I do this using a config file, also. I use the OpenG config file VIs to read the file based on a type-defined cluster and I put it into a Shift Register for access anywhere in the same program.
For the record, Bob has finally released the VI to XML Documentation Tool. This will analyze a set of VIs and create HTML and XML files corresponding to the VI descriptions and controls and indicators etc. You can plug these into FAR or another CHM creator to make awesome looking documentation.