Allow main (gui) thread while doing a task then update table - c#

I'm using a winform to try to gather online/offline status of every IP on the network, doing so I'm using a ping request, if it replies it marks the IP as online then moves on. Only issue is waiting for up to 255 replies, after it gets all 255 responses I am wanting it to fill a data grid view.
I've managed to get it all to work but only downside is, gui hangs while doing this process, I figured just use a separate thread with the following expression
Thread T1 = new Thread(PingHost)
T1.run();
PingHost does as the name implies, pings all the hosts and decides if online or offline. Problem is I tried to update the dgv table from the thread, naturally dgv is locked to main thread.
So I tried switching to a Task and just grab the return value and update after everything is finished. Sadly I can't quite get how to get the return value from the task AND have it run on a separate thread.
I've tried googling different methods, but just running in circles at this point, so I humbly come to you guys for assistance
Code of main thread using tasks
List<string> everything = new List<string>();
int i = 0;
Task<List<string>> task1 = Task<List<string>>.Factory.StartNew(PingHost);
everything = task1.Result;
foreach(var item in everything)
{
var index = dataGridView1.Rows.Add();
dataGridView1.Rows[i].Cells["IP"].Value = item;
i++;
}
And this is the thread of my PingHost method
bool pingable = false;
Ping pinger = null;
int i = 0;
string ip;
while (i < 255)
{
ip = "192.168.0." + i;
try
{
pinger = new Ping();
PingReply reply = pinger.Send(ip, 8);
pingable = reply.Status == IPStatus.Success;
}
catch (PingException)
{
MessageBox.Show("ERROR");
// Discard PingExceptions and return false;
}
finally
{
if (pinger != null)
{
pinger.Dispose();
}
}
if (pingable)
{
checkedIP.Add(ip + ": ONLINE");
}
else
{
checkedIP.Add(ip + ": OFFLINE");
}
i++;
}
return checkedIP;

This might be a bit overkill, but I just drafted a solution. Basically I created a new Class for pinging with an event that triggers after each Ping returned, this event uses custom EventArgs to return the IP that was just pinged and if it is online or not. I then subscribed to that Event in my GUI Thread and just update the GUI. Here's some code:
This is my Pinger class responsible for pinging the actual Computers:
class Pinger
{
public event EventHandler<PingReturnedEventArgs> OnPingReturned;
public void PingNetwork()
{
for (int i = 1; i <= 255; i++)
{
string ip = $"192.168.0.{i}";
Ping ping = new Ping();
try
{
PingReply reply = ping.Send(IPAddress.Parse(ip));
TriggerEvent(reply?.Address.ToString(), true);
}
catch (Exception)
{
TriggerEvent(ip, false);
}
}
}
private void TriggerEvent(string ip, bool online)
{
if (OnPingReturned == null) return;
PingReturnedEventArgs args = new PingReturnedEventArgs(ip, online);
OnPingReturned(this, args);
}
}
My custom EventArgs:
class PingReturnedEventArgs : EventArgs
{
public string Ip { get; private set; }
public bool Online { get; private set; }
private PingReturnedEventArgs() { }
public PingReturnedEventArgs(string ip, bool online)
{
Ip = ip;
Online = online;
}
}
And finally here is how I'm actually using all of this:
Pinger pinger = new Pinger();
pinger.OnPingReturned += Your event handler to update the GUI
// I recommend doing it like this so you can stop the Thread at a later time
// Maybe with like a cancel button
Thread pingThread = new Thread(pinger.PingNetwork);
pingThread.Start();
The event handler looks like this private void PingReturnedHandler(object sender, PingReturnedEventArgs args)
The two main benefits of this are that 1. the GUI Thread remains unblocked, meaning the GUI will still respond to user input and 2. this procedurally (on every ping completion) triggers the event, meaning that if it takes a long time to ping all the PCs you don't have to wait for the entirety to finish before the user sees something

Related

Multithread C# serialPort1_DataReceived event does not fire

I read/write data to serial port and I want to see reading on listbox right away. I created a new thread to send command to serial port. I keep the main thread empty, so, it can update the UI and also serial port event handler wont be interrupted with something else.(I am not sure is it right approach?)
The following code works with while (!dataRecieved) { Thread.Sleep(4000); } but does not works with while (!dataRecieved) { Thread.Sleep(100); }.
The problem is if I use 100ms sleep, serial port event handler fire only once and then program stops!(If I debug with breakpoint 100ms works because I create additional time when stepping into the code.) If I wait 4000ms the program works. Also, I check the time between sending data and receiving data from serial port is 200ms. So, 100ms is reasonable.
Here is the code:
public bool dataRecieved = false;
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
public void AppendTextBox(string value)
{
this.Invoke((MethodInvoker)delegate { richTextBox1.Text += value + "\n";});
}
private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
serialPort1.Open();
Thread testThread = new Thread(() => sendThread());
testThread.Start();
}
public void serialPort1_DataReceived(object sender, System.IO.Ports.SerialDataReceivedEventArgs e)
{
data = serialPort1.ReadLine();
dataRecieved = true;
}
public void sendThread()
{
for(int i = 0; i<10; i++)
{
serialPort1.WriteLine("AT" + i);
// Following line creates odd situation:
// if Thread.Sleep(100), I receive only first data, then program stops(serial port handler doesnt fire!).
// if Thread.Sleep(4000), I receive all data, successfuly works.
// But I do not want to wait 4000ms, because I receive answer from device in 200ms.
while (!dataRecieved) { Thread.Sleep(100); }
AppendTextBox("Received" + "AT" + i);
dataRecieved = false;
}
}
Where I am wrong? Can you please provide a solution?
I even didn't use a new Thead for write and read on SerialPort. You just need use update control in Invoke() is ok. Below is my update on richTextBox. You can change form richTextBox to your listbox.
public void update_RichTextBox(string message)
{
Invoke(new System.Action(() =>
{
txtReceivedData.Text += message;
txtReceivedData.Refresh();
txtReceivedData.SelectionStart = txtReceivedData.Text.Length;
txtReceivedData.ScrollToCaret();
}));
}
and the way to use above void:
if (ComPort.IsOpen)
{
ComPort.Write(_inputdata + "\r");
Form1._Form1.update_RichTextBox(_inputdata + "\r");
string _receviedData = ComPort.ReadExisting();
Form1._Form1.update_RichTextBox(respond);
ComPort.DiscardInBuffer();//delete all data in device's received buffer
ComPort.DiscardOutBuffer();// delete all data in transmit buffer
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("haven't yet open COM port");
return "FLASE";
}
I use something I call "Cross Thread Linker"
#region Cross Thread Linker
public bool ControlInvokeRequired(Control c, Action a)
{
if (c.InvokeRequired) c.Invoke(new MethodInvoker(delegate { a(); }));
else return false;
return true;
}
void Update_RichTextBox(RichTextBox rtb, string Text)
{
if (ControlInvokeRequired(rtb, () => Update_RichTextBox(rtb, Text))) return;
rtb.AppendText(Text + Environment.NewLine);
}
#endregion
Then:
Update_RichTextBox(richTextBox1, "Text to append");

Implement UDP communication without blocking UI

I currently have a partly synchronous (poor) implementation of UDP communication between my android App and a hardware which is broadcasting UDP packets. The App continuously polls the hardware for status information which then is used to update the UI. The App also has various screens, each requesting (only when user switches screens, not continuous) a different set of configuration information. The user can also make changes to the configurations and load them to the hardware. All this while, the status updates keeps running in the background. I am looking for a solution best suited to my scenario.
Here is what I have done so far (simplified to make it more readable)
void InitializeUDP()
{
udpClient = new UdpClient(15001);
sender = default(IPEndPoint);
ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(o => UDP_StatusCommunicator());
udpClient.EnableBroadcast = true;
udpClient.Client.ReceiveTimeout = 500;
}
void UDP_StatusCommunicator()
{
while (true)
{
if (update_flag)
{
try
{
sent_packet = FrameGenerator(frame_Queue[screen], true); //Creates UDP Packet
//CheckQuery(sent_packet);
udpClient.Send(sent_packet, sent_packet.Length,"192.168.4.255", 15000);
received_packet = udpClient.Receive(ref sender);
//CheckResponse(received_packet);
RunOnUiThread(() =>
{
Update_UI(received_packet);
});
}
catch (SocketException e)
{
Console.Writeline("Socket Timeout: " + e);
}
}
Thread.Sleep(update_delay);
}
}
void UDPReadWrite(int screen, bool reading)
{
SelectFunctionQueue(screen); //Select the frames according to the screen selected
//CheckQueue(frame_Queue);
for (int i = 0; i < frame_Queue.Length; i++)
{
try
{
sent_packet = FrameGenerator(frame_Queue[i], reading);
//CheckQuery(sent_packet);
udpClient.Send(sent_packet, sent_packet.Length, "192.168.4.255", 15000);
received_packet = udpClient.Receive(ref sender);
//CheckResponse(received_packet);
if (sent_packet[2] == received_packet[2]) //Verify correct packet received
{
Update_UI(received_packet);
}
else
{
i--; //retry
}
}
catch (SocketException e)
{
Console.WriteLine("Socket Timeout: " e);
i--;
}
}
}
}
void Switch_Screen(int new_screen)
{
update_flag = false;
UDPReadWrite(new_screen, true)
update_flag = true;
}
void User_Config_Write(int screen, byte[] data)
{
update_flag = false;
Update_Payload(data);
UDPReadWrite(screen, false)
update_flag = true;
}
As you would have clearly noticed, this is a very flawed implementation. I keep running into issues like UI freeze, same socket usage being attempted by two threads simultaneously, stuck while waiting for packets. I have tried to use 'async await' but I am not implementing it correctly resulting in race conditions and what not. Any help would be appreciated
Update : After some research and testing I have found the below to be working satisfactorily. However, I would appreciate if someone could just verify whether it has been done correctly
UdpClient udpClient = new UdpClient();
UdpClient r_UdpClient = new UdpClient(15001);
IPEndPoint sender = default(IPEndPoint);
ManualResetEventSlim receive = new ManualResetEventSlim(true);
Task.Run(() => UDP_Transmit());
async void UDP_Transmit()
{
byte[] frame;
SelectFrameQueue(selector);
udpClient = new UdpClient(15001);
udpClient.EnableBroadcast = true;
udpClient.BeginReceive(new AsyncCallback(UDP_Receive), udpClient);
while (true)
{
for (int i = 0; i < frame_Queue.Length; i++)
{
frame = FrameGenerator(frame_Queue[i]); //Generates Frames
try
{
udpClient.Send(frame, frame.Length, "192.168.4.255", 15000);
}
catch (SocketException)
{
Log.Debug("Error", "Socket Exception");
}
if(!receive.Wait(10000)) //Receive Timeout
{
RunOnUiThread(() =>
{
ShowToast("Connection Timeout. Please check device");
});
};
await Task.Delay(update_delay); //To release pressure from H/W
receive.Reset();
}
}
}
void UDP_Receive(IAsyncResult result)
{
receive.Set();
r_UdpClient = result.AsyncState as UdpClient;
data = r_UdpClient.EndReceive(result, ref sender);
RunOnUiThread(() =>
{
Update_UI(data);
});
r_UdpClient.BeginReceive(new AsyncCallback(UDP_Receive), r_UdpClient);
}
I don't know what the intent of this code is:
void InitializeUDP()
{
udpClient = new UdpClient(15001);
sender = default(IPEndPoint);
ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(o => UDP_StatusCommunicator());
udpClient.EnableBroadcast = true;
udpClient.Client.ReceiveTimeout = 500;
}
but it is not guaranteed that
udpClient.EnableBroadcast = true;
udpClient.Client.ReceiveTimeout = 500;
is executed before UDP_StatusCommunicator().
For client UIs like Xamarin Task.Run can be a good option over ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem.
You might want to take a look at Dataflow (Task Parallel Library), in particular to the ActionBlock to replace your queue.
You might also want to consider using Progress to report updates to the UI or using Reactive Extensions (Rx) to subscribe to updates from the UI.

Broadcast from bluetooth server to multiple bluetooth clients with 32feet

I have an issue about the server-client communication.
I googled around but I did not find a solution to this.
Right now I am using 32feet in order to get in touch 2 or more (till 7) BT clients to 1 BT server.
I need to broadcast a message from the server to every device in the same time, but I don't know how to do it.
The only way I figured out was to use the list of connection in order to send the message one per time, but it means a delay between each message sent (around 100 ms per device). Unfortunately it means to have a large delay on the last one.
Can someone please give me an advice on how to solve this problem?
Is there a way to broadcast the message to all devices in the same time?
If it can be helpfull, here there is the handle of connection and reading from devices.
Thanks for your help
private void btnStartServer_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
btnStartClient.Enabled = false;
ConnectAsServer();
}
private void ConnectAsServer()
{
connessioniServer = new List<BluetoothClient>();
// thread handshake
Thread bluetoothConnectionControlThread = new Thread(new ThreadStart(ServerControlThread));
bluetoothConnectionControlThread.IsBackground = true;
bluetoothConnectionControlThread.Start();
// thread connessione
Thread bluetoothServerThread = new Thread(new ThreadStart(ServerConnectThread));
bluetoothServerThread.IsBackground = true;
bluetoothServerThread.Start();
}
private void ServerControlThread()
{
while (true)
{
foreach (BluetoothClient cc in connessioniServer)
{
if (!cc.Connected)
{
connessioniServer.Remove(cc);
break;
}
}
updateConnList();
Thread.Sleep(0);
}
}
Guid mUUID = new Guid("fc5ffc49-00e3-4c8b-9cf1-6b72aad1001a");
private void ServerConnectThread()
{
updateUI("server started");
BluetoothListener blueListener = new BluetoothListener(mUUID);
blueListener.Start();
while (true)
{
BluetoothClient conn = blueListener.AcceptBluetoothClient();
connessioniServer.Add(conn);
Thread appoggio = new Thread(new ParameterizedThreadStart(ThreadAscoltoClient));
appoggio.IsBackground = true;
appoggio.Start(conn);
updateUI(conn.RemoteMachineName+" has connected");
}
}
private void ThreadAscoltoClient(object obj)
{
BluetoothClient clientServer = (BluetoothClient)obj;
Stream streamServer = clientServer.GetStream();
streamServer.ReadTimeout=1000;
while (clientServer.Connected)
{
try
{
int bytesDaLeggere = clientServer.Available;
if (bytesDaLeggere > 0)
{
byte[] bytesLetti = new byte[bytesDaLeggere];
int byteLetti = 0;
while (bytesDaLeggere > 0)
{
int bytesDavveroLetti = streamServer.Read(bytesLetti, byteLetti, bytesDaLeggere);
bytesDaLeggere -= bytesDavveroLetti;
byteLetti += bytesDavveroLetti;
}
updateUI("message sent from "+clientServer.RemoteMachineName+": " + System.Text.Encoding.Default.GetString(bytesLetti));
}
}
catch { }
Thread.Sleep(0);
}
updateUI(clientServer.RemoteMachineName + " has gone");
}
private void updateUI(string message)
{
Func<int> del = delegate()
{
textBox1.AppendText(message + System.Environment.NewLine);
return 0;
};
Invoke(del);
}
private void updateConnList()
{
Func<int> del = delegate()
{
listaSensori.Items.Clear();
foreach (BluetoothClient d in connessioniServer)
{
listaSensori.Items.Add(d.RemoteMachineName);
}
return 0;
};
try
{
Invoke(del);
}
catch { }
}
I don't exactly understand how you do it right now (the italian names are not helping...) but maybe my solution can help you.
first of all, bluetooth classic does not support broadcast. so you have to deliver at one at a time.
i do connect to 7 serial port devices at a time, using 7 threads. then i tell every thread to send data. this is very close to same time, but of course not exactly.
let me know if that helps or if you need a code example.

Control.BeginInvoke does not call delegate when UI function is idle

I am modifying a windows desktop application that works with some external hardware. When the user activates the hardware from the application a progress (UI) form is started. This form creates a thread that performs all of the work with the hardware. The problem comes when I try to report progress back to the UI thread. It appears that the first of my Control.BeginInvoke ("Negotiating message") works fine. However, the second one (first adjustment to progressbar) never seems to call it's delegate and as a result the application locks up on the subsequent endinvoke. I believe the issue is that the GUI is now in an idle state, but I am not sure how to fix the situation. Any help would be appreciated. Code found below:
In the UI Load Method Thread:
private void frmTwainAquire_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
try
{
//Show the GUI
this.Visible = showGUI;
pbScanningProgress.Value = 0;
btnCancel.Enabled = false;
btnCancel.Visible = false;
// Set the delegates.
SetScanMessageDelegate = new SetScanMessage(this.SetScanMessageMethod);
SetRegistrationMessageDelegate = new SetRegistrationMessage(this.SetRegistrationMessageMethod);
AddScanProgressDelegate = new AddScanProgress(this.AddScanProgressMethod);
AddRecogProgressDelegate = new AddRecogProgress(this.AddRecogProgressMethod);
// Set progress bars.
pbScanningProgress.Value = 0;
pbRecognition.Value = 0;
abortScan = false;
// Create thread here!
twainInstance = new rScan.Twain();
rScanning = new rScanThread(this, twainInstance);
// Start the thread.
rScanning.tScan = new Thread(rScanning.Scan);
rScanning.tScan.Start();
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
// Error checking here.
}
}
Delegate Methods:
public void SetScanMessageMethod(string scanMessage)
{
this.lblScanMessage.Text = scanMessage;
}
public void SetRegistrationMessageMethod(string recogMessage)
{
this.lblRecognition.Text = recogMessage;
}
public void AddScanProgressMethod(int progress)
{
this.pbScanningProgress.Value += progress;
}
public void AddRecogProgressMethod(int progress)
{
this.pbRecognition.Value += progress;
}
Thread method that is giving the problem. Please note that the thread is in a different class then the previous two code blocks (both are in the UI class):
public class rScanThread : IMessageFilter
public void Scan()
{
// Set progress bar message.
IAsyncResult result;
if (frmTwainAquireInstance.lblScanMessage.IsHandleCreated && frmTwainAquireInstance.lblScanMessage.InvokeRequired)
{
result = frmTwainAquireInstance.lblScanMessage.BeginInvoke(frmTwainAquireInstance.SetScanMessageDelegate, "Negotiating Capabilities with Scanner.");
frmTwainAquireInstance.lblScanMessage.EndInvoke(result);
}
else
{
frmTwainAquireInstance.lblScanMessage.Text = "Negotiating Capabilities with Scanner.";
}
// Start the intialization of the rScan process.
bool intializeSuccess = twainInstance.Initialize(frmTwainAquireInstance.Handle);
// If the process could not be started then quit.
if (!intializeSuccess)
{
frmTwainAquireInstance.Close();
return;
}
if (frmTwainAquireInstance.pbScanningProgress.IsHandleCreated && frmTwainAquireInstance.pbScanningProgress.InvokeRequired)
{
result = frmTwainAquireInstance.pbScanningProgress.BeginInvoke(frmTwainAquireInstance.AddScanProgressDelegate, 33);
frmTwainAquireInstance.pbScanningProgress.EndInvoke(result); // Lock up here.
}
else
{
frmTwainAquireInstance.pbScanningProgress.Value += 33;
}
// Do more work after. The code never makes it this far.
} // End of rScanThread.Scan()

C# - App Crash When Using Ping event

i'm working with ping Librarry in net 3.5 to check the presence of IP.
take a look at the code below:
public void PingIP(string IP)
{
var ping = new Ping();
ping.PingCompleted += new PingCompletedEventHandler(ping_PingCompleted); //here the event handler of ping
ping.SendAsync(IP,"a");
}
void ping_PingCompleted(object sender, PingCompletedEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Reply.Status == IPStatus.Success)
{
//On Ping Success
}
}
Then i execute the code through Thread or backgroundworker.
private void CheckSomeIP()
{
for (int a = 1; a <= 255; a++)
{
PingIP("192.168.1." + a);
}
}
System.Threading.Thread checkip = new System.Threading.Thread(CheckSomeIP);
checkip.Start();
Well, here is the problem:
If i start the thread then i would to close the application (Close with Controlbox at corner), i would get "App Crash"
although i have closed/abort the thread.
I think the problem is event handler? as they still working when i'm closing the Application so that i will get "App Crash"
What would be the best way to solve this case?
I think, on a successfull Ping, you are trying to update the interface from within the Thread, which will cause an CrossThreadingOperation exception.
Search the Web for ThreadSave / delegates:
public void PingIP(string IP)
{
var ping = new Ping();
ping.PingCompleted += new PingCompletedEventHandler(ping_PingCompleted); //here the event handler of ping
ping.SendAsync(IP,"a");
}
delegate void updateTextBoxFromThread(String Text);
void updateTextBox(String Text){
if (this.textbox1.InvokeRequired){
//textbox created by other thread.
updateTextBoxFromThread d = new updateTextBoxFromThread(updateTextBox);
this.invoke(d, new object[] {Text});
}else{
//running on same thread. - invoking the delegate will lead to this part.
this.textbox1.text = Text;
}
}
void ping_PingCompleted(object sender, PingCompletedEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Reply.Status == IPStatus.Success)
{
updateTextBox(Text);
}
}
Also on "quitting" the application, you may want to cancel al running threads. Therefore you need to keep the reference on every thread you start somewhere in your application. in the formClosing-Event of your Main-Form, you can force all (running) threads to stop.

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