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

[chris.cavage]

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:

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?

[Tom Moran]

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.

[chris.cavage]

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

I will try something like your picturebox idea.

[Tr4iNe3r]

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.

[CDRIVE]

Do you want to do something like this?

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

[CVMichael]

Just do this:

frmWait.Show , Me
Me.Enabled = False

all my code and fillfields stuff here

unload frmWait
Me.Enabled = True

[Tom Moran]

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.

[chris.cavage]

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.

[CVMichael]

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

[CVMichael]

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

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

And also try this

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

Notice the difference in the Owner in both examples

[chris.cavage]

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.

[chris.cavage]

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.