How to efficiently log multiple data streams with TDMS

Question

Ok, first off, I'll admit I am completely clueless when it comes to logging, TDMS in particular.  That said, I'm trying to work out the best way to log some data from an existing LabVIEW-based control system, so that users can later access that data in the event of catastrophic failure or other situations where they might want to see exactly what happened during a particular run.
I've got a total of between 6 and 12 data points that need to be stored (depending on how many sensors are on the system).  These are values being read from a cRIO control system.  They can all be set to Single data type, if necessary - even the one Boolean value I'm tracking is already being put through the "convert to 0,1" for graph display purposes.  The data is currently read at 100ms intervals for display, but I will be toying with the rate that I want to dump data to the disk - a little loss is OK, just need general trending for long term history.  I need to keep file sizes manageable, but informative enough to be useful later.
So, I am looking for advice on the best way to set this up.  It will need to be a file that can be concurrently be read as it is being written, when necessary - one of the reasons I am looking at TDMS in the first place (it was recommended to me previously).  I also need an accurate Date/Time stamp that can be used when displaying the data graphically on a chart, so they can sync up with the external camera recordings to correlate just what happened and when.
Are there specific pitfalls I should watch for?  Should I bundle all of the data points into an array for each storage tick, then decimate the array on the other end when reading?  I've dug through many of the examples, even found a few covering manual timestamp writing, but is there a preferred method that keeps file size minimized (or extraction simplified)?
I definitely appreciate any help...  It's easy to get overwhelmed and confused in all of the various methods I am finding for handling TDMS files, and determining which method is right for me.

Answer 1

I need to bump this topic again...  I'll be honest, the TDMS examples and available help are completely letting me down here.
As I stated, I have up to 12 data values that I need to stream into a log file, so TDMS was suggested to me.  The fact that I can concurrently read a file being written to was a prime reason I chose this format.  And, "it's super easy" as I was told...
Here's the problem.  I have multiple data streams.  Streams that are not waveform data, but actual realtime data feedback from a control system, that is being read from a cRIO control system into a host computer (which is where I want to log the data).  I also need to log an accurate timestamp with this data.  This data will be streamed to a log file in a loop that consistently writes a data set every 200ms (that may change, not exactly sure on the timing yet).
Every worthwhile example that I've found has assumed I'm just logging a single waveform, and the data formatting is totally different from what I need.  I've been flailing around with the code, trying to find a correct structure to write my data (put it all in an array, write individual points, etc) and it is, quite honestly, giving me a headache.  And finding the correct way for applying the correct timestamp (accurate data and time the data was collected) is so uncharacteristically obtuse and hard to track down...  This isn't even counting how to read the data back out of the file to display for later evaluation and/or troubleshooting...  Augh!
It's very disheartening when a colleague can throw everthing I'm trying to do together in 12 minutes in the very limited SCADA user interface program he uses to monitor his PLCs...  Yet LabVIEW, the superior program I always brag about, is slowly driving me insane trying to do what seems like a relatively simple task like logging...
So, does anyone have any actual useful examples of logging multiple DIFFERENT data points (not waveforms) and timestamps into a TDMS file?  Or real suggestions for how to accomplish it, other than "go look at the examples" which I have done (and redone).  Unless, of course, you have an actual relevant example that won't bring up more questions than it answers for me, in which case I say "bring it on!"
Thanks for any help...  My poor overworked brain will be eternally grateful.