Variable Manager

NI Vision Builder

Variable Manager

Use the Variable Manager to create and manage Vision Builder AI variables. There are three types of variables in Vision Builder AI: Inspection, system, and network variables.

The main difference between the variable types is the scope of the variable. Inspection variables are limited to the inspection for which they are created. System variables are limited to the device on which an inspection is deployed. Multiple inspections may access the same system variable as long as the inspections are deployed on the same device. Network variables can be accessed by any device on the network that supports LabVIEW variables.

Use the Set Variable step to update the value of any variable except built-in system variables. Use the Set Inspection Status step to update the Inspection Status system variable.

Creating a New Variable

Editing an Existing Variable

Creating a New Variable

Complete one of the following sets of steps to create a new variable:

  • Inspection Variable
    1. Click the Inspection Variables tab.
    2. Click Add to launch the Add Inspection Variable dialog box.
    3. Enter a descriptive Name for the variable.
    4. Specify a Type for the variable.
      Note Note  Numeric variables are defined as double-precision floating point numbers. Point variables consist of two numeric values, one for the x-coordinate value and one for the y-coordinate value.
    5. Specify an Initial Value for the variable.
    6. Click OK to close the dialog box and create the variable.
  • System Variable
    1. Click the System Variables tab.
    2. Click Add to launch the Add System Variable dialog box.
    3. Enter a descriptive Name for the variable.
    4. Specify a Type for the variable.
      Note Note  Numeric variables are defined as double-precision floating point numbers. Point variables consist of two numeric values, one for the x-coordinate value and one for the y-coordinate value.
    5. Specify an Initial Value for the variable.
    6. Enable the Publish on Network control if you want to access the variable from another device on the same network. Use the Use Buffering and Buffer Size controls to specify the buffer settings for system variables published on a network.
    7. Click OK to close the dialog box and create the variable.
  • Network Variable
    1. Click the Network Variables tab.
    2. Click Add to launch the Add Network Variable dialog box.
    3. Enter a descriptive Name for the variable.
    4. Click the Select Source Item button and select the source to use for the value of the network variable.
    5. Specify a Type for the variable.
      Note Note  Numeric variables are defined as double-precision floating point numbers. Point variables consist of two numeric values, one for the x-coordinate value and one for the y-coordinate value.
    6. Specify the Access Type for the variable.
    7. If necessary, enable the Use Buffering control to buffer the value of the variable.
    8. Specify the Timeout to use when communicating with the variable.
    9. Click OK to close the dialog box and create the variable.

Editing an Existing Variable

  1. Select the variable you want to edit from the Variable Manager.
  2. Click Edit to launch the edit variable dialog box.
  3. Modify the variable control settings.
  4. Click OK to close the dialog box and update the variable settings.