interrupt a "for" loop in C# with a click event.: Microsoft C# .Net

interrupt a "for" loop in C# with a click event.

I have a C# program where user clicks a button and begins executing a "for" loop that does some processing based on user input. I would like the user to be able to click a button on the same form to be able to interrupt the processing. Since the processing is in a "for" loop when I click the button and never received a click event. Is there a way I can execute the "for" loop and be able to click a button on the form that interrupts that "for" loop.

Any sage words of advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

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It can be done quite a bit simpler. Forms are by default multi threaded, they have to be, because the Win32 messages are send and processed asynchronously. You can use that information to create a very simple loop that does not involve extra multi threading to succeed and is still very responsive when the user clicks the Cancel button.

Place a button "btnCancel" and a button "btnProcessLoop" on your form and doubleclick the Click events in the properties window and paste the following code in it. You may add a small textbox with the name txtResults to see the loop running.

private bool breakOperation = false;
private void btnProcessLoop_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    // must set focus, or user has to click twice on "Cancel" button
    Q24636947Cancel.Focus();
    Application.DoEvents();
 
    // do something in a long loop
    for (int i = 0; i < 5000; i++)
    {
        // wait a moment (do not use Sleep!)
        Thread.CurrentThread.Join(2);        // 2ms times 5000 = 10 seconds
 
        // process the messagepump
        Application.DoEvents();
 
        // show the counter somewhere
        txtResults.Text = i.ToString();
 
        // check whether "Cancel" was hit
        if (breakOperation)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Operation was Canceled by user!");
            breakOperation = false;  // set to false for the next time
            break;   // stop the loop
        }
    }
}
 
private void btnCancel_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    breakOperation = true;
}

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interrupt a "for" loop in C# with a click event.

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