VB.NET Show form after controls are rendered
I have a VB.NET form with a large number of controls within a tablelayoutpanel. When I show the form, it takes quite a while to load and causes a great deal of flicker. Is there a way I can create the form, but not show it until all the controls are rendered? Right now I'm doing a simple:
Dim frm as myForm()
farm.show()
Dim frm as myForm()
farm.show()
you can Load your form first before showing it.
ASKER
For example?
For 50p? That must be real easy! Use:
Me.SuspendLayout()
' do your thing of adding controls
Me.ResumeLayout()
' do your thing of adding controls
Me.ResumeLayout()
ASKER
I'm not dynamically adding controls. They are added via the designer.
Then set them all to invisible. Use the above code and make the visible. Then call ResumeLayout.
If you'd like a super-easy solution, do this:
1) Add a Timer to your form
2) Call the timer, "FormLoadTimer" and set the Interval to 100
3) Remove ALL code from your FormLoad event - move all the code into a new method called, "FormInitialize"
4) In the (now empty) FormLoad - turn on your timer, "FormLoadTimer.Enabled = True"
5) In the FormLoadTimer_Tick event, put the following code:
Sub FormLoadTimer_Tick(blah blah) Handles me.FormLoadTimer.Tick
FormLoadTimer.Enabled = False
FormInitialize()
End Sub
The form will load, setup all controls - resize the HORRIBLY SLOW TableLayoutPanel, get all of your painting done... Then it'll display the whole thing all at once, nice and clean when the Timer ticks...
Hope this helps.
-LK
1) Add a Timer to your form
2) Call the timer, "FormLoadTimer" and set the Interval to 100
3) Remove ALL code from your FormLoad event - move all the code into a new method called, "FormInitialize"
4) In the (now empty) FormLoad - turn on your timer, "FormLoadTimer.Enabled = True"
5) In the FormLoadTimer_Tick event, put the following code:
Sub FormLoadTimer_Tick(blah blah) Handles me.FormLoadTimer.Tick
FormLoadTimer.Enabled = False
FormInitialize()
End Sub
The form will load, setup all controls - resize the HORRIBLY SLOW TableLayoutPanel, get all of your painting done... Then it'll display the whole thing all at once, nice and clean when the Timer ticks...
Hope this helps.
-LK
ASKER
I'll give that a try, but becasue of the HORRIBLY SLOW TableLayoutPanel, any moving or resizing of the form causes the same issue. I may need to look for an alternative to the TableLayoutPanel. Arranging the controls individually is jut not working.
I don't really understand why you haven't given the SuspendLayout a try. there are many ways of doing so, but the main thing is, whenever you change something, resize something or add something, use SuspendLayout. Here's a post that reports going from 20 seconds rendering to 2-3 seconds http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1437231&page=4. It shouldn't be too hard to change your design slightly to use this technique.
ASKER
Since I'm not dynamically adding controls, where do you suggest I put the SuspendLayout code?
Hold on, I'll give you an example.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Abel's right ya know... his solution will definately make the 'load' go a ton faster but as for resizing your form with that TableLayoutPanel docked for resizing... you'll have to trap the form's resize to prevent the repeated refreshing of the TableLayoutPanel.
In that case, you might try suspending the layout while your form is resizing (Form.ResizeBegin) and then resume your layout when the resize is complete (Form.ResizeComplete)
Unfortunately this will result in a 'ghosting' look that is very unattractive as well. In my case(s) I just turn the TableLayoutPanel.Visible = False when the resize begins and back to True when the resize is complete.
In that case, you might try suspending the layout while your form is resizing (Form.ResizeBegin) and then resume your layout when the resize is complete (Form.ResizeComplete)
Unfortunately this will result in a 'ghosting' look that is very unattractive as well. In my case(s) I just turn the TableLayoutPanel.Visible = False when the resize begins and back to True when the resize is complete.
thanks, lkalvin. Funny, I forgot that this 'difficult' question was just 50p, lol. That's probably why it wasn't split. I think with all the solutions around a split of many points would've been nice ;-)
Was a nice exercise to play a bit with that grid, I never use it normally, but the principles of design, rendering and paint events apply just the same ;-)
One final thought: if you really want that kind of professional looking resizing that some browsers or adobe can do, you can mimic that by grabbing an image of the whole area and resizing that during the resize event. Once it finishes, you remove that overlay image and you use the standard method explained above.
Was a nice exercise to play a bit with that grid, I never use it normally, but the principles of design, rendering and paint events apply just the same ;-)
One final thought: if you really want that kind of professional looking resizing that some browsers or adobe can do, you can mimic that by grabbing an image of the whole area and resizing that during the resize event. Once it finishes, you remove that overlay image and you use the standard method explained above.