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A common class for executing tasks with a responsive UI

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4.74/5 (21 votes)
24 Jan 2009CPOL1 min read 92.6K   677   81   58
Execute actions while making the form wait and still be responsive to other tasks.

1.jpg

Introduction

This is a common way to implement the standard WinForms behavior of executing a potentially long running action while still having the UI be responsive and allowing the user to know that something is happening via the UI. This can be used with standard WinForms, WPF, or an MVP style application which is how I use it.

Background

Some of the other options which I felt weren't as easy as this to use:

Using the code

Download the source and hit F5 - three examples are given:

  • The standard behavior where the UI locks while executing.
  • The new behavior where the UI is not locked and the user can tell the form is busy.
  • What happens in the new behavior when an exception is thrown.

In order to use this, the form or view in question must implement the interface IThreadedExecuterView, in either the form itself or in a base form:

C#
public partial class Form1 : Form, IThreadedExecuterView
{

#region IThreadedExecuterView Members
public void SetWait(bool isEnabled)
{
     this.Cursor = (isEnabled ? Cursors.Default : Cursors.WaitCursor);
     button1.Enabled = button2.Enabled = isEnabled;
}

public void HandleException(Exception ex)
{
     MessageBox.Show("This is your standard error " + 
                     "handling call here for " + ex.Message);
}

Below is an example of it in use - there is no need to worry about the UI thread, creating delegates, or doing anything special for exceptions other than handling them in one place.

C#
using (ThreadedExecuter<BusinessObject> executer = 
         new ThreadedExecuter<BusinessObject>(this))
{
     executer
          .Process(() =>
          {
               return GetData(); //executes in background worker
          })
          .WhenFinished(businessObject =>
          {
               UseData(businessObject); //executes on UI thread
          })
     .Run();
}

It works for value types or reference types. Here is a Unit Test demonstrating its usage:

C#
[Test]
public void TestThreadedExecuterNormalBehavior()
{
     int result = 0;
     bool didComplete = false;
     AutoResetEvent waiter = new AutoResetEvent(false);
     IThreadedExecuterView view = 
        MockRepository.GenerateStub<IThreadedExecuterView>();
     using (ThreadedExecuter<int> worker = new ThreadedExecuter<int>(view))
     {
          worker
               .Process(()=>
               {
                    Thread.Sleep(1000);
                    return 42;
               })
               .WhenFinished(workerResult => 
               {
                    result = workerResult;
                    didComplete = true;
                    waiter.Set();
               })
          .Run();
     }

     waiter.WaitOne(2000, false);
     Assert.AreEqual(42, result);
     Assert.IsTrue(didComplete);
}

History

  • 24-Jan-2009 - Initial version.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
United States United States
I've been a software developer since 1996 and have enjoyed C# since 2003. I have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and for some reason, a Master's degree in Business Administration. I currently do software development contracting/consulting.

Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralRe: Kill thread Pin
Danie de Kock28-Jul-09 23:24
Danie de Kock28-Jul-09 23:24 
GeneralUnit Test Code Fails Pin
Henrik Jonsson27-Jan-09 9:06
Henrik Jonsson27-Jan-09 9:06 
GeneralRe: Unit Test Code Fails Pin
Paul B.27-Jan-09 15:31
Paul B.27-Jan-09 15:31 
GeneralRe: Unit Test Code Fails Pin
Henrik Jonsson28-Jan-09 8:26
Henrik Jonsson28-Jan-09 8:26 
GeneralMVP usage Pin
Paul B.26-Jan-09 4:23
Paul B.26-Jan-09 4:23 
GeneralMy vote of 2 Pin
ProJester125-Jan-09 8:03
ProJester125-Jan-09 8:03 
GeneralRe: My vote of 2 Pin
Paul B.25-Jan-09 11:57
Paul B.25-Jan-09 11:57 
GeneralRe: My vote of 2 Pin
Paul B.25-Jan-09 12:00
Paul B.25-Jan-09 12:00 
I looked at your user history and you have posted 0 articles and every single message of yours (save for one) is a vote of 1 or 2. I guess I'll take pride that I'm in the top tier of your voting range.

Maybe you can post an article so we can all see the excellent quality you are used to?
GeneralRe: My vote of 2 Pin
Jon_Boy20-May-09 9:39
Jon_Boy20-May-09 9:39 
GeneralMVP Pin
uffejz25-Jan-09 3:04
uffejz25-Jan-09 3:04 
GeneralRe: MVP Pin
Paul B.25-Jan-09 4:08
Paul B.25-Jan-09 4:08 
GeneralRe: MVP Pin
uffejz25-Jan-09 6:41
uffejz25-Jan-09 6:41 
GeneralRe: MVP Pin
Paul B.25-Jan-09 12:04
Paul B.25-Jan-09 12:04 
GeneralRe: MVP Pin
uffejz26-Jan-09 1:20
uffejz26-Jan-09 1:20 
GeneralRe: MVP Pin
uffejz29-Jan-09 4:21
uffejz29-Jan-09 4:21 
GeneralRe: MVP Pin
uffejz19-Feb-09 0:41
uffejz19-Feb-09 0:41 
GeneralRe: MVP Pin
Paul B.19-Feb-09 14:08
Paul B.19-Feb-09 14:08 
GeneralRe: MVP Pin
uffejz23-Feb-09 21:52
uffejz23-Feb-09 21:52 
GeneralRe: MVP Pin
Paul B.12-Mar-09 16:26
Paul B.12-Mar-09 16:26 
GeneralRe: MVP [modified] Pin
uffejz15-Mar-09 1:44
uffejz15-Mar-09 1:44 
GeneralRe: MVP Pin
Paul B.15-Mar-09 3:47
Paul B.15-Mar-09 3:47 
GeneralRe: MVP [modified] Pin
uffejz15-Mar-09 4:27
uffejz15-Mar-09 4:27 
GeneralRe: MVP Pin
Paul B.15-Mar-09 12:28
Paul B.15-Mar-09 12:28 
GeneralRe: MVP [modified] Pin
uffejz16-Mar-09 3:02
uffejz16-Mar-09 3:02 
GeneralRe: MVP Pin
uffejz11-Mar-09 22:58
uffejz11-Mar-09 22:58 

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