LabVIEW Tutorials

LabVIEW was developed to make it easier to collect data from laboratory instruments using data
acquisition systems and further to process that data to yield important aspects of that data. Now,
it has evolved into an extremely useful engineering software that can solve problems from a
number of engineering fields. It can not only be used as a data acquisition and processing
software but also to control different instruments and equipment.

LabVIEW interface is very graphical as against MATLAB where you have to do a lot of
procedural programming. There is a plethora of Mathematical applications that you can solve
using LabVIEW, including simple arithmetic applications, complex integration and
differentiation, plots and graphs, statistics, and many more. It can be used to solve circuit
problems, robotics problems, control problems, signal processing problems and many other
problems from different engineering fields.

LabVIEW programs are called VIs, originally stood for virtual instrument, but LabVIEW is now
used for many more applications than just creating a computer simulation if an instrument, and
LabVIEW programs are typically referred to simply as VIs

Startup:

When you execute LabVIEW, title screen will show up informing you that LabVIEW is loading
its processes and initializing. Once it is done loading its components, Getting Started screen will
pop-up as shown in figure 1.

To create a LabVIEW program or LabVIEW VI, you have to click on Blank VI . Once you click
it, three windows will pop-up; Function Palette associated with Block Diagram, and Front
Panel. Fornt Panel displays the controls (knobs, buttons, graphs, etc.) and represents the
graphical interface for the VI, whereas, Block Diagram holds the programming elements, called
blocks, functions, or sometimes subVIs, that are wired together to build the graphical program.
 Figure 1: LabVIEW Getting Started Screen

Palettes

Different palettes associated with LabVIEW are,

Function Palette
Control Palette
Tool Palette

Function palette is associated with Block Diagram window, Control palette is associated with
Front Panel Window, and Tool Palette is associated with both of the windows. All of the three
palettes can be opened from View located in the menu bar.
Control palette provides access to the objects like controls, indicators, knobs, and graphs that are
placed on the front panel. There is a large number of different controls available collected into a
number of categories and each category can be expanded or collapsed.

Figure 2: Control Palette Window

Function palette contains functions, VIs, and Express VIs that can be placed on a block diagram
to create a graphical program. Like control palette, there is a large number of different functions
available in the function palette collected into a number of different categories that can be
expanded or collapsed
 Figure 3: Function Palette Window

EXERCISE 1

From function palette find the group(s) containing the following functions:

(i) Add

(ii) Wait (look for a wristwatch icon)

(iii) Transforms (Laplace, z, Fourier etc.)

From control palette find the group(s) containing:

(i) Dial Numeric Control

(ii) Toggle Switch

(iii) Table
Tool Palette is used to edit text, position/size/select, probe data and other jobs that will be
learned and used as they will come across.

Figure 4: Tool Palette Window

Creating a VI

Lets start with a simple program. Choose a toggle switch and an LED from the control palette
and put them on the Front Panel as shown in figure 5. Double click on the names of these
controls and change them to Power Switch and LED

Figure 5: Power Switch and LED on the Front Panel

Now go to the Block Diagram window, functional blocks of your components will already be
there. You will connect them in the block diagram through wire(s). You can wire different
components in two ways; put your mouse on one of the connection end of any component and
drag it to the connection end of any other component, or just click on the connection end of one
of the components and click on the connection end of the other component.

NOTE: If you do not see your mouse as a cross-hair in your block diagram window, you are not
in the wiring mode. Open tool palette and select either Automatic Tool Selection (one on the top)
or Connect Wire tool.

When wiring is done, you are ready to simulate your design. Simulation is done in the front
panel window. Simulation or Run buttons are located in the top toolbar menu and can be
recognized as shown in figure 6

Figure 6: Run Buttons

From left to right, first button is to run your simulation once, second one is to run it
continuously, third one is to stop the simulation, and fourth one is to pause the simulation. Run
your simulation continuously and toggle the switch to see your LED turns ON and OFF.

Figure 7: LED Operated by Switch

There are different mechanical properties for the switch that you can select. Select toggle switch,
right-click your mouse and go to Mechanical Action. Try different types of mechanical actions
for the switch.

You can also change color of your LED by selecting LED, going into its properties (right-click),
and from there going to Appearance tab.

EXERCISE 2

Instead of a toggle switch, use a push-button momentary switch and operate your LED through
it. Change mechanical properties of switch to try different actions.

Mathematical Operations

Many basic and complex mathematical functions can be done with LabVIEW easily. Lets create
a VI to add two numbers. Open a blank VI and choose Num Ctrl from Numeric Controls group.
Place two numeric controls (Addend and Augend) in the front panel as shown in figure 8

Figure 8: Two Numbers to Add

Now, from Numeric Indicators control group choose Num Ind (numeric indicator) and place it in
the front panel to check result for the addition operation, as shown in figure 9

Figure 9: Numeric Controls with Number Indicator

Now add two labels, a + sign between addend and augend, and an = sign between augend and
sum. This can be done by double clicking your mouse button where you want to place that text
and typing it in the box that appears (if you are in Automatic Tool Selection mode).

Figure 10: Adding text in Front Panel

Now go to your block diagram window and from function palette, choose an ADD function from
Mathematics group and place it in window. Arrange your blocks and wire them as shown in
figure 11. Run your circuit in the front panel and check results for different number additions.

Figure 11: Addition Blocks

There is a nice option in LabVIEW that can show signal flow while you are simulating your
circuit. This can be done by pressing Highlight Execution button from block diagram window
(fifth button from left in the toolbar). You can also arrange your two windows right and left, or
up and down from Window menu bar. Simulate your circuit with Highlight Execution button
pressed to see how your values are flowing from your addend and augend to your sum block.
Function Evaluation

Lets evaluate the following function in LabVIEW,

f ( x, y ) 4 x 3y (1)

Place two numerical control blocks for x and y, and one number indicator block for f(x,y), as you
did in the previous design.

Figure 12: Control Blocks for Equation (1)

To present a constant in the block diagram, choose Mathematics under function palette and then

proceed to Numeric DBL Num or Numeric Numeric Constant. Complete block for
equation 1 is shown in figure 13

Figure 13: Block Diagram Corresponding to Front Panel from Figure 12

EXERCISE 3

Implement the function,

f (x , y ) 4x 3 3y 2 7xy (2)

Front panel controls are shown in figure 13

Figure 13: Controls Corresponding to Equation (2)

Note: x2 block is in Mathematics Numeric and xy function block is in

Mathematics Elementary Exponential

EXERCISE 4

Enter temperature in Centigrade (from 0oC, freezing point of water, to 100oC, boiling point of
water) with a knob and use thermometer to display equivalent temperature in Fahrenheit.
Conversion formula is,

T 9 T 32 (3)

F 5C

NOTE: Use right-click scale to set scale for both knob and thermometer
EXERCISE 5

Design a control to find out voltage across resistor R2 from the following circuit.
R1

Vs R2

Figure 14: Simple Series Circuit for Exercise - 5

Use voltage divider rule,

VR R2 Vs (4)
2
R
1 R2

Front panel controls are shown as follows:

Figure 15: Front Panel Controls for Exercise 5

NOTE: Use Modern Decoration to draw lines and R1 and R2 boxes.
Descriptive Information & Block Diagram Labeling

This section discusses how to add a description to your program. Lets create a new VI that
evaluates roots of a quadratic equation, Ax2+Bx+C=0, using quadratic formula,

x B B 4 AC
2
(5)
2A

Figure 16 shows the controls for the front panel

Figure 16: Quadratic Equation Solver for Real Roots

To add a description for this design, go to File VI Properties and choose Documentation under
category. You can also do the same by right clicking on the LabVIEW icon in the top right corner
of your screen and choosing VI Properties. Give VI description for your program. One example
is shown in figure 17

Figure 17: Example of File Description

You must have recognized <B> & </B> as used in html to print something in bold. Press OK to
save the description. You can see context help about your program by moving your mouse over
the LabVIEW icon on the top right corner of your screen, if context help is enable (To enable

context help, go to Help context help and then move your mouse on the icon)

Figure 18: Context Help

Block diagram corresponding to the program is shown in figure 19. Observe the proper labeling
that makes the block diagram more understandable
 Figure 19: Block Diagram Corresponding to the Quadratic Equation Solver for Real Roots

To convert this program into a quadratic equation solver for both real and complex roots, all you
have to do is to choose proper data type associated with the square root function block and the
output number indicator blocks. This data type is complex double and you can choose it by right

clicking the output number indicator blocks and going to Representation CDB. Likewise,

change the data type for the square root block from Double to Complex Double (right-click

Properties Output Configuration). A proper quadratic equation solver that can solve for all
the roots is shown in figure 20.

Figure 20: Quadratic Equation Solver for all Roots

Equation Evaluation using Formula Block

There are many function blocks given under Mathematics Script & Formulas. Lets analyze
one of them to see how we can evaluate equations and formulae without using basic
mathematical function blocks.

Suppose we want to implement the equation f (x, y) 4x3 3y2 7xy . In your front panel
arrange numeric controls for x and y and number indicator for f(x,y) as shown earlier in figure 13.
In block diagram window, pull formula block
from Mathematics Script & Formulas and
arrange the blocks as shown in figure 21

Figure 21: Arrangement of Blocks to Implement Equation (2) Using Formula Block

When you put the formula block, its properties window will open up that looks like a calculator.
Type your formula in this calculator using the variables X1 for x and X2 for y. Make sure to use
** button for power. Once you are done entering your formula, change the label of X1 to x and
X2 to y. Press OK to exit from formula block properties. In the block diagram, your formula
block will expand to show you two input connections, x and y. Connect inputs and outputs as
shown in figure 22. Your control is ready to work!

Figure 22: Circuit to Implement Equation 2

WARNING:Make sure not to use formula block to evaluate any expression
or implement any type of function control unless you are asked to do
so.

EXERCISE 6

Design a binary to decimal number converter that converts a 3-bit binary number into its decimal
equivalent. Take C as the most significant bit and A as the least significant bit. Front panel
controls are shown in figure 23. When toggle switch is ON assume a 1 and when it is OFF
assume a 0, for binary number. Choose red switch color to show its ON state.

Figure 23: Binary-to-Decimal Converter

NOTES:

(i) You might need to convert Boolean logic of switches into equivalent 0 and 1 before you
create conversion circuit. To do so, right-click on any switch in the block diagram and

choose Boolean palette Boolean to (0,1). This is important to match input and output data
types.

(ii) If you do not know how to convert a binary number into decimal, learn! It will be helpful
in your future classes
Comparison Functions

Lets look at another important class of functions, comparison functions. Comparison functions
compare different conditions at the input and generate an output based on the comparison result.

These functions are located in Express Arithmetic & Comparison Comparison. You must
be familiar with most of the functions in this group. Lets use a less familiar function Select to
create a program.

Lets create a program that selects and calculates natural log or base-10 log of a number with a
switch toggle. Front panel controls are shown in figure 24

Figure 24: Toggle Switch to Calculate Corresponding Results for x

Pull Select block, Log10 block, and ln block to the block diagram. Check Select block help to
understand how does it work. Wire them together as shown in figure 25 and test your circuit.

Figure 25: Block Diagram Corresponding to the Problem

EXERCISE 7

Create a design to select one of the following functions with a toggle switch and calculate its
output for different input values

f ( x , y ) 2 x 3y
g(x,y)4x5y (6)

Incorporating Other Comparison Functions with Select:

Lets create a program based on Exercise -7 such that if input x > y, output will be calculated
according to f(x,y), otherwise, it will be calculated according to g(x,y). We are going to use two
comparison function blocks; greater than and less or equal to along with select block. Make sure
to check their help to see the data types associated to their inputs and output.

Open the front panel for Exercise 7, remove the switch and rearrange the controls as shown in
figure 26. Add two LEDs, one to show when result will be calculated using f and other when it
will be calculated using g.

Figure 26: Calculation of Two Different Functions Based on the Input Values
CET 3464 Software Applications in Engineering Technology

Block diagram of the control is shown in figure 27. Note how the output of greater than block is
connected to both of the LEDs directly. Practically, you will need an inverter circuit (NOT gate)
connected to the LED of g(x,y) function but just for demonstration purpose, you do not need to
connect any gate between the output of comparison block and LEDs. How you are going to make
sure that only one LED will light up when the corresponding function will be calculated, as
shown in figure 28?

Figure 27: Block Diagram for Figure 26 Circuit Control

( a) ( b)

Figure 28: Output of Two Functions, Selected One at a Time, Base on the Input Values (a)
Output is Calculated for g(x,y), since x < y (b) Output is Calculated for f(x,y), since x > y
Random Number Generation:

There is a random number generator in function palette under Mathematics Numeric
Random Number (0-1). This random number generator generates a floating point number
randomly, using a uniform distribution function, between 0 and 1. If you want to generate any
number between a specific range, say 0 to 10, all you have to do is to multiply the output of
random number generator by the upper limit of your range. If you want output to be only random
integers, instead of floating point numbers, round them off to the closest integer using the
appropriate function block

EXERCISE 8

Create a program that randomly generates an integer between 0 and 10. Front panel will contain
only one number indicator

Introduction to WHILE Loops

Suppose we want to create a program that a user has to guess a randomly generated number
between 0 and 10 from the program that you just created. This calls for user to keep entering
numbers until his number matches with the one randomly generated. This situation can be
handled with a WHILE loop. WHILE loops perform a set of functions as long as some condition
is true or false. Since WHILE loops are related to comparing results between different
conditions, hence this is a natural place to introduce them.

WHILE loop function block is present under Programming Structure. Pull the function block
on the block diagram. It looks like a box that can be resized. Anything that you enclose inside
this box will be repeated until condition of WHILE loop becomes true or false, however you set
it. Make sure to check help for WHILE loop to fully understand its function.

Lets create a program to let user guess a randomly generated number between 1 and 10. Front
panel will contain a numeric control (disable increment/decrement control so that user can only
enter the number by typing it) and an LED as shown in figure 29

Figure 29: Front Panel for Number Guessing Program

CET 3464 Software Applications in Engineering Technology

We will enclose user input and comparison block inside the WHILE loop and randomly
generated number control outside the WHILE loop, since random number has to be generated
only once. LED will also be outside the WHILE loop, connected to the output of comparison
block. It will turn ON when WHILE loop condition will be satisfied, i.e. when input number will
be matched with the random number. Any indicator outside the WHILE block will only
demonstrate its status once the WHILE condition is satisfied. Block diagram of the program is
shown in figure 30

Figure 30: Block Diagram for Number Guessing Program

Condition for the WHILE loop that is used is Stop if True. You can change the condition to
Continue if True (right-click WHILE block) and change equal to block to not equal to, to get the
same result.

Boolean Functions:

Boolean or Logic functions are comprised of basic logic gates (NOT, AND, OR) and advanced
logic gates (NOR, NAND, XOR, XNOR). Boolean function group also has some other function
blocks that can be used as required. Just to refresh your memory, functions of different logic
gates are as follows,
 NOT: Output is opposite of the input
AND: Output is high only if all the inputs are high
OR: Output is low only if all the inputs are low
NAND: Opposite of AND. Output is low only if all the inputs are high
NOR: Opposite of OR. Output is high only if all the inputs are low
XOR: Output is high if both of the inputs are opposite
XNOR: Output is high if both of the inputs are same

Lets start with an easy example. Choose two dials A and B, each with range from zero to ten.
Choose two LEDs, one for each dial. If A > B, turn LED for dial A ON, else turn LED for dial B
ON. This can be made with a simple NOT gate. Front panel for the program is shown in figure
31 and block diagram is shown in figure 32.

Figure 31: Two Dials Controlling Two LEDs

Figure 32: Block Diagram for Two-Dial Circuit from Figure 31

EXERCISE 9

Create a program that can generate random integers from 3 to 8. Your front panel will have only
one numeric indicator to show random integer.

Hint: One way to do it is to use WHILE loop as part of your program

EXERCISE 10

Choose three dials A, B, and C, each with range from zero to ten. Also choose three LEDs
(different colors), one for each dial. Design a control circuit that shows you which dial has the
highest value by turning ON the corresponding LED

Hint: One way to design this control is to use AND gates as part of the design

EXERCISE 11

Create the logic circuit shown in figure 33 and fill out the following truth table. Use three
switches for the inputs and an LED for the output. Symbols for different gates are given in figure
34

U4A
F A B C X

74LS32N
0 0 0
4
A 1 U1A
D 0 0 1
U5A 9 U6A 0 1 0
74LS00N X
B
2
U2A 7 0 1 1
5
E 74LS86N G 8 74LS266N
U7A
I
1 0 0
74LS04N

6 74LS02N 1 0 1
U3A
H
C 3
1 1 0
74LS266N 1 1 1
(a) (b)

Figure 33: (a) Logic Circuit (b) Truth Table to Fill

74LS04 74LS08 74LS32 74LS00 74LS02 74LS86A 74LS266

1

1 1
3 4 3 3 3 1 3 3
2

2 2

NOT AND OR NAND NOR XOR XNOR

Figure 34: Symbols for Different Gates

Matrices & Arrays

In LabVIEW, matrices represent data arrangement in 2D while arrays represent data arrangement
in any dimension. In arrays you can store data with only one data type (double floating, Boolean,
integer etc.). If you want to store data with different data types (for example, a mix of floating,
image, integer etc.), clusters are used instead of arrays.

To define a matrix, go to Array, Matrix, and Cluster control group and choose RealMatrix. Lets
add two matrices as follows,

2 3 9 3 3 8
6 4 2 5 2

1

8 5 2 1 3 2

Pull two matrix controls on the front panel, name them A and B. First index of matrix control
represents row number and second one represents column number. Note that both row and
column numbers start at 0. You can remove vertical and horizontal scroll bars and index control
by going into the properties of matrix block. Also, you can stretch matrix block to accommodate
visible number of rows and columns. Front panel is shown in figure 35. Make sure to change

A+B matrix from control to indicator (right-click change to indicator).

Figure 35: Matrix Addition

Explore different functions of matrix block by highlighting and right-clicking it.

Now lets define an array. Pull array block from the corresponding control group. It will look
like an empty box. Insert a numeric indicator in the box and stretch it to control number of rows
with one column. To increase number of columns, right-click the block and click on Add
Dimension. Column dimension will appear. Stretch the array block to adjust number of columns.

When you use matrix block to do matrix multiplication, LabVIEW carries out cross product.
Hence, number of columns of first matrix should be equal to number of rows of the second
matrix. With arrays, you can either do element-by-element multiplication (array multiplication)

or cross multiplication by using the corresponding block from Mathematics Linear Algebra

A B.

EXERCISE 12

In circuit analysis, when KVL (Kirchhoffs Voltage Law) or KCL (Kirchhoffs Current Law)
equations are set up to solve for either loop currents or node voltages, it results in a set of
simultaneous linear equations. Solve the following set of simultaneous linear equations using
matrix manipulation as given below.

2x5y6z2
3x6y2z1
8x5yz4

This set of linear equations can be represented in terms of matrices as follows,

2 5 6 x 2
3 6 2 y 1

8 5 1 z 4

Values of unknown variables can be found out as follows,

x 2 5 61 2
y 3 6 2 1

z 8 5 1 4

where A-1 represents matrix inverse. There is an inverse matrix function block in LabVIEW
(find it!).

There is also a linear equations solution function block under Mathematics Linear Algebra Solve
Linear Equations. Use this block and work on Exercise 12 again.

Another important function related to matrices and arrays is to extract different columns and
rows and create new matrices or arrays out of them. The function that is used to do this job is
Array Subset (find it!). Function block is shown in figure 36 with description of its inputs and
outputs. As with any array control block, by default Array Subset block is one-dimensional (only
rows). You can always add more dimensions by selecting Add Dimension through right-click or
as soon as you will connect a matrix to the input of function block, it will automatically extend
its input dimension. In figure 36, both rows and columns dimensions are shown (blue inputs)

Input Array or Matrix

Starting Row Index

Sub-Array
Number of Rows
Starting Column Index

Number of Columns

Figure 36: Array Subset Block

Create a 3-by-3 matrix or array and use array subset block to extract a two-by-two matrix with
rows 2 & 3 and columns 2 & 3 as shown below. Remember the first column and row indices in
LabVIEW are zero.

2 3 4
6 7
5 6 7
9 10
8 9 10

Origianl matrix Extracted matrix

Figure 37: Matrix and Sub-Matrix

There is also a very useful function to find out maximum and minimum value (s) of a matrix or

array and indices of the first maximum values. This function is Programming Array Max
& Min
Two-Dimensional Graphs:

Graphs utilize arrays to hold the values of the coordinates. Lets start with a simple line plot of
equation y = 2x + 1 for x = 1 to 10,

x = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

y = 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21

Create two arrays, one for x and one for y. There are two types of X-Y plot functions that you can

use; XY Graphs and Express XY Graphs. Lets start with Express XY Graphs (Modern

Graphs Express XY Graphs or Express Graph Indicators XY Graph). Click on the x
and y axes range to set initial and final values for both the axes. You can also click on the x and y
labels to change them as well as the title of the plot. Front panel is shown in figure 38 and block
diagram is shown in figure 39.

Figure 38: Simple Line Function Graph

 Figure 39: Block Connection for Line Graph from Figure 38

As it can be seen, express graphs have a Build XY Graph function added to them that lets you put
two input arrays as x and y and generates an XY Graph between them.

If you use XY Graph (Modern Graphs XY Graphs) instead of Express, you have to create an

array bundle (Programming Cluster, Class, and Variant Bundle) for the input arrays x and y
such that output is a single array going into graph function. Recreate the line function graph using XY
Graphs and Bundle function. Block diagram is shown in figure 40

Figure 40: Graph of Straight Line Function using XY Graphs and Bundle Function
For Loops:

For loops are used to generate values for a function for a range of its input variable(s). For loop

function block is located under Programming Structures and shown in figure 41. Operation of
this block is very simple; loop is going to run for N times, with i being the current iteration value
from 0 to N-1. Arrays are generally used to hold the values and results generated from the loop.

Figure 41: For Loop Function Block

Lets create a very simple program; build an array with values from 1 to 100. This can be done
easily using a for loop as shown in figure 42.

Figure 42: Using For Loop to Create an Array from 1 to 100

EXERCISE 13

Use a for loop to generate a multiplication table from 1 to 10 for an integer n. Front panel is
shown in figure 43.

Figure 43: Front Panel for Multiplication table

Graphs Using For Loops:

One of the most important functions of for loops is to generate arrays to plot graphs. Lets create a
plot for a quadratic function, y = 2x + 3x2 + 1 for x = 0 to 20. Loop is going to run for 21 times (N =
21). Block diagram of the program is shown in figure 44 and graph is shown in figure 45.

Figure 44: Block Diagram for the Quadratic Function Plot

Figure 45: Plot of Quadratic Function y = 2x + 3x2 + 1

EXERCISE 14

Create a graph for y = sin(x) for x = 0o to 360o. Make sure your x-axis should be in degrees.

Multiple Graphs

In this section we will look at how to graph multiple functions on the same plot. Lets start with
express XY graphs and plot two functions, y1 = 2sin(t) and y2 = cos(t), on the same plot. Lets
plot both the functions from 0 to 4 with 100 points distributed evenly in the range. Front panel
set-up will be the same as shown in figure 46. In block diagram you have to run the FOR loop
100 times such that it produces input to the trigonometric functions that starts at time t = 0 and
ends at t = 4This can easily be done by dividing 4by 99 (maximum value of i) and
multiplying it by i as shown in figure 46. This value will go to the inputs of both sin and cos
blocks.

To draw multiple graphs on the same plot, we will use a function block called Build Array. This

is located under Programming Array. You will need two of these blocks, one to build array
for x (time) and the other to build array for y1 and y2. Output of respective blocks will go to the x
and y inputs of Build XY Graph block. Complete block diagram is shown in figure 46 and front
panel shot is shown in figure 47.

Figure 46: Block Diagram to Graph Two Functions on the Same Plot
 Figure 47: Multiple Graphs on the Same Plot

EXERCISE 15

Plot the same functions y1 and y2 using XY Graph (not Express XY Graph)

Hint: You will have to use bundle block to make pairs of (x, y1) and (x, y2) first, followed by
build array block

Cursors

You can add cursors to check the (x,y) coordinates of each graph. Turn the cursor on by right

clicking the graph and selecting Visible Items Cursor Legend. By default there is only one

cursor. To add more cursors, right click on the graph again, go to Properties Cursors Add.
You can change color of each cursor lines to differentiate from one another. An example is
shown in figure 48 that shows coordinate values of two graphs at different points
 Figure 48: An Example of using Cursors

Waveform Graphs

Waveform graphs are very similar to XY Graphs except XY Graphs are a little more powerful.
The waveform graph displays one or more plots of evenly sampled measurements. The
waveform graph plots only single-valued functions, as in y = f(x), with points evenly distributed
along the x-axis, such as acquired time-varying waveforms. On the other hand, the XY graph is a
general-purpose Cartesian graphing object that plots multivalued functions, such as circular
shapes or waveforms with a varying time base. The XY graph displays any set of points, evenly
sampled or not.

Since we are already familiar with XY Graphs, we are not going to talk about Waveform Graphs
and it will be left as students exercise.
EXERCISE 16

Graph a function y = Ax2+Bx+C, where A, B, and C are three dials, each with range from -5 to
10. Use Waveform Graph to graph y for x = 0 to 10.

Waveform Chart

Unlike graphs that wait for the output array to have all of the values and then create a plot,
waveform chart receives individual data points and continuously updates the presentation of the
data. A waveform chart is typically used during data acquisition to monitor the data as they are
being collected. Lets modify exercise 16 and use a waveform chart in addition to a waveform
graph as shown in figure 49. Both of them are connected to the same function y.

Figure 49: Demonstration of Waveform Chart

After running the program two times and keeping the same values of A, B, and C, you will see
the following output

Figure 49: Difference in the Outputs of Waveform Graph and Waveform Chart

As it can be seen that waveform graph just plots the graph in the same range for each run of the
program, whereas, waveform chart updates the range each time it runs. Note that function is still
being calculated for the same values of x (0 to 10), only presentation is changed. Waveform chart
keeps appending the range each time it is executed; hence, it is mostly used for data acquisition
problems where continuous plot of incoming data is required.