You can build custom menus or modify the default LabVIEW menus statically when you edit the VI or programmatically when you run the VI.
Use the Menu Shortcuts Page of the Options dialog box to customize edit-time shortcut menus.
This dialog box includes the following components:
Menu bar of dialog box—Controls the creation and positioning of menu items through a File and an Edit menu.
Insert—Inserts a new item below the selected item.
Delete—Deletes the selected item from the list.
Left—Makes the items after the selected item become sub-items.
Right—Makes the selected item a sub-item of the preceding menu item.
Up—Moves the selected item up in the menu list. If the selected item has sub-items, they move along with the selected item.
Down—Moves the selected item down in the menu list. If the selected item has sub-items, they move along with the selected item.
Menu Type—Indicates one of the following three types of menus to associate with a VI at run time. Select a type from the pull-down menu.
Default—Displays the standard menu.
Minimal—Displays the standard menu without the infrequently used items.
Custom—Allows you to create, edit, and save custom menus into an RTM file.
The Default and Minimal types can be copied but not edited.
Preview—Displays a preview of the menu you build. You also can view application item tags for menu items that appear in the Preview tree.
Menu Hierarchy—Displays the menu hierarchy in a tree.
Item Type—Indicates one of the following three types of menu items.
User Item—Allows you to enter new items that must be handled programmatically on the block diagram. A user item has a name, which is the string that appears on the menu, and a tag, which is a unique, case-sensitive string identifier. The tag identifies the user item on the block diagram. When you type a name, LabVIEW copies it to the tag. You can edit the tag to be different from the name. For a menu item to be valid, its tag must have a value. The Item Tag text box displays question marks for invalid menu items. LabVIEW ensures that the tag is unique to a menu hierarchy and appends numbers when necessary.
Separator—Inserts a separation line on the menu. You cannot set any attributes for this item.
Application Item—Allows you to select default menu items. To insert a menu item, select Application Item and follow the hierarchy to the items you want to add. Add individual items or entire submenus. LabVIEW handles application items automatically. These item tags do not appear in block diagrams. You cannot alter the name, tag, or other attributes of an application item. LabVIEW begins all of its application item tags with the prefix APP_.
Item Name—Displays the string that appears on the menu.
Item Tag—Displays the unique identifier of the menu item. Every menu item must have a unique identifier. The block diagram uses this string to identify the menu item. The identifier is case sensitive, and LabVIEW ignores trailing and leading blanks. If the tag you enter is not valid or is not unique, LabVIEW highlights the tag in red.
Enabled—Specifies whether to enable or to dim the selected menu item on the menu.
Checked—Specifies whether to place a checkmark next to the menu item on the menu.
Shortcut—Displays the combination of keys that you press to access the menu item. To create a new shortcut, place the cursor in this field and press the keys you want to use for the shortcut. When you press <alphanumeric key> or <alphanumeric key-Shift>, LabVIEW automatically appends <Ctrl> as a modifier key. You can use the <F1> to <F24> function keys without using the <Ctrl> key as a modifier key. (macOS) The <Command> key is used as a modifier key. Warnings do not appear for duplicate shortcuts, so be sure to avoid them. LabVIEW does not support <VolumeUp>, <VolumeDown>, and function keys <F15> to <F24> as shortcut keys on macOS.