Display Form, then perform operation?

SandersM · June 19th, 2007, 10:56 AM

I have a form that I'd like to have the system display/paint and then have the code perform with updates of a field showing the status of the "background" operation. How does one do this?

So far, the form is loading after the operations complete and there is a pause in the display that isn't uncomfortable yet. However, I still have some operations to add to the routine, so this pause might possibly get longer.

Thanks,

Michael

mmcdonal · June 20th, 2007, 06:53 AM

I usually display an intermediate form with a timer on it to open the next form. The intermediate form has some message about waiting for data to load. If you want to go nuts, you can also change the cursor to an hourglass while the data is loading:

DoCmd.Hourglass True
'Load data

DoCmd.Hourglass False
DoCmd.OpenForm 'your next form.

Did that help?

mmcdonal

SandersM · June 21st, 2007, 02:49 PM

Thanks for the ideas, but it isn't quite what I want. I may have to go in that direction though. Have used a progress bar and hourglass tricks before so it shouldn't be that difficult.

It still begs the question though. Can what I described be done?

robzyc · June 21st, 2007, 03:37 PM

Hi SandersM,

In the open event of your form (or whatever starts the process)
Have something like:

Code:

DoCmd.Hourglass = True 'Always use hourglass, keep the user informed!
Do
'Business Logic - Whatever you want to do
'Update the display
ProgBar.Value = X
ALbl.Caption = Y
Me.Repaint
DoEvents() 'Optional - Give a bit of CPU time back to OS
Loop Until OpsComplete
DoCmd.Hourglass = False

Does that help?

Best Regards,
Rob

SandersM · June 25th, 2007, 12:57 PM

I found the key to doing this. When you wish to update form controls, the best way to approach it is to not do it from an onLoad or onOpen state. Using another sub to open the form and then change the state/data of the control on the form that it just opened appears to be the only way that you can handle this type of data/display updates.

Thanks to those that helped. It would have taken a lot longer to get to the conclusion had I not had your inputs.

Michael

SerranoG · June 29th, 2007, 08:50 AM

If you have some kind of label that says, "Loading data. Please wait..." then JUST before you actually start loading the data, make the label appear and then do a Me.Repaint on the form itself.

Greg Serrano
Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division