Multithreading for a progressbar and code locations (vb.net)? - vb.net

I am stuck updating a progressbar from a different thread.
I did get it running in the simplest way, but then cleaning the code gets me stuck.
My testing code looks like all the examples on the web related to backgroundworker and BeginInvoke.
FormP is the Progressbar-Form.
This works:
Public Class Form1
Private Delegate Sub delegate_ProgressUpdate(ByVal paramValue As Integer,
ByVal paramMax As Integer)
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As System.Object,
e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
' Test 01:
' Show Progressbar via BGW
' All functions are within Form1
Dim bgw As New BackgroundWorker()
AddHandler bgw.DoWork, AddressOf BGW_Sample01_DoWork
FormP.Show(Me)
bgw.RunWorkerAsync()
End Sub
Private Sub invokeMe_ProgressUpdate(ByVal paramValue As Integer, ByVal paramMax As Integer)
FormP.ProgressBar1.Maximum = paramMax
FormP.ProgressBar1.Value = paramValue
FormP.ProgressBar1.Update()
End Sub
Private Sub BGW_Sample01_DoWork(sender As Object, e As System.ComponentModel.DoWorkEventArgs)
For i As Integer = 1 To 10
Threading.Thread.Sleep(500) ' Test delay
Me.BeginInvoke(New delegate_ProgressUpdate(AddressOf invokeMe_ProgressUpdate),
i, 10)
Next
MessageBox.Show("Fertig")
End Sub
If I try to make things work more orderly encapsulated in FormP, it doesn't work.
Private Sub Button2_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
Dim bgw As New BackgroundWorker
AddHandler bgw.DoWork, AddressOf BGW_Sample02_DoWork
FormP.Show(Me)
bgw.RunWorkerAsync()
End Sub
Private Sub BGW_Sample02_DoWork(sender As Object, e As System.ComponentModel.DoWorkEventArgs)
For i As Integer = 1 To 10
Threading.Thread.Sleep(500)
FormP.SetProgress(i, 10)
Next
MessageBox.Show("Fertig")
End Sub
' ########## FormP #################
Public Class FormP
Private Delegate Sub delegate_ProgressUpdate(ByVal value As Integer, ByVal maximum As Integer)
Public Sub SetProgress(ByVal paramValue As Integer, ByVal paramMaximum As Integer)
If Me.InvokeRequired Then
Me.Invoke(New delegate_ProgressUpdate(AddressOf Me.SetProgress), paramValue, paramMaximum)
Else
Me.ProgressBar1.Maximum = paramMaximum
Me.ProgressBar1.Value = paramValue
Me.ProgressBar1.Update()
End If
End Sub
End Class
FormP does not freeze, but UI is not updated.
Actually Me.InvokeRequired is false and I think that's where I begin to miss some important parts.
I tried Form1.InvokeRequired here, but it's false as well.
My understanding is: the calling thread here is the bgw thread, no matter in what class the code is that this thread calls...
That seems not to be it?
Thanks for any thoughts.

What worked eventually:
Private frmP As FormP
Private Sub Button2_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
Dim bgw As New BackgroundWorker
If Me.frmP IsNot Nothing AndAlso Me.frmP.Visible Then Return
Me.frmP = New FormP
Me.frmP.Show(Me)
AddHandler bgw.DoWork, AddressOf BGW_Sample02_DoWork
bgw.RunWorkerAsync(New Object() {Me.frmP})
End Sub
Private Sub BGW_Sample02_DoWork(sender As Object, e As System.ComponentModel.DoWorkEventArgs)
Dim objFrmP As FormP = DirectCast(e.Argument(0), FormP)
For i As Integer = 1 To 10
objFrmP.setProgress(i, 10)
Threading.Thread.Sleep(500)
Next
MessageBox.Show("Finished")
End Sub
The Progress-Dialog-Code in FormP:
Public Sub setProgress(paramValue As Integer, paramMaximum As Integer)
If Me.InvokeRequired Then
' defining a delegate type is not really necessary
Me.Invoke(Sub() Me.setProgress(paramValue, paramMaximum))
Else
Me.ProgressBar1.Maximum = paramMaximum
Me.ProgressBar1.Value = paramValue
Me.ProgressBar1.Update()
End If
End Sub

Related

Show and Hide a label in a panel in VB

I was surprised to find that in VB one can not easily set the font and backcolour of a tooltip item by it's default properties so I thought I would create my own.
Private aTimer As New System.Timers.Timer
Private Sub Panel1_MouseHover(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Panel1.MouseHover
Hover("How's about that")
End Sub
Private Sub Hover(ByRef Tip As String)
If Not lblToolTip.Visible Then
lblToolTip.Text = Tip
lblToolTip.Location = Me.PointToClient(MousePosition)
lblToolTip.Visible = True
lblToolTip.BringToFront()
StartTimer()
End If
End Sub
Private Sub StartTimer()
aTimer.Interval = 2000
AddHandler aTimer.Elapsed, New System.Timers.ElapsedEventHandler(AddressOf aTimer_Elapsed)
aTimer.Start()
End Sub
Sub aTimer_Elapsed(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs)
aTimer.Stop()
lblToolTip.Visible = False
End Sub
Everything goes ok until I try to hide the label when I get the error -
'Cross - thread operation Not valid: Control 'lblToolTip' accessed from a thread other than the thread it was created on.'
I have researched the error for a couple of days but I am afraid it is a bit too deep a thread for an 80 old year after a stroke. I would appreciate any pointers to direct me to the solution.
You could have used a Forms Timer and not had this problem.
Since you didn't, replace your aTimer_Elapsed method with this.
Sub aTimer_Elapsed(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs)
aTimer.Stop()
Me.BeginInvoke(Sub()
lblToolTip.Visible = False
End Sub)
End Sub
Try use Delegate
Private aTimer As New System.Timers.Timer
Private Delegate Sub SafeCallDelegate(ByVal label As Label, ByVal Visible As Boolean, ByVal Text As String)
Private Sub Panel1_MouseHover(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Panel1.MouseHover
Hover("How's about that")
End Sub
Private Sub StartTimer()
aTimer.Interval = 2000
AddHandler aTimer.Elapsed, New System.Timers.ElapsedEventHandler(AddressOf aTimer_Elapsed)
aTimer.Start()
End Sub
Sub aTimer_Elapsed(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs)
aTimer.Stop()
SetLabelProperty(lblToolTip, False)
End Sub
Private Sub SetLabelProperty(ByVal label As Label, ByVal Visible As Boolean, Optional ByVal Text As String = "")
If label.InvokeRequired Then
label.Invoke(New SafeCallDelegate(AddressOf SetLabelProperty), New Object() {label, Visible, Text})
Else
label.Visible = Visible
label.Location = Me.PointToClient(MousePosition)
label.Text = Text
lblToolTip.BringToFront()
End If
End Sub
Private Sub Hover(ByRef Tip As String)
If Not lblToolTip.Visible Then
SetLabelProperty(lblToolTip, True, Tip)
StartTimer()
End If
End Sub
Look this example:
Update Text Box Properly when Cross-threading in Visual Basic (VS 2012 V11)
This was the result
Public Sub ToolTip_Draw(sender As Object, e As DrawToolTipEventArgs)
e.DrawBackground()
e.DrawBorder()
e.Graphics.DrawString(e.ToolTipText, New Font("Arial", 10), System.Drawing.Brushes.Black, New PointF(2, 2))
End Sub
Public Sub ToolTip_Popup(sender As Object, e As PopupEventArgs)
Dim Sz As Size = TextRenderer.MeasureText(sender.GetToolTip(e.AssociatedControl), New Font("Arial", 10))
e.ToolTipSize = New Size(Sz.Width, Sz.Height + 4)
End Sub
The backcolour is set in the properties. The size is determined by the PipUp.

Late Binding Issue with BackgroundWorker in VB.Net

I am running a BackgroundWorker, and want to report its progress. In the example below I create a test list which the BackgroundWorker then iterates through. The problem lies in the line 'sender.ReportProgress(i)'. If I have Option Strict on, it does not like my use of 'i' due to Late Binding issues. Is there any alternative way to code this and avoid that issue?
Public Class Form1
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
' Configuring for Background Workers
Control.CheckForIllegalCrossThreadCalls = False
Dim MyList As New List(Of String)
For a As Integer = 0 To 100
MyList.Add(CStr(a))
Next
End Sub
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Dim bgw As New System.ComponentModel.BackgroundWorker
bgw.WorkerReportsProgress = True
bgw.WorkerSupportsCancellation = True
AddHandler bgw.DoWork, AddressOf bgw_DoWork
' I create a BackgroundWorker here rather than add one in the toolbox so that I can specify the Handler and use different Handler routines for different part of a large program.
Button1.Enabled = False
Dim progress As New Progress(bgw)
progress.ShowDialog()
Button1.Enabled = True
End Sub
Private Sub bgw_DoWork(sender As System.Object, e As System.ComponentModel.DoWorkEventArgs)
For i = 0 To MyList.Count -1
Label1.Text = MyList(i)
sender.ReportProgress(i)
System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(200)
Label1.Refresh()
Next
End Sub
End Class
Public Class Progress
Private WithEvents _BGW As System.ComponentModel.BackgroundWorker
Public Sub New(ByVal BGW As System.ComponentModel.BackgroundWorker)
_BGW = BGW
InitializeComponent()
End Sub
Private Sub frmProgress_Shown(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Shown
If Not IsNothing(_BGW) Then
_BGW.RunWorkerAsync()
End If
End Sub
Private Sub _BGW_ProgressChanged(sender As Object, e As System.ComponentModel.ProgressChangedEventArgs) Handles _BGW.ProgressChanged
ProgressBar1.Value = e.ProgressPercentage
Label1.Text = e.ProgressPercentage
End Sub
Private Sub _BGW_RunWorkerCompleted(sender As Object, e As System.ComponentModel.RunWorkerCompletedEventArgs) Handles _BGW.RunWorkerCompleted
Me.Close()
End Sub
End Class
CType(sender, BackgroundWorker).ReportProgress(i)
Also, if you want to do multiple actions with it, then create a local reference variable like this:
Private Sub bgw_DoWork(sender As System.Object, e As System.ComponentModel.DoWorkEventArgs)
Dim bgw As System.ComponentModel.BackgroundWorker = DirectCast(sender, System.ComponentModel.BackgroundWorker)
' ... now you can use "bgw" multiple times below instead of casting each time ...
For i = 0 To MyList.Count -1
Label1.Text = MyList(i)
bgw.ReportProgress(i)
bgw.SomethingElse()
bgw.MoreStuff()
System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(200)
Label1.Refresh()
Next
End Sub
Obviously this isn't necessary in your case, just an FYI...

"For Each" loop : Application Freeze in Vb.net

I am using the following code to get the size of files inside a directory
and put it in Label1:
For Each foundFile As String In My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFiles( _
"\windows",Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.SearchOption.SearchTopLevelOnly,_
"*.*")
Dim filesizelabel As System.IO.FileInfo = My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFileInfo(foundFile)
Label1.Text = Label1.Text + filesizelabel.Length
Next
The problem is that i have more than 50 for each loops (a system cleaning app).
When I run the loops my app freezes until the loops finish, even if I run one loop.
Is there a solution to make it show the name of the current file? I tried this as well, but it also froze my application:
label2.text = foundfile
The application does not respond to any click, until it finishes the loops. It shows the size in Label1 and the last scanned file in Label2. This also freezes the application:
system.threading.thread.sleep(100)
Is there any alternative to foreach or a solution to fix this issue?
Here's a quick example using Async/Await with a Button Click() Handler:
Private Async Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Button1.Enabled = False
Await Task.Run(Sub()
' this runs in a different thread without blocking the GUI:
For Each foundFile As String In My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFiles(
"\windows", Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.SearchOption.SearchTopLevelOnly, "*.*")
Dim filesizelabel As System.IO.FileInfo = My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFileInfo(foundFile)
' when you need to update the GUI:
Me.Invoke(Sub()
' ... do it in here ...
Label1.Text = Label1.Text + filesizelabel.Length
End Sub)
Next
End Sub)
Button1.Enabled = True
End Sub
For VB.Net 2010, try this instead:
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Button1.Enabled = False
Dim T As New System.Threading.Thread(AddressOf Worker)
T.Start()
End Sub
Private Sub Worker()
' this runs in a different thread without blocking the GUI:
For Each foundFile As String In My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFiles(
"\windows", Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.SearchOption.SearchTopLevelOnly, "*.*")
Dim filesizelabel As System.IO.FileInfo = My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFileInfo(foundFile)
' when you need to update the GUI:
Me.Invoke(Sub()
' ... do it in here ...
Label1.Text = Label1.Text + filesizelabel.Length
End Sub)
Next
Me.Invoke(Sub()
Button1.Enabled = True
End Sub)
End Sub
This is a prime candidate for a background worker.
Have a read about how they work, but at a high level the task is run in another thread with some events that you access in your main UI thread.
Private bw As BackgroundWorker = New BackgroundWorker
Private Sub buttonStart_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.RoutedEventArgs)
If Not bw.IsBusy = True Then
' this will start the work
bw.RunWorkerAsync()
End If
End Sub
Private Sub buttonCancel_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.RoutedEventArgs)
If bw.WorkerSupportsCancellation = True Then
' this will allow the user to cancel the work part way through
bw.CancelAsync()
End If
End Sub
Private Sub bw_DoWork(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As DoWorkEventArgs)
' your slow code goes here
End Sub
Private Sub bw_ProgressChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As ProgressChangedEventArgs)
' you can update the UI here to show progress
End Sub
Private Sub bw_RunWorkerCompleted(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As RunWorkerCompletedEventArgs)
' your 'I've finished notification' code goes here
End Sub
Derek has put a bad code, it's not working and Idle mind code does not work on .NET 2.0
Dereks approach is working if code is complete, as below:
Private bw As BackgroundWorker = New BackgroundWorker
Private Sub app_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
AddHandler bw.DoWork, AddressOf bw_DoWork
AddHandler bw.ProgressChanged, AddressOf bw_ProgressChanged
AddHandler bw.RunWorkerCompleted, AddressOf bw_RunWorkerCompleted
..
End sub
Private Sub Btn_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Btn.Click
If Not bw.IsBusy = True Then
' this will start the work
bw.RunWorkerAsync()
End If
End Sub
Private Sub bw_DoWork(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As DoWorkEventArgs)
'your work to not freeze form
end sub
Private Sub bw_ProgressChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As ProgressChangedEventArgs)
' you can update the UI here to show progress
End Sub
Private Sub bw_RunWorkerCompleted(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As RunWorkerCompletedEventArgs)
' your 'I've finished notification' code goes here
End Sub

Adding 150,000 records to a listview without freezing UI

I have a listview loop that is adding 150,000 items to my listview. For testing purposes I moved this code to a background worker with delegates, but it still freezes up the UI. I am trying to find a solution so that it can add these items in the background while I do other stuff in the app. What solutions do you guys recommend?
this is what I am using
Public Class Form1
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
ListView1.Clear()
ListView1.BeginUpdate()
bw.WorkerReportsProgress = True
bw.RunWorkerAsync()
End Sub
Private Sub Button2_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
If bw.IsBusy Then bw.CancelAsync()
End Sub
Private Sub bw_DoWork(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.ComponentModel.DoWorkEventArgs) Handles bw.DoWork
For x = 1 To 125000
Dim lvi As New ListViewItem("Item " & x)
If bw.CancellationPending Then
e.Cancel = True
Exit For
Else
bw.ReportProgress(0, lvi)
End If
Next
End Sub
Private Sub bw_ProgressChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.ComponentModel.ProgressChangedEventArgs) Handles bw.ProgressChanged
Try
Dim lvi As ListViewItem = DirectCast(e.UserState, ListViewItem)
Me.ListView1.Items.Add(lvi)
Catch ex As Exception
Throw New Exception(ex.Message)
End Try
End Sub
Private Sub bw_RunWorkerCompleted(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.ComponentModel.RunWorkerCompletedEventArgs) Handles bw.RunWorkerCompleted
ListView1.EndUpdate()
If Not e.Cancelled Then
Debug.Print("Done")
Else
Debug.Print("Cancelled")
End If
End Sub
End Class
Give this a try, it's a great example for what you would need... I also had a progress bar that shows the progress and such, see example image that is attached. Also I wasn't seeing any delegate that you need to perform such operation, mine has one that will be required. The reason is you are adding items to a control on the UI thread, in order to add items we need to know if an Invoke is required, if so we invoke otherwise we add the item to the control... Also I made the thread sleep, so it can take a break; this also prevents the UI from wanting to lock up here and there, now it's responsive with NO FREEZING.
Option Strict On
Option Explicit On
Public Class Form1
Delegate Sub SetListItem(ByVal lstItem As ListViewItem) 'Your delegate..
'Start the process...
Private Sub btnStartProcess_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles btnStartProcess.Click
lvItems.Clear()
bwList.RunWorkerAsync()
End Sub
Private Sub AddListItem(ByVal lstItem As ListViewItem)
If Me.lvItems.InvokeRequired Then 'Invoke if required...
Dim d As New SetListItem(AddressOf AddListItem) 'Your delegate...
Me.Invoke(d, New Object() {lstItem})
Else 'Otherwise, no invoke required...
Me.lvItems.Items.Add(lstItem)
End If
End Sub
Private Sub bwList_DoWork(sender As Object, e As System.ComponentModel.DoWorkEventArgs) Handles bwList.DoWork
Dim intCount As Integer = CInt(txtCount.Text)
Dim dblPercent As Integer = 100
Dim intComplete As Integer = 0
Dim li As ListViewItem = Nothing
For i As Integer = 1 To CInt(txtCount.Text)
If Not (bwList.CancellationPending) Then
li = New ListViewItem
li.Text = "Item " & i.ToString
AddListItem(li)
Threading.Thread.Sleep(1) 'Give the thread a very..very short break...
ElseIf (bwList.CancellationPending) Then
e.Cancel = True
Exit For
End If
intComplete = CInt(CSng(i) / CSng(intCount) * 100)
If intComplete < dblPercent Then
bwList.ReportProgress(intComplete)
End If
If li IsNot Nothing Then
li = Nothing
End If
Next
End Sub
Private Sub bwList_ProgressChanged(sender As Object, e As System.ComponentModel.ProgressChangedEventArgs) Handles bwList.ProgressChanged
pbList.Value = e.ProgressPercentage
End Sub
Private Sub bwList_RunWorkerCompleted(sender As Object, e As System.ComponentModel.RunWorkerCompletedEventArgs) Handles bwList.RunWorkerCompleted
If pbList.Value < 100 Then pbList.Value = 100
MessageBox.Show(lvItems.Items.Count.ToString & " items were added!")
End Sub
Private Sub btnStopWork_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles btnStopWork.Click
bwList.CancelAsync()
End Sub
Private Sub btnRestart_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles btnRestart.Click
pbList.Value = 0
lvItems.Items.Clear()
txtCount.Text = String.Empty
End Sub
End Class
Screenshot in action...

BackgroundWorker 'DoWork' event not firing

I have a form that loads just fine, and I'm trying to fire off a task using a Background Worker as it loads.
I'm getting no errors with the code below, but the bw.DoWork event doesn't seem to be firing.
Am I missing something here? Thanks.
Here is my form Class -
Public Class mainForm
Dim objWorker As MyWorker
Private Sub mainForm_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
Call Me.loadForm()
End Sub
Private Sub btnCancel_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnCancel.Click
Call Me.closeForm()
End Sub
Private Sub loadForm()
Me.objWorker = New MyWorker ' Invoke the background worker
End Sub
Private Sub closeForm()
Me.objWorker.bw_Cancel() ' Cancel the background worker
Me.Close() ' Close the form
End Sub
End Class
Here is my BackgroundWorker Class -
Imports System.ComponentModel
Partial Public Class MyWorker
Private bw As BackgroundWorker = New BackgroundWorker
Public Sub New()
bw.WorkerReportsProgress = False
bw.WorkerSupportsCancellation = True
AddHandler bw.DoWork, AddressOf bw_DoWork
AddHandler bw.RunWorkerCompleted, AddressOf bw_RunWorkerCompleted
End Sub
Private Sub bw_DoWork(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As DoWorkEventArgs)
Dim worker As BackgroundWorker = CType(sender, BackgroundWorker)
For i = 1 To 10
If bw.CancellationPending = True Then
e.Cancel = True
Exit For
Else
System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(500)
MsgBox("iteration " & i)
End If
Next
End Sub
Private Sub bw_RunWorkerCompleted(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As RunWorkerCompletedEventArgs)
MsgBox("Complete!")
End Sub
Public Sub bw_Cancel()
If bw.WorkerSupportsCancellation = True Then
bw.CancelAsync()
End If
End Sub
End Class
add to MyWorker constructor ('new' method) this line:
bw.RunWorkerAsync()