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Preparing for the Certified LabVIEW Associate (CLAD) Exam

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• NI Certification program overview • LabVIEW certification track, exams and processes • CLAD exam

• Preparation materials • Exam format and question types • Exam topics and example questions

• Objective : Focus your preparation to Increase your chances of successful CLAD certification

Presentation Agenda

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Certification Program Overview

Certified Associate Developer LabVIEW

Certified Developer LabVIEW LabWindows CVI TestStand

Certified Architect LabVIEW TestStand

Foundation

Experience

Mastery

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Certification Path

LabVIEW Machine Vision

LabVIEW FPA

LabVIEW Core 1

LabVIEW Core 2

LabVIEW Core 3 CLAD

SW Engineering in LabVIEW

FPGA, Real Time,

Data Aquisition…, Instrument Control,

Machine Vision, LavVIEW Connectivity

CLD CLA Advanced Architectures

LabVIEW OOP

Recommended

Optional

1 Hour Multiple Choice

4 Hour Practical Exam

4 Hour Practical Exam

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LabVIEW CLAD Exam and Process •1 hour Objective style exam (multiple choice) •Scheduled (online) via www.pearsonvue.com/ni/ •Administered and proctored by Pearson Vue •Evaluated and results available to candidate immediately.

•Certificate is mailed or emailed by Customer Education

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Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer (CLAD) Exam

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CLAD Exam Format & Style • 40 multiple choice questions 37 questions have one answer 3 questions have multiple answers (clearly identified)

• Time allocated: 1 hour • Computer Based Skip questions – you can go back to skipped items Mark questions you want to review – you can go back to review items after completion

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CLAD Question Format & Style • Question format Multiple choice, application based (not just memory) Graphical - Questions/answers may contain screen shots

of VIs, functions, controls and indicators. • Question style Given a scenario, determine the best function / method for

solving the problem or for completing the functionality Given a block diagram, predict the outcome Identify features and components of LabVIEW

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Recommended CLAD Preparation Steps 1. Identify any knowledge gaps using the CLAD Exam Preparation Guide 2. Close knowledge gaps by attending NI Training courses and/or using resources listed at end of prep guide 3. Take a Sample Exam (Two available)

(Take under realistic conditions -- timed, no interruptions) 4. Further prep, additional resources: • Daily CLAD blog https://decibel.ni.com/content/blogs/DailyCLAD • LabVIEW forums • Build, modify and manipulate the Vis in the Sample Exams 5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 as necessary…

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Preparation Resources: CLAD Page • WWW.NI.COM\CLAD-PREP

Bottom of Page

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CLAD Exam Topics 1. LabVIEW programming concepts 2. LabVIEW environment 3. Software constructs in LabVIEW 4. Programming VIs and functions 5. Data communication and synchronization VIs and functions 6. VI Server VIs and functions 7. Error handling VIs and functions 8. Design patterns 9. SubVI design 10. Debugging tools and techniques 11. VI design and documentation (style) practices 12. Memory, performance, and determinism

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CLAD Exam Topic: LabVIEW programming concepts: Data flow

• Identify programming practices that enforce data flow on the block diagram, in VIs, and SubVIs

• Identify programming practices that break data flow

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CLAD Exam Topic: Programming Concepts Dataflow

LabVIEW follows a dataflow model for running VIs A node executes only when data are available at all of its

input terminals A node supplies data to the output terminals only when the

node finishes execution

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Programming Concepts Question: Dataflow

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Programming Concepts Question:

Dataflow

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CLAD Exam Topic: Loops Program control structures and data storage

• Select a While Loop or a For Loop for the most appropriate looping structure

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Loops • While Loops

i terminal counts iteration Always runs at least once Runs until stop condition is

met

• For Loops – i terminal counts iterations – Run according to input N of

count terminal

While Loop

For Loop

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CLAD Exam Topic: Shift registers Program control structures and data storage

• Determine the data values in the shift registers after a set number of iterations occur or upon loop termination

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Shift registers

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CLAD Exam Topic: Event Structure • Program control structures and data storage Identify the advantages of Event structures for

event-driven programming Identify the components of an Event structure Identify the different events that an Event structure

can handle

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CLAD Exam Topic: Event Structure

• User Interface (Static) Events: Examples Pressing a button on the mouse Pressing a key on the keyboard Changing the value of a control (e.g. numeric, start button, etc)

• Programmatic Event Can be generated by a Value (Signaling) Property

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Parts of an Event Structure Event Selector Label — identifies event case viewed Timeout — value in ms to wait for events; default value is –1 (indefinite) Default Tunnel Values — allows unwired cases to provide default values Event Data Node — identifies the data LabVIEW provides when the event occurs;

similar to the Unbundle By Name function Event Filter Node — identifies the subset of data available in the Event Data Node that

the event case can modify

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Notify Events (green arrow) • Notifies LabVIEW that a user action has already

occurred; • Available only in the Event Data Node

Filter Events (red arrow) • Validates or changes the event data before the

user interface can process it; • Available in the Event Data Node and Event Filter

Node

CLAD Exam Topic:Event Structure Notify and Filter Events

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CLAD Exam Topic: Data Type • Working with front panel window objects and

data types Determine if a type definition or a strict type

definition is most appropriate to represent a data item

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Software constructs in LabVIEW question Type Definitions

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CLAD Exam Topic: Programming VIs and functions • Determine the output or intermediate values of

data elements in an application that utilizes VIs and functions

• Determine the most appropriate VI(s) or function(s) to complete a specified functionality

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Programming VIs and functions question Timing Functions

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CLAD Exam Topic: Data communication and synchronization VIs and functions

Identify the pros and cons of and use local, global, or shared variables for data communication

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Data communication and synchronization VIs and functions question Global & Local Variables

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CLAD Exam Topic: Design patterns Identify a design pattern, explain its pros and cons,

and compare it with other design patterns

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Design patterns question

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CLAD Exam Topic: LabVIEW environment • Connector pane and connection types Identify which terminals are Required,

Recommended, or Optional

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SubVI Design question Connector Pane

(More than one answer may apply)

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CLAD Exam Topic Debugging tools and techniques Given an error situation, select the most appropriate

method to debug the error

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Debugging tools and techniques question

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After CLAD Success – WHAT NEXT? • Immediately eligible to take the CLD exam

Form / participate in user groups with CLD / CLAs Prepare for the CLD exam using resources on Developer

Zone Time yourself during CLD practice exams Schedule to take the exam by emailing certification@ni.com

• Note: CLAD certification must be current to take the CLD exam

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CLAD - Recertification • CLAD certification is valid for 2 years • Recertification email sent out 3 months and 1

month before CLAD expiration • Recertification exam is another CLAD exam • NI RECOMMENDS: Take the CLD exam and

certify as a CLD before CLAD expires

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Questions? • Time for Exam related questions • Visit ni.com/training/certification for program information and

preparation resources

Best wishes on your Certification Exam !

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Thank you!

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You must include the option to cancel when a user attempts to interactively close the front panel by selecting File>>Close. Which Event case allows this functionality?

Correct Answer: C Topic: Event Structures Justification: It is the only case with a filter event that applies to the Panel Close event. Since no Boolean is wired into the Filter Event terminal, LabVIEW opens a dialogue box to collect the value of the Boolean input.

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Correct Answer: B Topic: Error Handling JUSTIFICATION: Merge Errors outputs the first error it finds in the errors clusters wired into it in a top-down fashion. Error 7 is wired into the top input, so it is the error outputted by Merge Errors

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Correct Answer: C Topic: General Programming Functions Justification: The Array Subset function takes an input array and returns a section of that array as specified, starting at the given index and continuing for a number of elements equal to length. Here, the index value 3 specifies the fourth element of the array, or 10. Since the specified length is value 4, an array of length 4 is returned as follows: {10, 8, 5, 7}.

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Correct Answer: B Topic: Data Types Justification: The integers shown are unsigned 8-bit integers. The range for 8-bit integers is 0-255. The product of 2 times 128 is 256. As 256 is a number larger than the allowable 255, thus 256 wraps to 0.

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Correct Answer: B Topic: Data Types Justification: Definition of Type Def

Correct Answer: B Topic: Data Types Justification: Definition of Type Def

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Correct Answer: C Topic: Data communication and synchronization Justification: The front panel control is read by the property node, so changes to the control take effect in the For Loop. The value to be displayed in the Numeric Indicator only depends on the final iteration, when the value of the numeric is read and incremented.

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