Patent ID: 7603652

Claim:
A method, comprising: displaying a palette, wherein the palette comprises a plurality of graphical program nodes for use in a graphical program, wherein each graphical program node comprises an icon and program code, wherein each graphical program node is represented by the graphical program node's respective icon in the palette and is selectable from the palette for inclusion in the graphical program; wherein the plurality of graphical program nodes comprises: a first plurality of function nodes displayed in the palette, wherein each function node corresponds to a respective functionality; and a second plurality of property nodes displayed in the palette, wherein each property node corresponds to a respective one of at least a subset of the first plurality of function nodes, wherein each property node is displayed proximate to said respective one of the at least a subset of the first plurality of function nodes; and including at least one function node of the first plurality of function nodes, and at least one property node of the second plurality of property nodes in a graphical program in response to user input.