First, to cycle between source code files in CVI IDE, just use Ctrl-Tab;

Second, if you forget what a function’s complete name, just write a few letters that you are sure of it, then press Ctrl-P. There will be a function name list dialog which includes the letters you typed, just choose the function you want from the list;

Third, right-click anything in source code and choose “Go to Definition”, or use Ctrl-I, you can see where the variables are declared;

Fourth, you can make the project and library trees to auto hide by select menu: Options > Environment > Auto hide Project and Library Trees;

Fifth, there is a “Programmers ToolBox” shipped with LabWindows/CVI which can be used to manipulate sting and filename, you can find it in <cvidir>\toolslib\toolbox\toolbox.fp.

With them, you can make your CVI-based development much easier!

It’s about a month since NI released LabWindows/CVI version 9.0. And some of this version’s new features are very exciting. I think this is a milestone for CVI. The exciting new features include:

New Resource Tracking Window

Locate potential resource/memory leaks earlier in the development process with the Resource Tracking Window. This new tool records and tracks all resources allocated at run time including dynamic memory, file handles, panels, GPIB/TCP handles, and thread pools. With this tool, you can also easily go to source code, view memory, break on deallocation, and log tracked resources to disk for later review.

I think this feature is quite useful in the project development and verification process.

Speed Test Development and Throughput

Achieve up to a 50 percent improvement in compile times for large projects by taking advantage of built-in compiler improvements and new support for precompiled headers.  Increase application execution speed by using the latest external optimized compilers, including the Visual Studio 2008 (MSVC 9.0) compiler, to create release executables and DLLs within the LabWindows/CVI environment.

That 50 percent improvement and the execution speed increase are very impressive.

And other features, like ANSI C99 Compiler Extensions, Updated Interface to the Win32 API, Improved Localization Support, are all plus to this version of LabWindows/CVI. As  a long time CVI developer, I am very pleased to take this new version as my daily project developing tool.