How can i shorten this code? - vb.net

Question

Private Sub Timer1_Tick(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
If Label1.Text.Length = 13 Then
Label1.Text = "Working magic."
ElseIf Label1.Text.Length = 14 Then
Label1.Text = "Working magic.."
ElseIf Label1.Text.Length = 15 Then
Label1.Text = "Working magic..."
ElseIf Label1.Text.Length = 16 Then
Label1.Text = "Working magic"
End If
End Sub
The code basically acting as a progressive string, where every 500 milliseconds a dot will add to the string, until 3 dots where it resets.
If I wanted to do more dots then it would be nice to automate the process, instead of writing an infinite number of lines of code.

Answer 1

If you want to shorten your code you could do something like this:
Private Sub Timer1_Tick(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
(Label1.text += ".").Replace("....","")
End Sub
However I'm convinced that shorter is not always better!
Edit: Sorry my mind goes straight to c#, here is some VB::
Private Sub Timer1_Tick(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
Label1.text = (Label1.text + ".").Replace("....","")
End Sub

Answer 2

Pseudo code:
len = Label1.Text.Length - 12
str = "Working magic"
while(len>0 && len<4){
str = str & "."
len--;
}
Label1.Text = str

Answer 3

Pseudo code that takes into account the variable number of dots in a row.
final NUM_DOTS = 3 //this is your variable number of dots
len = Label1.Text.Length - 12
str = "Working magic"
numDots = NUM_DOTS
while(len){
if (numDots == 0) {
str = str.substring(0, str.length-NUM_DOTS);
numDots = NUM_DOTS;
}
else {
str = str & "."
len--;
numDots--;
}
}
Label1.Text = str

Answer 4

easy, console apps demo
Module Module1
Sub Main()
Console.WriteLine(Magic(New String("A"c, 13).Length))
Console.WriteLine(Magic(New String("A"c, 14).Length))
Console.WriteLine(Magic(New String("A"c, 15).Length))
Console.WriteLine(Magic(New String("A"c, 16).Length))
Console.Read()
End Sub
Private Function Magic(ByVal len As Integer) As String
Dim result = "Working magic"
Select Case len
Case 13 To 15
result = result & New String("."c, len - 12)
End Select
Return result
End Function
End Module

Answer 5

Consider using animated GIFs like those generated here: http://www.ajaxload.info/
Try Google Search for more options: "animated gifs generator"
Just use the GIF in a picture box and use .Enable/.Visible to manage.
The animation can be stalled if the main thread is busy - probably true for the above cases as well.

Answer 6

Keep the count of dots to print as a global variable, then at every call of the timer event increment this value and reset it if it reaches the upper limit.
Create a string of dots based on the current count and append it to the static label
Private dotCount As Integer = 0
Const MAX_DOTS = 3
Private Sub Timer1_Tick(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
if dotCount > MAX_DOTS Then
dotCount = 0
End If
Label1.Text = "Working magic" & new String(".", dotCount)
dotCount = dotCount + 1
End Sub
If you want to print more dots, just change the constant used as upper limit (MAX_DOTS)