Image Display

Using an UpdateProgress control is the correct option if your page is an Asp.net Ajax enabled page (With UpdatePanel). But, what if you don't use UpdatePanel?

How about a quick easily solution as follows?

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
           Response.BufferOutput = false; //Do not buffer page output. Write response immediately to the browser

           Response.Write(new string(' ', 256)); //Required for IE. 

           Response.Write("Processing...<br />"); //Show a fancy animation here, using an img html element or flash object
           Response.Flush(); //Flush response immediately

           Thread.Sleep(5000); //Mimics the expensive database operation for 5 seconds
           Response.Write("<br />Done."); //Indicate operation is done.
           Response.Flush();
}

When you hit the page in the browser, the "Processing..." will be shown first and after 5 seconds the "Done" message will be shown without any page refresh. The 5 seconds delay is caused due to the Thread.Sleep(5000) and you call your database method here.

Enjoy!