Question

This code allows the form to load before the data is loaded but some of the components on the form such as buttons and the datagridview itself are “invisible” until the data is loaded.

How do I fix this problem?

    private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        Thread t = new Thread(new ThreadStart(delegate()
        {
            this.Invoke(new MyDelegate(delegate()
            {               
                ReadXml(path);
                Bind();
           }));              
        }));

        t.Start();
     }

    private void Bind()
    {
        dataGridView1.DataSource = table;
    }

I also have this other code which works better, but requires that I use 2 new threads. This can’t be the best way to do this, can it?

    private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        Thread t = new Thread(new ThreadStart(delegate()
          {
              this.Invoke(new InvokeDelegate(delegate()
              {
                  Thread t2 = new Thread(new ThreadStart(delegate()
                  {
                      ReadXml(path);
                  }));
                  t2.Start();
                  t2.Join();
                  Bind();
              }));
          }));

        t.Start();
    }

Answer 1

If you use BeginInvoke() instead of an Invoke() the code in the delegate will be executed on the current UI thread but it wont happen until after all the current UI work pending finishes (like the current Form1_Load invocation). Invoke is a synchronous call so that’s why you needed the thread.

   void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        this.BeginInvoke(new MyDelegate(delegate()
        {
            ReadXml(path);
            Bind();
        }));
    }