General LabVIEW questions from a VERY new user

[RufflesRidge]

Originally Posted by ctccromer

That was the actual code it starts with when you make a new cRIO project. I didn't edit it in any way, just moved some things around, screenshot, and edited in paint.
What is it even putting INTO an array? The axis values? If so, I'll just delete and ignore that part of the provided example code

It is putting the axis values of the joystick into a SmartDashboard array which is sent to the dashboard.

If there is a vi that already does this (or even has SOME code to get started like all the other vi's) I'd DEFINITELY get that. I'll look around for it

Documentation on the Vision Processing example is here (I highly recommend reading all of it except the C++/Java code part, don't just skip to the LabVIEW code section): http://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/3120/m/8731

Which brings me to my Third question:
When working with the axes of a joystick, how do I change the 3rd and 4th axes to "Axis 3 (x)" and "Axis 4 (y)" instead of the default "Axis 3 (Throttle)" and "Axis 4"? The reason I need to do this is because I'm using the controller linked in the OP, which LabVIEW picks up as ONE joystick, but it has 2 analog sticks, so the left will be Axes 1 and 2, and the right will be Axes 3 and 4.

You can't easily change those labels, but the parenthetical is informative, it doesn't effect program operation. As a note, on many controllers (X-box controllers and at least some Logitech controllers) the second stick is not axis 3 and 4 because of things like the D-pad and/or analog triggers. You may have to experiment here, or put some indicators on the values for all the axes then run your program from your PC to figure out what maps to what

Question 4:
So I know a cRIO Robot Project is the code you make, deploy to the cRIO, then run on a computer that's in communication with the cRIO.
But what would I need to use a Dashboard Project for? Would that just be for if I wanted to add another feature to the dashboard/driver station windows?

Correct, a dashboard project is if you want to create a modified version of the dashboard program that runs on the PC. You cannot modify the Driver Station software.

[ctccromer]

I added the vision processing walkthrough to my favorites already and will look at that as soon as I get our camera up and running (have another thread about that)

And I was not aware about the axis thing. When I tested the buttons (booleans) today, the following parts of the controller did not register:
The left and right analog sticks obviously, the left and right triggers, and the d-pad.
Does it consider the left and right triggers as 1 axis each then?
And what does it consider the 8-way D-pad? My teacher and I were discussing it today and were kind of surprised it didnt show up as any of the 12 buttons. It seems like it would be a button/boolean value rather than a full axis

[Mark McLeod]

The triggers on game controllers are axis.
You can depress them halfway for half power.

[RufflesRidge]

Both directional pads and analog triggers usually show up in strange ways.

Analog triggers are typically mapped to a single axis for both. The axis will read 1 for 1 trigger fully depressed, -1 for the other and 0 for both. Partial depression of a single trigger will read a value between 0 and the extreme (1 or -1). Partial depression of both triggers will read something, or 0 (I recommend not having a control scheme that does this).

D-pads show up in different ways depending on the controller, but also typically map to an axis. This thread has a mapping for the F310 in it: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ighlight=d-pad

[Greg McKaskle]

Most of the questions seem to have been answered, but as to the incomplete description of the various functions, the diagram of Robot Main contains a large string constant with just such a description.

If you really decide you need to change the name of a cluster element, you cast it to a different cluster. The Cast function looks like forcing a square peg through a round hole. As noted, this is largely a cosmetic thing. Names of elements serve as documentation and little else.

Greg McKaskle