Solution
While capturing data varies depending on what hardware you are using, a similar method can be used to capture the first and last data point.
The example code shown below is simulating acquisition from a communications card acquiring random samples. The card collects samples until the program is stopped and then the code outputs the first and last data points.
The program is made of 2 VIs. The first VI,
'Main VI', and contains the data acquisition card (represented by a random number generator), timing for the acquisition and the current data point. The second VI,
'Capture First Data Point VI', captures the first data point.
[Image 1: Main VI Block Diagram]
[Image 2: Capture First Point VI Block Diagram]