Load helpfile with busy indicator

[ceties]

Hi guys. In my app I can load a help file that I call. But how display a busy indicator before it is really displayed? The command line VI either just calls the command and doesn't wait or waits until it is closed(wait until completition=T). Attached example using som LV chm file. Thanks.

[elset191]

The mouse turns to a busy indicator while it is loading.  It loads really fast, so you can barely notice it.  Is this what you mean even?

[ceties]

It loads fast on your computer. But it doesn't mean that it would load fast on every computer. The comand line VI works the way that it sends the command and doesn't wait untill the command is finished=doesn't wait until the help is open. I want to have displayed the busy indicator until the user really sees it.

[parthabe]

Is there by any chance we can modify the System Exec VI to include the Set Cursor Busy VI till the file is fully loaded?

Did you try this out?

[ceties]

Hello parthabe, could you elaborate little more. I am not sure of I follow you. Thanks!

[parthabe]

What I mean is to take a copy of the SYstem Exec VI & save it somewhere else (probably in your proj location) & modify it to include the Set Cursor Busy SubVI in it to achieve what you want to.

This is like modifying some File I/O VIs for our custom usage.

Since I dont have LV in my PC curently, I cant tell you assuredly if the code of the System Exec VI can be changed in such a way that the Cursor VI can be included in it.

[ceties]

System Exec.vi just calles a dll so I can't do much with that.

[smercurio_fc · Accepted solution]

You would essentially need to write a wrapper for System Exec. This wrapper VI would launch the help file with System Exec with "wait until completion" set to False. Then, after waiting a short bit of time, you would check to see if the help window has displayed itself. If not, have the wrapper VI display itself and enter a loop. The front panel would just consist of a progress bar. In the loop you would keep checking if the help window has displayed itself. Once it's done so, the wrapper VI can close itself.

A simpler wrapper VI would simply change the cursor to the busy cursor, call System Exec, and then enter the loop as described above. Once the window has shown itself, change the cursor back to default.

You can search the forum for plenty of examples on checking for windows and changing the cursor. 

[ceties]

Thanks smercucio. I was hoping there is some more elegant way. Thanks anyway