid, a warning symbol appears at the top of the window. Click the warning symbol to view a warning message. Click the Help button in the warning message for more information on the license status.

When you place a polymorphic VI on the block diagram, LabVIEW loads the polymorphic VI into memory. If you make changes to the polymorphic VI in the Polymorphic VI window and close the window without saving the changes, the changes still exist in memory. If you close the VI on which you placed the polymorphic VI and then open it again, the changes to the polymorphic VI no longer appear.