how to make two functions working simultaneously

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3.00/5 (1 vote)

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I have a function in c# which has name "fetchData()".This is to fetch some data from internet
using api.But sometimes it takes long time depending on internet connection speed.So
I want to show a marquee progress bar when my application is fetching data.For a loop I can use
application.DoEvent() to keep winform active.But this is not loop.Just a code with webresponse takes long time.So how to do this?I have read so many articles of backgroundworker but
concept is not clear.They all want to sleep a thread.But I want to make two threads working simultaneously.Please help.

string webUrl = "http://api.worldweatheronline.com/free/v1/weather.ashx?q=" + city + "&format=xml&num_of_days=2&key=my key";
string[,] retData = fetchProcess(webUrl);

this code is written on a button click event."fetchProcess()" is string array function.In this function webresponse code is written which takes long time to execute.Now where and how to apply this keeping my form active.

Posted 29-May-13 16:32pm

souvikcode

Updated 29-May-13 20:10pm

v2

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Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 29-May-13 23:40pm

There is nothing working "simultaneously", but things can work in parallel, asynchronously...
—SA

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austinbox · Answer 1 · 2013-05-29T16:50:00

Solution 1

There are lots of ways to do this if you google it, but a popular way is to use Threads

Make sure you have this namespace included.

C#

using System.Threading;

Then in the function where you normally call fetchData() insert this snippet.

C#

Thread background = new Thread(() => fetchData());
background.Start();

//Do something with progress bar

Then make sure at the end of your fetchData() you make a Thread-Safe Call to end the Progressbar marquee or whatever you'd like.

Posted 29-May-13 16:50pm

austinbox

Updated 29-May-13 20:17pm

v5

Comments

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 29-May-13 23:44pm

It's pretty good, with one little problem: there is no such thing as "thread-safe call" to UI methods/properties. Actually, all calls are done in UI thread itself. Some call-like functionality in a non-UI thread is achieved via delegation a call (actually, a delegate to be inoveled) to the UI thread, which is done by Control.Invoke, Control.BeginInvoke, Dispatcher.Invoke or Dispatcher.BeginInvoke (yes, WPF dispatcher can be used in Forms, too). So, I voted 4. I think I'll need to add another solution to complement yours.
—SA

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 29-May-13 23:45pm

I've added this solution, please see Solution 2.
—SA

souvikcode 30-May-13 1:56am

not helpful.still my form remain inactive until the webresponse code get response from internet.

souvikcode 8-Jun-13 13:19pm

if you have time please write the exact code for my problem.I have no idea about invoke.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov · Answer 2 · 2013-05-29T17:45:00

In addition to Solution 1:

Please see my comment to this solution. You cannot call anything related to UI from non-UI thread. Instead, you need to use the method Invoke or BeginInvoke of System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher (for both Forms or WPF) or System.Windows.Forms.Control (Forms only).

You will find detailed explanation of how it works and code samples in my past answers:
Control.Invoke() vs. Control.BeginInvoke()[^],
Problem with Treeview Scanner And MD5[^].

See also more references on threading:
How to get a keydown event to operate on a different thread in vb.net[^],
Control events not firing after enable disable + multithreading[^].

—SA