Avoiding "Component request pending" message

Is there a way to make automation calls from VB such that the "Component request pending" message does not come up when the automation server is still processing the request or has hung?

If the automation server hangs, it would be good be allow the user to be able to restart it.

VB only seems to allow you to change the message.

Is it possible to make the automation call in a separate thread within VB, so that the user still has access to the active form while the component request is pending?

I can use a separate thread within the COM server, but this causes problems with third party applications I am interfacing with. I could have a separate multithreaded app which sits between VB and the COM server...

I received your e-mail but found I could not reply to it.

Here is what I had to say anyway:

I think the only options to you with regards to the "component request pending" message are firstly (as you've already said) to change the text of the message and secondly to change the timeout before user interaction triggers such a message. I did read that a request made to an ActiveX EXE cannot be cancelled.

Unfortunately, I have not had enough experience with asynchronous VB operations to give you guidance in this issue (although I believe it can be done).

Caspar,

Don't worry about Simon’s reply to your post it was for me. I sent him an email asking for his help, which contained your original query. Unfortunately, he could not respond to this directly because I cocked up my profile. I typed my email address in wrong.

Talk to you later.

Paul (AKA: Gibbo if you read this Simon)