Question

I have a simple application that is using async / await (.NET 4.0 with async targeting package) to communicate with a db and return result.

I need to alter the behavior of some form elements until the data are available. For simple implementations i would like to disable form elements until the data are available. Or change the behavior of the click events on form elements.

What is the proper way of doing it?

I have thought of

• Having some boolean property to let the elements know that the thread is operating.
• Use eventing form the button that does the work? (I suspect this is the solution but please elaborate on how)

Thanks.

Answer 1

This should be as simple as the code we saw in your other question. Logically you want:

foo.Enabled = false;
bar.Enabled = false;
// etc
await Task.Run(...);
foo.Enabled = true;
bar.Enabled = true;

Now you can make that a lot simpler if you put all the controls that need this treatment together:

SetEnabled(controlCollection, false);
await Task.Run(...);
SetEnabled(controlCollection, true);

...

private static void SetEnabled(IEnumerable<Control> controls, bool enabled)
{
    foreach (var control in controls)
    {
        control.Enabled = enabled;
    }
}