Run code on UI thread without control object present

Question

I currently trying to write a component where some parts of it should run on the UI thread (explanation would be to long). So the easiest way would be to pass a control to i

Answer 1

Put the UI manipulation in a method on the form to be manipulated and pass a delegate to the code that runs on the background thread, à la APM. You don't have to use params object p, you can strongly type it to suit your own purposes. This is just a simple generic sample.

delegate UiSafeCall(delegate d, params object p);
void SomeUiSafeCall(delegate d, params object p)
{
  if (InvokeRequired) 
    BeginInvoke(d,p);        
  else
  {
    //do stuff to UI
  }
}

This approach is predicated on the fact that a delegate refers to a method on a particular instance; by making the implementation a method of the form, you bring the form into scope as this. The following is semantically identical.

delegate UiSafeCall(delegate d, params object p);
void SomeUiSafeCall(delegate d, params object p)
{
  if (this.InvokeRequired) 
    this.BeginInvoke(d,p);        
  else
  {
    //do stuff to UI
  }
}