By default, LabVIEW automatically handles any error that occurs when a VI runs by suspending execution, highlighting the subVI or function where the error occurred, and displaying a dialog box. You can choose other error handling methods. For example, if an I/O VI on the block diagram times out, you might not want the entire application to stop. You also might want the VI to retry for a certain period of time. In LabVIEW, you can make these error handling decisions on the block diagram of the VI.

VIs and functions return errors in one of two ways-with numeric error codes or with an error cluster. Typically, functions use numeric error codes, and VIs use an error cluster, usually with error inputs and outputs.

Error handling in LabVIEW follows the dataflow model. Just as data flow through a VI, so can error information. Wire the error information from the beginning of the VI to the end. Include an error handler VI at the end of the VI to determine if the VI ran without errors. Use the error in and error out clusters in each VI you use or build to pass error information through the VI.

As the VI runs, LabVIEW tests for errors at each execution node. If LabVIEW does not find any errors, the node executes normally. If LabVIEW detects an error, the node passes the error to the next node without executing. The next node does the same thing, and so on. Use the Simple Error Handler VI, shown in Figure 1, to handle the error at the end of the execution flow. The Simple Error Handler VI is located on the Functions>>All Functions>>Time & Dialog palette. Wire the error cluster to the error in input.

Figure 1

The error clusters located on the Functions>>All Functions>>Array & Cluster palette include the components of information shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

Use the error cluster controls and indicators to create error inputs and outputs in subVIs.

When an error occurs, right-click within the cluster border and select Explain Error from the shortcut menu to open the Explain Error dialog box. The Explain Error dialog box contains information about the error. The shortcut menu includes an Explain Warning option if the VI contains warnings but no errors.

You also can access the Explain Error dialog box from the Help>>Explain Error menu.

You can wire an error cluster to the conditional terminal of a While Loop to stop the iteration of the While Loop (Figure 3). When you wire the error cluster to the conditional terminal, only the True or False value of the status parameter of the error cluster is passed to the terminal. When an error occurs, the While Loop stops.

Figure 3

When an error cluster is wired to the conditional terminal, the shortcut menu items Stop if True and Continue if True change to Stop on Error and Continue while Error.