display message to the user

[smcmanus]

I want to display a message to tell the user to wait while the computer connects to the database. Sometimes it can take up to 15 seconds. The user does not have to respond. It is just a message to the user that the program is doing something, and thats why the program is not responding.

 

[JohnYingling]

Use a label or locked text box that you make visible while connecting and then not visible when connected. Set Visible=false in Form_load or at design time.

http://www.VBCompare.com

http://www.VBSortGen.com

 

[angst11]

Why not try setting the MousePointer = vbHourglass and when complete set it back to MousePointer = vbDefault so the users know something is happening!

Good luck!

 

[AdaHacker]

I had a similar problem (except my users had to wait several minutes) and I decided to use a splash screen type of idea. I just had a form with a single label on it showing a "loading" message (larger font, of course) and I just did a form.show immediately before calling my long routine, and a form.hide immediately after. I like it because the user at least has something to look at (you could always put fnacy graphics on it if it's a slow day) and, being a whole form, it's hard to miss when it comes up or goes away.

 

[strongm]

If you were feeling adventurous, you could combine JohnYingling's and angst's ideas with an animation! Add a reference to the Common Controls-2 component, drop an animation control on the form, make it invisible like John's label, and set autoplay to true. When you make the label visible, also do something like:

Animation1.Open "..\common\graphics\videos\findcomp.avi"

and set the animation control visible as well. At the same time, change the mousepointer as per angst.

 

[RichieSimonetti]

Use a command button with its zorder property set to 0, caption "Opening..." (or so) and show/hide it whenever you need.
Don't forget to center it in form.