Is there a way to force a re-render?

[InVermont]

is there something equivelent in NPVR to

PluginHelperFactory.getPluginHelper().ForceRepaint();

?

I have a function for displaying info as

private void setText(String Text)
{
if (!activated) return;
if (TextMessage == Text) return;

TextMessage = Text;
Hashtable args = new Hashtable();
args.Add("@message", TextMessage);
TextUiStatic.Args = args;
ForceUpdate = true;
}

( I think the syntax was a little different in GB-PVR)

so I can go in my plugin (in some function)

setText("Fetching info, please wait...");

// call retrieve function, whatever that may be. this might take several seconds

setText("Got it. I'm back");

In GB-PVR, it works as expected. In NPVR, the first message is never displayed.

I tried using the class variable ForceUpdate

then in NeedsRendering I go

public override bool NeedsRendering()
{
if (ForceRender == true) {
ForceRender = false;
return true;
}
...

but it still doesn't work.
thanks

[sub]

If you return 'true' from NeedsRendering(), then the app will call GetRenderList() on your plugin and show the elements you return. (ie, repaint the screen)

Try this:

Code:

public override bool NeedsRendering()
{
   if (TextUiStatic.NeedsRendering())
      return true;
   .... any other processing....
}

[InVermont]

I already do that, but the first call to setText never shows up. I'm assuming NeedsRendering is not called until after

// call retrieve function, whatever that may be. this might take several seconds

I could put the retrieval function in a separate thread, but was hoping to avoid the complications involved.

[sub]

Ah, sorry - I didnt read all the details in your post. You're right. There is only a single thread happening, so NeedsRendering() isnt called until your function complete.

For added a IPluginHelper.ForceRender(); method for the next build.

[InVermont]

Very cool. Thanks for the (as usual) fantastically fast response!
I'm a hack programmer at best, and juggling more than a few threads (I already have a another one going) is like juggling chain-saws. You just know there will be a terrible mess at any moment...

[mvallevand]

Thanks sub this is something I have been waiting for too. Would it be possible to add a ForceRefresh into PluginHelperFactory.GetPluginHelper().ShowMessage(...) too?

Martin

[sub]

Thanks sub this is something I have been waiting for too. Would it be possible to add a ForceRefresh into PluginHelperFactory.GetPluginHelper().ShowMessage(...) too?

I wont make the ShowMessage do it by default, but you can manually do it you need to (if you've got a long running activity happening on the main thread, and know it'll be safe for your situation). The reason for this, it'll most likely lead to reentrancy issues, since it'll cause NeedsRendering/GetRenderList etc to be called on your plugin, and chances are lots of developers would have called it from one of these methods. Google "DoEvents" for a description of similar evil.

In reality it'd be better to not use it, and instead put long processing on a background thread, and just have the main thread just show the status of the background thread. Calls like ShowMessage will show pretty much instantly if you're not blocking on slow activities.