How to Zoom Your VIs for Debugging Labview Code With VI-Peek

Updated Dec 21, 2021

Environment

Software

  • LabVIEW

VI Peek provides a different way to zoom your VIs. From a single window, you can drill down a VI hierarchy and easily move back up the calling chain.
 
How will VI Peek Help you?
  • During a debugging session, how many windows do you have open? 10? 100?
  • Do you have trouble remembering how to move back up the call chain after drilling down through the VI hierarchy to lower-level VIs?

  1. Install the VI-Peek using this link https://www.vipm.io/package/vi_peek/ (VI Package Manager Installation)
  2. Make sure to install all the dependencies from VI PM. Note. The installation procedure is going to take a while because it will be necessary to Mass Compile many Vis.
  3. Open a LabVIEW Project or any VI that contains the subVIs that you are going to be navigating.
  4. When the VI is open. Press Ctrl + Shift + N. This will enable the tool and you will see the Peek Window as the capture below shows.Picture1.png
  5. You can close the Windows or just move it.
  6. If you Left Click any SubVI the block diagram it is going to load in the Peek Windows.Picture2.png
  7. In case the VI is a polymorphic VI this is going to show as the image below. Each child item in the tree is an instance of the polymorphic VI.Picture3.png
  8. If you are going to be accessing SubVIs of SubVIs they are going to be organized hierarchically as the capture below shows. i.e., Error Cluster from Error Code.vi is two levels down from the Save Changes (System).vi.Picture4.png
  9. If you need to open the Normal Block Diagram with its Front Panel you just need to select the VI and press the Open button.
Picture5.png
You can go back to the previous VI by pressing the back arrow in the upper-left or middle-clicking anywhere on the VI Peek window. You can also move back multiple VIs by clicking the VI in the tree.




 

You will be able to easily organize the subVIs according to the hierarchy in just one window. This will allow the programmer to debug in an agile way.
 

Related Links

VI Peek

Other Support Options

Ask the NI Community

Collaborate with other users in our discussion forums



Request Support from an Engineer

A valid service agreement or active software subscription may be required, and support options vary by country.