[apalrd]

You're definitely better using a potentiometer.

An encoder (most FRC 'encoders' are quadrature incremental encoders) tells you how far you have gone since your zero point.

A potentiometer tells you exactly where you are, but when you exceed the limits it will break.

There are also 'absolute encoders' which work just like a potentiometer, but roll over to the other end of their range when they hit their limits.

In any case, in LabVIEW, use an 'AnalogChannel' to measure the voltage of the potentiometer. Connect the pot's ends to the black and red wires (+5v and Gnd), and the wiper to the white wire (Signal). The voltage in on the analog module will be between 0 and 5v.

Once you have the position, you can scale it from volts to degrees, or whatever units you want, or leave it in volts. From there, you can run a control loop (search here for 'PID control') for your position control.