Fire method on Main Thread from other Threads - vb.net

Question

Issue
I am using multi-threading inside my application and the way it works is that i have an array that contains 22 string which stand for some file names:
Public ThreadList As String() = {"FSANO1P", "FJBJB1P", "COPOR1P", "FFBIVDP", "FFCHLDP", "FFDBKDP", "FFDREQP", "FFINVHP", "FFJMNEP", "FFPIVHP", "FFUNTTP", "FJBJM1P", "FJBJM2P", "FJBNT2P", "FPPBE9P", "FTPCP1P", "FTTEO1P", "FTTRQ1P", "FJBJU1P", "FTTEG1P", "FFJACPP", "XATXTDP"}
I then loop through the array and create a new thread for each file:
For Each mThreadName As String In ThreadList
Dim mFileImportThread = New FileImportThreadHandling(mThreadName, mImportGuid, mImportDate, Directory_Location, mCurrentProcessingDate, mRegion)
Next
So inside the new thread 'FileImportThreadHandling' it will call a method by starting a new thread:
mThread = New Thread(AddressOf DoWork)
mThread.Name = "FileImportThreadHandling"
mThread.Start()
Then in 'DoWork' it will determine what file is current in question and will run the code related to the file.
After the code has ran for the file I want to report this back to the main thread. Can somebody give me a solution please.

Answer 1

You will need to use Delegates
EDIT:
Take a look at this snippet:
Sub Main()
mThread = New Thread(AddressOf doWork)
mThread.Name = "FileImportThreadHandling"
mThread.Start()
End Sub
Sub doWork()
'do a lot of hard work
workDone(result)
End Sub
Delegate Sub workDoneDelegate(result As Integer)
Sub workDone(abilita As Boolean, Optional src As Control = Nothing)
If Me.InvokeRequired Then
Me.Invoke(New workDoneDelegate(AddressOf workDone), {result})
Else
'here you're on the main thread
End If
End Sub

Answer 2

Here is an example that might give you some ideas. Note the use of Async and Task. You will need a form with two buttons, and a label.
Public Class Form1
Public ThreadList As String() = {"FSANO1P", "FJBJB1P", "COPOR1P", "FFBIVDP", "*******", "FFJACPP", "XATXTDP"}
'note Async keyword on handler
Private Async Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Button1.Enabled = False
Dim running As New List(Of Task)
For Each tskName As String In ThreadList
'start new task
Dim tsk As Task
tsk = Task.Run(Sub()
For x As Integer = 1 To 10
Dim ct As Integer = x
'simulate code related to the file
Threading.Thread.Sleep(500)
'report to the UI
Me.Invoke(Sub()
Label1.Text = String.Format("{0} {1}", tskName, ct)
End Sub)
Next
End Sub)
Threading.Thread.Sleep(100) 'for testing delay between each start
running.Add(tsk)
Next
'async wait for all to complete
For Each wtsk As Task In running
Await wtsk
Next
Button1.Enabled = True
End Sub
Private Sub Button2_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
'test UI responsive during test
Label1.Text = DateTime.Now.ToString
End Sub
End Class

Answer 3

Using Actions and a callback to track remaining operations. (Simplified your class for my example)
Public ThreadList As String() = {"FSANO1P", "FJBJB1P", "COPOR1P", "FFBIVDP", "FFCHLDP"}
Private actionCounter As Integer = 0
Private lockActionCounter As New Object()
Sub Main()
Console.WriteLine("Starting...")
For Each mThreadName As String In ThreadList
Dim mFileImportThread = New FileImportThreadHandling(mThreadName)
actionCounter += 1
Call New Action(AddressOf mFileImportThread.DoWork).
BeginInvoke(AddressOf callback, mThreadName)
Next
Console.Read()
End Sub
Private Sub callback(name As IAsyncResult)
Dim remainingCount As Integer
SyncLock lockActionCounter
actionCounter -= 1
remainingCount = actionCounter
End SyncLock
Console.WriteLine("Finished {0}, {1} remaining", name.AsyncState, actionCounter)
If remainingCount = 0 Then Console.WriteLine("All done")
End Sub
Private Class FileImportThreadHandling
Shared r = New Random()
Private _name As String
Public Sub New(name As String)
_name = name
End Sub
Public Sub DoWork()
Dim delayTime = (r).Next(500, 5000)
Console.WriteLine("Doing {0} for {1:0}ms.", _name, delayTime)
Thread.Sleep(delayTime)
End Sub
End Class