Problem with hiding forms [resolved]

[shootsnlad]

I have 2 forms and a module. Form1 basically displays "waiting..." so the user knows the program is loading the information on form2 The module has the code:

Dim x as new form1
x.show()
dim y as new form2
y.showdialog()

In the form_load for form2 I have the following code:

form1.activeform.activate()
form1.activeform.hide()

What happens is that when form2 finally loads it flashes up and then closes right away. Any ideas? I thought this had worked before for me and the logic seems right. Maybe I just missing something simple, but that's where your help comes in. Thanks!

[RealNickyDude]

In Form 1, try:

Me.BringToFront

as the Form might be flipping to the back.

[shootsnlad]

Nope, no luck there either. Is it because I do a activeform on form1 from form2 and then hide it? As I understand after the module passes to form1, if you do something to form1 it will affect the entire program. That's why I use the showdialog() option for form2, so the program will stay open even though the initial form gets hidden/closed. Any ideas? The wierd thing is if I run this program on my own, it stays open. If I call it out of another program (which is what I want to happen), it flashes and closes. Any ideas? Thanks for the help.

[Edneeis]

Try this.

[ProgrammerJon]

try this code:


Private Sub Form1_Activated(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Activated
Form1.ActiveForm.Visible = False
Dim myform2 As New Form2()
myform2.Show()
End Sub

[shootsnlad]

Well neither of them worked. Here is what I have in my module:

Waiting.ShowMessage("Please Wait...")
            Try
                Dim hc As New form2()
                hc.ShowDialog()
            Catch
            End Try
            Waiting.HideMessage()

When I put in hc.showdialog, it looks as though waiting.hidemessage never gets executed because the 'waiting' stays on the screen along with form2. If I use hc.show, then as soon as the form loads, it closes the program down.

As far as programmerJon's code, the problem with that is that it will work, but the "loading" doesn't appear, it just sits there with nothing on the screen and eventually form2 loads. That would defeat the point of me being able to tell the user that the program is actually loading.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, anything else?

shootsnlad

[Magiaus]

try instancing your forms in a module before you use them and as long as you only need one at a time you will have no problems if you need more than one instance of a form at a time use a collection to orginize your forms. if you search on my name an example of a forms collection will come up

that whole activeform bit does not work.

sorry i can't help more but i just happen to be on a machine with net today so i thought i would drop in here

[Edneeis]

SO you want the waiting to go away when the other form is finished loading?

Since you show it modally then it wont hide until its closed the way you have it. I would use the Load and Activate events in the form that is loading. You'll also need to either add a showing property to the waiting form or just use a boolean in the form that is being loaded.

Dim wShowing As Boolean
 
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Waiting.ShowMessage("Please Wait...")
        wShowing = True
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Form1_Activated(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Activated
        If wShowing Then
            wShowing = False
            Waiting.HideMessage()
        End If
    End Sub

[Edneeis]

If you want to add the IsShowing property then this is how it'd go:

'the code the waiting form
    Private Shared _frm As Waiting
    Private Shared _IsShowing As Boolean
 
    Public Shared Sub ShowMessage(ByVal msg As String)
        _frm = New Waiting()
        'set text
        _frm.lblMsg.Text = msg
        'some resize code should go here to handle lareger text
        'put on top like showdialog
        _frm.TopMost = True
        'show it
        _frm.Show()
        _IsShowing = True
        'make sure it repaints
        Application.DoEvents()
    End Sub
 
    Public Shared Sub HideMessage()
        'close and clean
        _frm.Close()
        _IsShowing = False
        _frm.Dispose()
    End Sub
 
    Public Shared ReadOnly Property IsShowing() As Boolean
        Get
            Return _IsShowing
        End Get
    End Property
 
'the code for the form using it or being loaded
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Waiting.ShowMessage("Loading Please Wait...")
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Form1_Activated(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Activated
        If Waiting.IsShowing Then Waiting.HideMessage()
    End Sub

[Edneeis]

As a side note .NET can show animated gifs so if you wanted to be fancy you could make or get an animated gif and stick it on the waiting form for a little better look.

[RealNickyDude]

As a side note .NET can show animated gifs so if you wanted to be fancy you could make or get an animated gif and stick it on the waiting form for a little better look.

Yeah, just look at the Quick Tips pop-up Form in my VBCodeBook.NET program.

[Pirate]

Originally posted by Edneeis
As a side note .NET can show animated gifs so if you wanted to be fancy you could make or get an animated gif and stick it on the waiting form for a little better look.

Well , this Pirate's style and without flashes of course .

[shootsnlad]

That worked. It now loads as it should. Thanks for the help once again!

shootsnlad