Remembering an undefined number of arrays.

Question

I have an undefined number of arrays (usually 3-5, but can be different) which i need to 'remember' within a LabVIEW VI. Each array may need to be called up in the future for a variety of things, or even overwritten.
I am currently storing the default (3 arrays) in three seperate shift registers in the main while loop of my VI but this arrangement is unsatisfactory when the number of arrays to be stored is unknown. The array size is not set in stone and can vary up to 200 points. However, the arrays should be the same size as each other.
Does anyone have ideas on how this can be done? The only idea i've had is to use 'functional globals' but i don't know how to create Reentrant VIs with my version of LabVIEW (if it's even possible). I use LabVIEW 6.1 - the Full development system (i think that's what it's called).
Thank you in advance.
James
P.S. I can view VIs up to LabVIEW 8.5
P.P.S.  Perhaps i should add that each array is allocated a name in a 1D array of strings (the number of arrays is changed by adding or removing elements in this array) and are initialised 'blank'. Only one array is edited or used at a time and the 'active' array is selected using a menu ring.
Message Edited by James Mamakos on 06-16-2009 03:01 PM
Never say "Oops." Always say "Ah, interesting!"

Answer 1

I do not know how many arrays i may have. I currently have a default of 3, but this could eventually be anything up to 50 or more - i really don't know. The user defines this themselves.
I need to know (programmatically) exactly how many arrays there are, and also the size of the largest array. At the moment, i have a default size of 80 elements, but this could eventually be anything up to 200 or more.
Each array is acted on separately (one at a time) whether this is to read, write, or overwrite the elements within it.
I want to be able to change the associated name of an array without altering any data stored in it. I may need each array to have the option of differing in size to the others (one reason why i cannot merely store them as rows in a 2D array), though this is not essential for now.
Basically, i want to create a generic method of storing an undefined number of arrays of an undefined size, and being able to call up and edit them in the future without constantly reading and writing from a data file. The details i've given above are just to give an idea of the limitations and requirements i have.
If anything is still unclear, i will try to find another way of saying it.
James
P.S. As a background of the intended use, i am running a series of identical tests at different temperatures. Each test produces a 1D array of datapoints, and each array is associated to a particular temperature. Each array has its own associated name (to aid selection and viewing both after and during the tests) which will usually be the temperature that the data was collected at. However, there may well be a need for the user to manually name some or all arrays.
Their names are currently stored in a seperate array of strings, and each array is selected using a menu ring. The size of the data arrays is determined by the number of datapoints inputted. When a new array name is created (as a new element in the array of strings), a new 'blank' array is then created ready for data to be stored in it.
The data from the arrays is then displayed on graphs on the FP, and can be written into excel.
Never say "Oops." Always say "Ah, interesting!"