Want to stop a running VI, but I don't have a STOP button showing

[spaceman_spif]

I pulled a goof last night while debugging a program.  I ran the VI to test some changes, and while it was running I closed some extraneous LV windows that were still open.  But in the process I accidentally closed the block diagram window of the VI I was running, and the stop button was only shown on the block diagram panel.  As a result, I couldn't stop the VI and had to hit ctrl+alt+del and close the program.  I lost about a half hour of changes.  Fixable, but frustrating!

I'm going change this VI so I still have the start/stop toolbar showing on the front panel when it runs, but what could I have done last night to stop the VI?

[P@Anand]

You could have just hit Ctrl+. to abort the execution. Also its not the stop button its Abort, certainly there is a difference.

[spaceman_spif]

I marked your comment as a solution, but I just tried it and it didn't work.  I'm still using LV 2010, could that be an issue?

ETA:  Yes, I meant abort.  But everytime I see that red stop sign symbol I can't help but call it "stop"!

[P@Anand]

What is the windows appearance you set? You must have enabled the "Show Abort button" to get it working.

[spaceman_spif]

When I ran it last night, I had it set up so the menu options, toobars, start/pause/abort buttons, etc. were only shown on the block diagram window.  So when I accidentally closed the block diagram window while it was running, I had no way to stop it.

When I tried your solution just now, I had both the front panel and block diagram open.  I noticed whenever my cursor was over the block diagram it would change to a small, black "abort/stop" icon when I hit ctrl+.  But when my cursor was over the front panel, it did not change when I was pressing ctrl+.

[P@Anand]

Its just the Keyboard shortcut for Abort. I am not sure about the cursor appearance and I am not using PC right now to check it. So are we good?

[JÞB]

No, Version does not matter.  Ctrl+. only works when the stop button is visable.  If 

Other things you could do from the IDE....

If as you say the abort button is on the BD but the menu bar is hidden while running  there is no abort button on the FP Ctrl+.  WILL work.  So will Ctrl+E! to reopen the BD so you can hit Abort.

If you de-selected Show Abort button ...

Create a new blank vi 

Browse for path on the vi static reference and hit "Run"

Niether is not a proper way to exit a vi.  (But we've all mistakenly written an infinate loop)

NOTE: of course these will not work if your vi is modal.  Then you need the task manager.

Catching up on the cross posted question

That small black octagon tool is the breakpoint tool  useful, to stuff in breakpoints while running

[muks]

Just ensuring. Anand meant contron button + dot button .

[jcarmody]

My Abort.vi is a useful one to keep on your desktop.

There are others.

[RavensFan]

If the front panel was still open since it was running, you should have been able to hit Ctrl-E to reopen the block diagram window again and then hit abort from there.

I think the Ctrl - period shortcut key only works if the front panel is set to show the abort button.  (Otherwise what is the point of intentionally hiding the abort button from a user if they are still able to access it by the shortcut key.).

Also, look at this convenient utility in this message.  http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/How-to-tell-which-VIs-are-running/m-p/1225608#M521593  It allows you to abort running VI's.

EDIT:  Sorry, I see everything I was saying was said in some recent messages.  I just got sidetracked for a while before I got to posting my message.