C / C++ / MFC

CLoading * pcLoading = new CLoading;

        pcLoading->lblText = "Please wait.........loading data";

        pcLoading->Create(IDD_DLGTLOADING, this);

        pcLoading->ShowWindow(SW_SHOW);

        <code>PopulateSortList();</code>

        pcLoading->DestroyWindow();

        delete pcLoading;

CDialog::OnShowWindow (...);
if (m_bFirstTimeShown) {
    m_bFirstTimeShown = false;
    SetDlgItemText (IDC_LABEL, "Please wait... loading data");
}

1. Your view's OnInitialUpdate() simply displays the CLoading modal dialog.
   
   
2. CLoading does the actual initialization (by posting a custom WM_COMMAND to itself in it's OnInitDialog().
   
   
3. When the initialization completes (in the handler of your fake command), CLoading simply exits (by calling CDialog::OnCancel()) and control returns to your view.

CLoading cLoading (this);
cLoading.setInitData (ptrToView'sData);  // so that cLoading can do what it needs to do
long nStatus = cLoading.DoModal();       // display dialog - it will dismiss itself
if (nStatus == IDOK)                     // init completed successfully
   ....;
else {                                   // init failed
   AfxMessageBox ("Error!"):
   close the view;
}