Error handling structure for use in a graphical program

1. A computer-accessible memory medium that stores program instructions executable by a processor to implement:

displaying an error handling structure in a graphical program, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program, and wherein the error handling structure comprises a first frame configured to contain graphical program code for which error handling is to be provided; and

including at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame in response to user input specifying the at least a portion of the graphical program;

wherein during execution of the graphical program, the error handling structure aborts execution of the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame in response to detection of an unhandled error in the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame and continues execution of the graphical program.

2. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least a portion of the graphical program includes one or more output parameters;

wherein the error handling structure comprises default values for the one or more output parameters; and

wherein during execution of the graphical program, the error handling structure specifies output of the default values for the one or more output parameters in response to detection of the unhandled error in the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame.

3. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 2 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

setting the default values for the one or more output parameters in response to user input specifying the one or more default values.

4. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 2 , wherein the default values for the one or more output parameters comprise default values for respective data types.

5. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 1 ,

wherein the error handling structure comprises error handling code for handling unhandled errors that occur in the at least a portion of the graphical program; and

wherein during execution of the graphical program, the error handling structure specifies execution of the error handling code in response to the detection of the unhandled error in the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame.

6. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 5 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to perform:

associating the error handling code with the error handling structure in response to user input specifying the error handling code.

7. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 5 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

executing the graphical program, including executing the error handling structure, wherein said executing the error handling structure comprises:

executing the at least a portion of the graphical program contained in the first frame;

in response to detecting the unhandled error in the at least a portion of the graphical program during said executing the at least a portion of the graphical program:

aborting execution of the at least a portion of the graphical program; and

executing the graphical error handling code to exit the at least a portion of the graphical program in a stable state.

8. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 7 ,

wherein the at least a portion of the graphical program is a first portion of the graphical program, where the graphical program includes a second portion that is not contained in the first frame, and wherein said aborting execution of the at least a portion of the graphical program does not terminate execution of the second portion of the graphical program.

9. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 5 ,

wherein the error handling code comprises graphical error handling code;

wherein the error handling structure comprises a second frame configured to contain the graphical error handling code;

wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

including the graphical error handling code in the second frame in response to user input specifying the graphical error handling code.

10. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 9 ,

wherein the error handling structure comprises a finally frame configured to contain graphical finally code; and

wherein during execution of the graphical program, the error handling structure specifies execution of the finally code regardless of whether or not an unhandled error in the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame occurs.

11. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 1 ,

wherein the error handling structure comprises a finally frame configured to contain graphical finally code; and

wherein during execution of the graphical program, the error handling structure specifies execution of the finally code regardless of whether or not an unhandled error in the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame occurs.

12. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

including the graphical finally code in the finally frame in response to user input specifying the graphical finally code.

13. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 11 ,

wherein specifying execution of the finally code further comprises specifying retriggering of the unhandled error in response to the detection of the unhandled error in the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame.

14. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 11 ,

wherein the error handling structure is comprised in a first frame of a second error handling structure in the graphical program;

wherein during execution of the graphical program, said retriggering of the unhandled error results in detection of the unhandled error in the first frame of the second error handling structure in the graphical program.

15. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 1 ,

wherein the graphical program comprises a graphical data flow program.

16. The computer-accessible memory medium of claim 1 ,

wherein the graphical program is configured to perform one or more of:

an industrial automation function;

a process control function;

a test and measurement function.

17. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

utilizing a computer to perform:

displaying an error handling structure in a graphical program, wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program, and wherein the error handling structure comprises a first frame configured to contain graphical program code for which error handling is to be provided; and

including at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame in response to user input specifying the at least a portion of the graphical program;

wherein during execution of the graphical program, the error handling structure aborts execution of the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame in response to detection of an unhandled error in the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame and continues execution of the graphical program.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 ,

wherein the at least a portion of the graphical program includes one or more output parameters;

wherein the error handling structure comprises default values for the one or more output parameters; and

wherein during execution of the graphical program, the error handling structure specifies output of the default values for the one or more output parameters in response to detection of the unhandled error in the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 ,

wherein the error handling structure comprises error handling code for handling unhandled errors that occur in the at least a portion of the graphical program; and

wherein during execution of the graphical program, the error handling structure specifies execution of the error handling code in response to the detection of the unhandled error in the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 , further comprising:

utilizing the computer to perform:

executing the graphical program, including executing the error handling structure, wherein said executing the error handling structure comprises:

executing the at least a portion of the graphical program contained in the first frame;

in response to detecting the unhandled error in the at least a portion of the graphical program during said executing the at least a portion of the graphical program:

aborting execution of the at least a portion of the graphical program; and

executing the graphical error handling code to exit the at least a portion of the graphical program in a stable state.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20 ,

wherein the at least a portion of the graphical program is a first portion of the graphical program, where the graphical program includes a second portion that is not contained in the first frame, and wherein said aborting execution of the at least a portion of the graphical program does not terminate execution of the second portion of the graphical program.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 ,

wherein the error handling structure comprises a finally frame configured to contain graphical finally code; and

wherein during execution of the graphical program, the error handling structure specifies execution of the finally code regardless of whether or not an unhandled error in the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame occurs.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22 ,

wherein specifying execution of the finally code further comprises specifying retriggering of the unhandled error in response to the detection of the unhandled error in the at least a portion of the graphical program in the first frame.