Cluster basics in labview

Clusters group data elements of mixed types, such as a bundle of wires, as in a telephone cable, where each wire in the cable represents a different element of the cluster. A cluster is similar to a record or a struct in text-based programming languages. Bundling several data elements into clusters eliminates wire clutter on the block diagram and reduces the number of connector pane terminals that subVIs need. Like an array, a cluster is either a control or an indicator. A cluster cannot contain a mixture of controls and indicators.


cluster labview fig1

Cluster functions: In the Cluster, Class & Variant subpalette on the Block Diagram we have the following Cluster functions we may use to manipulate and get data in or out of a cluster. In this example we will create clusters and use these functions


cluster labview fig2

Unbundle/Unbundle By Name: Use the Unbundle functions to disassemble a cluster into its individual elements. Use the Unbundle by Name function to return specific cluster elements you specify by name. You can also resize these functions for multiple elements using the mouse. Create the following code:


cluster labview fig3

Bundle/Bundle By Name: Use the Bundle function to assemble a cluster from individual elements. To wire elements into the Bundle function, use your mouse to resize the function. Create the following code:


cluster labview fig4

Cluster Order: Cluster elements have a logical order unrelated to their position in the shell. The first object you place in the cluster is element 0, the second is element 1, and so on. If you delete an element, the order adjusts automatically. The cluster order determines the order in which the elements appear as terminals on the Bundle and Unbundle functions on the block diagram. You can view and modify the cluster order by right-clicking the cluster border and selecting Reorder Controls in Cluster from the shortcut menu.

Download Labview Source code of this cluster example

Download cluster bundle and unbundle example labview VI
Download cluster constant and unbundle by name example labview VI

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Useful Links to Labview Source codes

Refer following as well as links mentioned on left side panel for useful labview source codes.

Hex to Binary labview VI      Decimal to Binary labview VI
Number Generator labview VI      Binary to Decimal labview VI
Binary number generator     modulator-demodulator
FFT     up and down sample

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