GUI Winsock Server

[msstrang]

I hope someone might be able to lead me in the right direction.

I currently have a winsock server application that I've written - it works fine as a console application. My problem is I want it to be a Windows Forms application.

When the server application goes into listen mode waiting for a client the buttons on the Form are not accessable (the mouse pointer turns into an hourglass when hovering over the form).

I know there is a solution to this - but can't seem to get there on my own. I'm guessing I need to make the form Modeless? I used MSVC2005 to create a Windows form project and I'm 99% sure that this method gets you a modal form.

Again, I would really appreciate ANY help in this matter as I'm fairly frustrated.

Thanks,
Marcus

 

[macleod1021]

The problem is with threading. Your main thread (the one the form is running on) is being taken over by the winsock methods. Spawn a new thread and start the listen method on the new thread. You also need to set up a callback on the main thread so that when something comes in (or needs to be handled) you use the call back to update your main thread.

 

[msstrang]

What you are saying is defintly a good help - thank you.

I've looked around and tried some of the threading sources I find - but can't get any to compile ( a common issue when I try something for the first time)

Just to make sure I'm not spinning my wheels - I am running vc 2005 EXPRESS. It's looking like I'll need MFC to do this? Or can threading be done without the MFC?

 

[macleod1021]

AFAIK you don't have to use MFC for threading in VC2005 Express. I haven't used that particular version of the compiler...but I would consider it a serious flaw if it restricted the use of threads.

The namespace you need to add is System::Threading. There's a tutorial on MSDN at

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/815805

 

[msstrang]

You're right, that tutorial really got me going in correct direction - now i'm going to have to figure our the callback so I can add items to my listbox so the user knows what is happening.

I hate to ask since you've been so much help already, but can you point me in the direction of a good example for a callback?

I need to update the listbox to disply that the "server is started" and then return to the winsock thread until a client connects

then update the listbox to advise "client connected" and then return to the winsock thread until data is read,
etc.

 

[Miros]

If you want to accumulate the messages in the list box:

SendMessage( listbox, LB_INSERTSTRING, -1, (LPARAM) string );

To put new messages at the top, use 0 instead of -1.

PostMessage might work better for you tho. I haven't sent messages from a thread in a while.

In any case, the listbox should repaint itself.