Problem: Forms, Multithreading, Socket and saving state of UI [Forms and controls]

Hi,< xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

I have 3 questions that I have described here, I will be very much thankful to you if you can provide me some pointer for it.

 Chats, Forms, multi-threading

 We are building Chat like application using Forms and as a result our programming is becoming complicated to display messages received on different threads in the chat window (due to STA requirements of Forms). Is there a way to build Chat like application WITHOUT using FORM, so that one can use free threading model (The link http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp url=/library/en-us/cpguide/html/cpcondevelopingmultithreadedwindowsformscontrol.asp has statement “Outside Windows Forms, classes in the .NET Framework use the free threading model. For information about threading in the .NET Framework, see Threading.”). IS THERE ANY WAY TO BUILD CHAT-like application without having to do complicated programming to satisfy STA requirements)

 Socket and multi-threading

 Socket class documentation says that it is not thread safe. We understand that if do simultaneous sends on ONE socket then it will be a problem (or simultaneous receive). Can we create TWO threads on OUR OWN such that one will do SEND and one will do RECEIVE using the SAME socket reference This means that two threads WILL BE in the same SOCKET object – one doing receive and one doing send. We know we can use asynchronous calls on the socket to achieve this but whether we can do this using our own threads. Any pointers to official documentation that shows this is permissible

 Saving the state of UI

 User can adjust the size of columns of a table or the position of splitter in UI. We want these adjustments to be remembered when we restart the application. Currently, we are saving these adjustments by the user in an XML and saving that XML. We read the XML upon restart and make calls to set the adjustments. This approach becomes difficult as we add more controls and more settings can be made by the user. What other techniques can be use to save (perhaps automatically) the STATE OF < xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />UI As in Java, can we use Serialization of UI to save its state [Swing controls in java are Serializable while in Net, Forms and Controls are not] Any pointers to articles on various approaches to SAVING THE STATE OF THE ADJUSTMENTS made by the user will be greatly appreciated.

 Thanks in Advance,