James,
The way you describe your problem seems to me to be how to break it down and develop the program.
Starting with the data acquisition:
If you are processing your data as you acquire it, then I would recommend the producer/consumer pattern.
If you are simply displaying the data, then a simple while loop around the DAQ device read and the chart/graph would do.
In either case you would have your create task and start task, then in a loop would be the read task, then the stop task outside the loop.
To 'pause' the data acquisition and start again with new card settings:
Implement a method to start and stop the data aquisiton using front panel controls, while keeping the VI running once the DAQ has stopped.
Off hand, perhaps something like a Start Aquisition button, wired to a case structure where if true the acquisiton will execute until a Stop Aquisition button has been pressed.
Once the aquisiton has been stopped, the user can then make changes to any settings via front panel controls. Then when they start aquisiton again, the new settings can be applied.
Save settings:
You could implement this using an event structure, so if the user presses a Save Settings button you can write a file containing all the settigns
Alternatively, you could save the settigns when you decide to close the VI
Hope this helps to get you started
Sheela Sujeeun
Applications Engineer
National Instruments UK
