[RESOLVED] how to make a "Please Wait While.." form

VB6 app.

Connecting remotely to my database can take sometime... I would like to have a form load that disables the original form show onscreen and reads simply, "Please wait while I process your request."

Then when the connection is made, the info is queried and filled, have the please wait form unload itself.

I tried wrapping my connections with:

Code:

---

frmWait vdModal, Me

all my code and fillfields stuff here

unload frmwait

---

but that didn't work. frmWait never unloads... I guess because it is shown modally. However, I thought that was a decent idea. Maybe that idea just needs from tweaking?

I don't think you want to show your wait form as vbModal. All processing would be stopped on the calling form.

I had a similar need a couple of years ago and I ended up using a Hidden Picture Box that had the topmost ZOrder when displayed. When done processing just hide the Picture Box. You could also include a progress bar if that is appropriate for what your doing.

Oh, I didn't realize modal stopped processing on that form. Thanks.

I will try something like your picturebox idea.

Why not just change to a form with no clipbox, however make sure you put a button on it like disconnect or cancel if your not using a timer to abort the connection process after a given time.

Assuming you are using Winsock, just make a callback function to return the socket.state in actual words and pass it to your label so the user knows whats going on during the establishment of the connection.

Do you want to do something like this?

Code:

---


Option Explicit

Private Sub Form_Load()
  Label1.Caption = ""
  Timer1.Enabled = True
  Timer1.Interval = 100
End Sub

Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
  Dim MyWord
  Static i As Integer
  i = i + 1
  MyWord = Array("L", "o", "a", "d", "i", "n", "g", ".", ".", ".", ".", ".")
      Label1.Caption = Label1.Caption & MyWord((i) - 1)
        If i = 12 Then
            i = 0
            Label1.Caption = ""
        End If
End Sub

---

Just do this:

Code:

---

frmWait.Show , Me
Me.Enabled = False

all my code and fillfields stuff here

unload frmWait
Me.Enabled = True

---

Be careful if you choose to use a non-modal form for the display. It can easily get lost behind other forms which is the very reason I went with the Picture Box. That can happen even if you use the OnTop API.

Thank you for the posts and suggestions.

I was also trying to do CVMichael's idea recently, but it was getting lost behind forms at times.

That was why I tried showing it modally.

When you set the OwnerForm, it's impossible that it goes behind the owner window...

Are you sure you set the OwnerForm ?

frmWait.Show , Me

To extend on that...

You basically have 3 states:

This is non-modal, and it can go behind other forms
frmWait.Show

This is non-modal, but it does NOT go behind it's Owner
frmWait.Show , Me

This is Modal, and and it also stops execution of code in the Owner until it's closed
frmWait.Show vbModal, Me

For example, start a new project, add 2 more forms, try this code

Code:

---

Private Sub Form_Load()
    Form1.Show
    Form2.Show , Form1
    Form3.Show , Form2
End Sub

---

And also try this

Code:

---

Private Sub Form_Load()
    Form1.Show
    Form2.Show , Form1
    Form3.Show , Form1
End Sub

---

Notice the difference in the Owner in both examples

Nope, I didn't set the owner form... I am using it now, seems to work for me.

Also tossing around the picturebox idea... I fill it with a picture that says "Please Wait" while disabling me.form. Then enabling the form after everything is processed.

Thanks for your help.

I also like using CDRIVE's LOADING form. Good stuff.

Ok, this is resolved. Most of the reason why I wanted this to work was because of my remote db connection. I have used adAsynConnect when my connections are open, and I use a "Loading" animation (with help from si the geek) on a separate thread.

I disabled the form while it's connecting, upon connection_complete event, I re-enable the form. The user stays on the form the whole time, and can visually see the "Loading" animation in the top right corner, so he/she knows my application is connecting properly.

Thanks.