Problems with Splash Screen and VB 2005 Express

Problems with Splash Screen and VB 2005 Express

• Craig Butler

  Hi,

  This is a rare race scenario leading to exception in Windows Forms code. It only happened on certain machines. It has already been reported on http://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx FeedbackID=114918. The call stack we've received is the same as yours. A fix has been implemented and will be availabe the next servicing release.

  For now, would you please try catching the exception in using UnhandledException (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/3a02k5s0.aspx)

  Best regards,

  
  
  

• prasannakumar

  Sorry I have taken a while to get back- I was away.

  It seems to be project specific. I can get it to work with a few simple controls without any hitch occurring.

  In the problematic project, there was no code at all in the splash sceen. I tried it with the default splash screen with no changes at all.

  -Aubrey

  
  

• zybernau

  I obviously do not have enough expertise to solve this. I tried placing the following code

  Public Sub Me_UnhandledException( _
  ByVal sender As Object, _
  ByVal e As UnhandledExceptionEventArgs _
  ) Handles Me.UnhandledException
  End Sub
  ' Declaration
  Public Event UnhandledException( _
  ByVal sender As Object, _
  ByVal e As UnhandledExceptionEventArgs _
  )

  in Form1. It seemed to solve the problem initially, but after 2 or 3 runs the problem returned and since then is always there. I tried to breakpoint in the above, in order to find the error code. I also added

  my.application.log.writeexception(e.exception)

  to the handler. It never reached any of the breakpoints or the write exception as far as I can tell.

  The event description discussed placing code in the ApplicationEvents.vb space so I also tried placing it in the ApplicationEvents.vb which required that I change the line

  Public Event UnhandledException(

  to

  Public Shadows Event UnhandledException(

  to get the satisfy the compiler although I have no clue what I am doing. I cannot get it to break anywhere in these modifications. I even tried publishing with the code in form1- still no joy.

  
  

• Vikram Chudasama

  I am sorry I did not make myself clear earlier. I have already tried this. I have tried it with two splash screens (one completely unmodified), reset the projetc any any combination you want. The problem always starts when there is a splash screen.
  

• samt

  Did you try creating another simple application and adding a splash screen to see if the exception was reproducible in new projects or was specific to this project.

   Do you have any user specific code that you have in the splash screen or was it a default generated splash screen in VB 2005 - with just the design time properties changed such as pictures etc.  (basically no code changes)

  
  

• Vladimir Zinchenko

  I solved the startup problem- the code in the ApplicationEvents.vb is this

  Namespace My

  Partial Friend Class MyApplication

  Protected Overrides Function OnInitialize(ByVal commandLineArgs As System.Collections.ObjectModel.ReadOnlyCollection(Of String)) As Boolean

  'Set the splash screen timeout.

  'Me.MinimumSplashScreenDisplayTime = 5000

  Return MyBase.OnInitialize(commandLineArgs)

  End Function

  Private Sub MyApplication_UnhandledException(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.UnhandledExceptionEventArgs) Handles Me.UnhandledException

  End Sub

  End Class

  End Namespace

  The splash problem persists. I have tried to breakpoint on the end sub of the handler- the code never reaches it.

  
  

• kludge

  First thing, ensure a simple application with a splash screen doesn't cause a problem.

  Then add just the controls to your form that appear to cause the issue - it' probable that it's not those controls, but something else. Are you updating any data/labels, etc in the splash screen The splashscreen runs on a different thread (and threads always cause problems sooner or later ).

  
  
  

• mrmack

  I would probably remove the splash screen from the project and reset the splash screen property in My Projects to nothing and then rerun the code to ensure this works correctly.

  If it did then I would recreate a new splash screen, not change anything on it and add it to the project and see if the problem comes back.

  
  

• poodle

  Thanks for the suggested approach. The error message gives me no clue as to where to start looking for the problem. Also I am at a loss to explain as to why placing and then stopping on a breakpoint prevents the problem from happening.

  I did try adding time delays in several places to see if there was some kind of timing issue, but it didn't resolve anything. I even stretched the splash sceen to 100 seconds without solving the problem. (other than that I did nothing to the splash start up). If I publish the application it does halt with an error.

  I am going to abandon the splash screen on this job since the project is too large to start dropping controls in and out. I will try this technique at a much earlier stage in my next project.

  
  

• Republican Conservative

  Well I tried that. The application froze with the splash screen showing. It tried to go back using the undo. I also disabled the splash screen. The application will not run. It seems to be permananetly frozen in startup. I will have to try an reboot my system, otherewise I will have to restore from previously. I will be out of the office Tomorrow and Friday, so I will have to resume on Monday.
  

• sandeep_2222

  You will probably need to provide the code that is in the 2 to 3 events that you mentioned.
  
  

• _Tom

  Hi,

  The correct code to use in ApplicationEvents.vb is

  Private Sub MyApplication_UnhandledException(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.UnhandledExceptionEventArgs) Handles Me.UnhandledException

  End Sub

  The IDE can also helps you generate this. With ApplicationEvents.vb opened in the editor, under the tab there are 2 combo boxes

  • In the first combo box (showing "(General)"), select "(MyApplication Events)".
  • In the second combo box select the event you want to handle and the code will be generated.

  Best regards,

  
  
  

• Brian Combs MSFT

  Hi,

  This will let the application ignore the exception and continue.

  Private Sub MyApplication_UnhandledException(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.UnhandledExceptionEventArgs) Handles Me.UnhandledException
  e.ExitApplication = False
  End Sub

  However, after the application is closed down, Windows will try to report this unhandled exception. I could not find a way to get this ignored. I could not find a better work-around either since this exception is not happening on any of my machines. Did changing the splash time out help at all

  A work-around was suggested on Connect web site as well https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/Workaround.aspx FeedbackID=114918.

  
  
  

• Saber01

  Moving this thread to the Visual Basic Express Edition forum.

  -Tom Meschter
  Software Dev, Visual C# IDE

  
  
  
• Problems with Splash Screen and VB 2005 Express