Scheduling Tasks

[Zach_VB6]

Hello. I have a small class library, each implementing the ITask interface:

Public Interface ITask
    Property StartTime As DateTime
    Property StopTime As DateTime
    Property RunFrequency As TimeSpan
    Sub Start()
    Function Execute() As Integer
    Sub Finish()
End Interface

I'm looking to allow my user to schedule these tasks. Basically a big list of tasks.. each one on it's own thread.
psuedo: If Now >= startTime and Now <= stopTime, Threading.Thread.Sleep(task.execute())

What controls could I use to make the scheduling look neat? How would I go about with the actual threading part? Would I need to add a Thread property to my ITask interface?

[dday9]

Take a look at JMcIlhinney's thread on adding a pause to your code, if used properly you can do exactly what you're wanting to do:

Run task 1
Pause -x- time
Run task 2
Pause -y- time
Run task 3
Pause -z- time
etc.

The way that he structured the code, doesn't block the UI and it doesn't use a 'busy wait', which by the way Thread.Sleep will block the UI.

[Niya]

How would I go about with the actual threading part? Would I need to add a Thread property to my ITask interface?

I think a very important question needs to be answered first: Do you want these ITask implementers to be able to start themselves ? Or do you intend to have a collection based object that takes ITask objects and start them when its their time ?

[Zach_VB6]

Take a look at JMcIlhinney's thread on adding a pause to your code, if used properly you can do exactly what you're wanting to do:

Run task 1
Pause -x- time
Run task 2
Pause -y- time
Run task 3
Pause -z- time
etc.

The way that he structured the code, doesn't block the UI and it doesn't use a 'busy wait', which by the way Thread.Sleep will block the UI.

Thank you for the link. Not sure how to "trigger" the start of the ITask object.

I think a very important question needs to be answered first: Do you want these ITask implementers to be able to start themselves ? Or do you intend to have a collection based object that takes ITask objects and start them when its their time ?

I think it would be better if I created a TaskHandler class that handled the collection of ITask objects and would start/stop them appropriately. I think the TaskHandler class should also "paint"/display the current schedule to the user

Is there a control that would be well suited for a scheduling type thing?

[Niya]

Is there a control that would be well suited for a scheduling type thing?

I'm thinking that a simple grid could work well.

[Zach_VB6]

I'm thinking that a simple grid could work well.

I could bind a List(of ITask) to a DataGridView? How do you bind a list?

[Niya]

You could bind a DataGridView by setting its DataSource property. If you do this through the property grid at design time, the designer will generate the columns in the DataGridView for you. At runtime, bind the list. Note though that only public properties are considered in data binding scenarios.