The default LabVIEW Dashboard utilizes Network Tables to pass values and is therefore compatible with C++ and Java robot programs. This article covers the keys and value ranges to use to work with the Dashboard.
Drive Tab
Most of the indicators on the Drive tab utilize arrays. The c++ and Java SmartDashboard classes do not currently support sending arrays.
Basic Tab
The Basic tab uses a number of keys in the a “DB” sub-table to send/recieve Dashboard data. The LED’s are output only, the other fields are all bi-directional (send or recieve).
Labels
The labels are currently sent as an array. C++ and Java SmartDashboard classes do not currently support sending arrays.
Strings
The strings are labeled top-to-bottom, left-to-right from “DB/String 0” to “DB/String 9”. Each String field can display at least 21 characters (exact number depends on what characters). To write to these strings:
Java: SmartDashboard.putString(“DB/String 0”, “My 21 Char TestString”);
C++: SmartDashboard::PutString(“DB/String 0”, “My 21 Char TestString”);
To read string data entered on the Dashboard:
Java: String dashData = SmartDashboard.getString(“DB/String 0”, “myDefaultData”);
C++: std::string dashData = SmartDashboard::GetString(“DB/String 0”, “myDefaultData”);
Buttons and LEDs
The Buttons and LEDs are boolean values and are labeled top-to-bottom from “DB/Button 0” to “DB/Button 3” and “DB/LED 0” to “DB/LED 3”. The Buttons are bi-directional, the LEDs are only able to be written from the Robot and read on the Dashboard. To write to the Buttons or LEDs:
Java: SmartDashboard.putBoolean(“DB/Button 0”, true);
C++: SmartDashboard::PutBoolean(“DB/Button 0”, true);
To read from the Buttons:
Java (default value of false): boolean buttonValue = SmartDashboard.getBoolean(“DB/Button 0”, false);
C++ (default value of false): bool buttonValue = SmartDashboard::GetBoolean(“DB/Button 0”, false);
Sliders
The Sliders are bi-directional analog (double) controls/indicators with a range from 0 to 5. To write to these indicators:
Java: SmartDashboard.putNumber(“DB/Slider 0”, 2.58);
C++: SmartDashboard::PutNumber(“DB/Slider 0”, 2.58);
To read values from the Dashboard into the robot program:
Java (default value of 0.0): double dashData = SmartDashboard.getNumber(“DB/Slider 0”, 0.0);
C++ (default value of 0.0): double dashData = SmartDashboard::GetNumber(“DB/Slider 0”, 0.0);