How to achieve a responsive GUI while running a function with a loop?

[0Ethan0]

Ahoy Autoit Community!

After many trials and errors I am unable to solve a problem I am facing and would appreciate any kind of input or better yet a solution 

The Premise: An embeded slideshow viewer that runs after double-clicking an item in a ListView (each item will generate a different slideshow images).

The Setup: GUI with a ListView Control and a simple exit button.

The Issue: Once double clicked the slide plays however the GUI "locks"/non responsive until the slide is over. Same thing if I click on the "Test" button.

The Culprit: I believe since it's in the images loop it can't accept any other commands until that loop is over.

The Wish: I want to be able to use the GUI functions (selecting other items, clicking on button etc.) while the slideshow plays.

The Code (stripped and simplified as much as I could):

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#include <GuiListView.au3>
#include <File.au3>
#include <GDIPlus.au3>
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>

Opt("GUIOnEventMode", 1)

HotKeySet("{Esc}", "_Exit")

Global $c=0
Global $ssGDI[3], $ssGraphic[2], $ssImage
Global Const $bg_color = "000000"
Global Const $ssW = 480, $ssH = 320
Global $aFiles = _FileListToArrayRec("d:\testStage\", "*.jpg;*.png;*.bmp;*.gif;*.JPG;*.PNG;*.BMP;*.GIF", $FLTAR_FILES, $FLTAR_NORECUR ,$FLTAR_SORT ,$FLTAR_FULLPATH )


$guiW = 1200
$guiH = 726
$mainWindow = GUICreate("Slideshow Viewer", $guiW, $guiH, -1, -1, $WS_POPUP)
$Button1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Exit", 0, 0, 50, 50)
GUICtrlSetOnEvent($Button1, "_Exit")
$Button1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Test", 60, 0, 50, 50)
GUICtrlSetOnEvent($Button1, "Test")


Global $ListView = GUICtrlCreateListView("Entry Name|Category", 5, 75, 195, 280)
_GUICtrlListView_SetColumnWidth ($ListView, 0, 100)
_GUICtrlListView_SetColumnWidth ($ListView, 1, 100)
GUICtrlSendMsg($ListView, $LVM_SETEXTENDEDLISTVIEWSTYLE, $LVS_EX_GRIDLINES, $LVS_EX_GRIDLINES)
GUICtrlSendMsg($ListView, $LVM_SETEXTENDEDLISTVIEWSTYLE, $LVS_EX_FULLROWSELECT, $LVS_EX_FULLROWSELECT)
GUICtrlCreateListViewItem("Name 1|Category 1", $ListView)
GUICtrlCreateListViewItem("Name 2|Category 2", $ListView)

screenshotWidgetInit($ssW,$ssH, 690, 100)
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $mainWindow)

GUIRegisterMsg($WM_NOTIFY, "WM_Notify_Events")

While 1
    $nMsg = GUIGetMsg()
    Switch $nMsg
        Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
            _Exit()
    EndSwitch
WEnd

Func Test()
    For $k = 1 To UBound($aFiles) - 1
        screenshotWidgetTransition($aFiles[$k])
    Next
EndFunc

Func ListView_Click()
    ConsoleWrite("Left Click")
EndFunc

Func ListView_DoubleClick()
    ConsoleWrite("Double Left Click")
    Test()
EndFunc

Func WM_Notify_Events($hWndGUI, $MsgID, $wParam, $lParam)
    #forceref $hWndGUI, $MsgID, $wParam
    Local $tagNMHDR, $event, $hwndFrom, $code
    $tagNMHDR = DllStructCreate("int;int;int", $lParam)
    If @error Then Return
    $event = DllStructGetData($tagNMHDR, 3)
    Select
    Case $wParam = $ListView
        Select
            Case $event = $NM_CLICK
                ListView_Click ()
            Case $event = $NM_DBLCLK
                ListView_DoubleClick ()
            EndSelect
    EndSelect
    Return $GUI_RUNDEFMSG
EndFunc

Func screenshotWidgetTransition($image, $delay = 0, $speed = 1, $sleep = 2000)
    Local $a, $d = $c, $iX, $iY
    $ssImage = _GDIPlus_ImageLoadFromFile($image)
    $iX = _GDIPlus_ImageGetWidth($ssImage)
    $iY = _GDIPlus_ImageGetHeight($ssImage)

    $FDesktop=$ssH/$ssW
    $Fact =1
    If $iX > $ssW And $FDesktop > ($iY/$iX) Then
        $Fact=$ssW/$iX
    ElseIf $iY > $ssH Then
        $Fact=$ssH/$iY
    EndIf
    $H1 = Round(($Fact * $iY),0)
    $W1 = Round(($Fact * $iX),0)

    _GDIPlus_GraphicsDrawImageRect($ssGraphic[$d], $ssImage,($ssW - $W1)/2, ($ssH - $H1) / 2,$W1,$H1)

    WinSetTrans($ssGDI[$d], "", 0)
    WinSetOnTop($ssGDI[$d], "", 1)
    For $a = 0 To 254 Step $speed
        WinSetTrans($ssGDI[$d], "", $a)
        Sleep($delay)
    Next
    WinSetTrans($ssGDI[$d], "", 254)
    WinSetOnTop($ssGDI[Not ($d)], "", 0)
    WinSetTrans($ssGDI[Not ($d)], "", 0)
    _GDIPlus_GraphicsClear($ssGraphic[Not ($d)])
    $c = 1 - $d

    _GDIPlus_ImageDispose ($ssImage) ; very important to realease the pics
    Sleep($sleep)
EndFunc   ;==>screenshotWidgetTransition

Func screenshotWidgetInit($ssW,$ssH,$ssX,$ssY)
    $ssGDI[2] = GUICreate("", $ssW, $ssH, $ssX, $ssY, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_MDICHILD, $mainWindow)
    $ssGDI[0] = GUICreate("", $ssW, $ssH, 3, 3, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_MDICHILD, $ssGDI[2])
    $ssGDI[1] = GUICreate("", $ssW, $ssH, 3, 3, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_MDICHILD, $ssGDI[2])
;    GUISetBkColor("0x" & $bg_color, $ssGDI[2])
    GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $ssGDI[2])
    GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $ssGDI[0])
    GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $ssGDI[1])
    WinSetTrans($ssGDI[0], "", 0)
    WinSetTrans($ssGDI[1], "", 0)
    _GDIPlus_Startup()
    $ssGraphic[0] = _GDIPlus_GraphicsCreateFromHWND($ssGDI[0])
    $ssGraphic[1] = _GDIPlus_GraphicsCreateFromHWND($ssGDI[1])
    _GDIPlus_GraphicsClear($ssGraphic[0], "0xFF" & $bg_color)
    _GDIPlus_GraphicsClear($ssGraphic[1], "0xFF" & $bg_color)
EndFunc   ;==>screenshotWidgetInit

Func _Exit()
    _GDIPlus_ImageDispose($ssImage)
    _GDIPlus_GraphicsDispose($ssGraphic[0])
    _GDIPlus_GraphicsDispose($ssGraphic[1])
    GUIDelete($ssGDI[0])
    GUIDelete($ssGDI[1])
    GUIDelete($ssGDI[2])
    _GDIPlus_Shutdown()
    Exit
EndFunc   ;==>_Exit

I hope someone can shed light on this; perhaps a different approach is needed?

Thank you in advance!

P.S.
The script is patched from different scripts of different users in the forum - thank you again users!

Edited October 23, 2017 by 0Ethan0

[nend]

You have some blocking function in it like sleep.
Also Guioneventmode give some problem in your case.

I fixed it, see the code.

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#include <GuiListView.au3>
#include <File.au3>
#include <GDIPlus.au3>
#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>

HotKeySet("{Esc}", "_Exit")

Global $c=0
Global $ssGDI[3], $ssGraphic[2], $ssImage
Global Const $bg_color = "000000"
Global Const $ssW = 480, $ssH = 320
Global $aFiles = _FileListToArrayRec("d:\testStage\", "*.jpg;*.png;*.bmp;*.gif;*.JPG;*.PNG;*.BMP;*.GIF", $FLTAR_FILES, $FLTAR_NORECUR ,$FLTAR_SORT ,$FLTAR_FULLPATH )


$guiW = 1200
$guiH = 726
$mainWindow = GUICreate("Slideshow Viewer", $guiW, $guiH, -1, -1, $WS_POPUP)
$Button1 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Exit", 0, 0, 50, 50)
$Button2 = GUICtrlCreateButton("Test", 60, 0, 50, 50)


Global $ListView = GUICtrlCreateListView("Entry Name|Category", 5, 75, 195, 280)
_GUICtrlListView_SetColumnWidth ($ListView, 0, 100)
_GUICtrlListView_SetColumnWidth ($ListView, 1, 100)
GUICtrlSendMsg($ListView, $LVM_SETEXTENDEDLISTVIEWSTYLE, $LVS_EX_GRIDLINES, $LVS_EX_GRIDLINES)
GUICtrlSendMsg($ListView, $LVM_SETEXTENDEDLISTVIEWSTYLE, $LVS_EX_FULLROWSELECT, $LVS_EX_FULLROWSELECT)
GUICtrlCreateListViewItem("Name 1|Category 1", $ListView)
GUICtrlCreateListViewItem("Name 2|Category 2", $ListView)

screenshotWidgetInit($ssW,$ssH, 690, 100)
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $mainWindow)

GUIRegisterMsg($WM_NOTIFY, "WM_Notify_Events")

While 1
   _Check_MSG()
WEnd

Func _Check_MSG()
    $nMsg = GUIGetMsg()
    Switch $nMsg
        Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
            _Exit()
        Case $Button1
            _Exit()
        Case $Button2
            Test()
    EndSwitch
EndFunc

Func Test()
    For $k = 1 To UBound($aFiles) - 1
        screenshotWidgetTransition($aFiles[$k])
    Next
EndFunc

Func ListView_Click()
    ConsoleWrite("Left Click")
EndFunc

Func ListView_DoubleClick()
    ConsoleWrite("Double Left Click")
    Test()
EndFunc

Func WM_Notify_Events($hWndGUI, $MsgID, $wParam, $lParam)
    #forceref $hWndGUI, $MsgID, $wParam
    Local $tagNMHDR, $event, $hwndFrom, $code
    $tagNMHDR = DllStructCreate("int;int;int", $lParam)
    If @error Then Return
    $event = DllStructGetData($tagNMHDR, 3)
    Select
    Case $wParam = $ListView
        Select
            Case $event = $NM_CLICK
                ListView_Click ()
            Case $event = $NM_DBLCLK
                ListView_DoubleClick ()
            EndSelect
    EndSelect
    Return $GUI_RUNDEFMSG
EndFunc

Func screenshotWidgetTransition($image, $delay = 0, $speed = 1, $sleep = 2000)
    Local $a, $d = $c, $iX, $iY
    $ssImage = _GDIPlus_ImageLoadFromFile($image)
    $iX = _GDIPlus_ImageGetWidth($ssImage)
    $iY = _GDIPlus_ImageGetHeight($ssImage)

    $FDesktop=$ssH/$ssW
    $Fact =1
    If $iX > $ssW And $FDesktop > ($iY/$iX) Then
        $Fact=$ssW/$iX
    ElseIf $iY > $ssH Then
        $Fact=$ssH/$iY
    EndIf
    $H1 = Round(($Fact * $iY),0)
    $W1 = Round(($Fact * $iX),0)

    _GDIPlus_GraphicsDrawImageRect($ssGraphic[$d], $ssImage,($ssW - $W1)/2, ($ssH - $H1) / 2,$W1,$H1)

    WinSetTrans($ssGDI[$d], "", 0)
    WinSetOnTop($ssGDI[$d], "", 1)
    For $a = 0 To 254 Step $speed
        WinSetTrans($ssGDI[$d], "", $a)
        _Check_MSG()
        Sleep($delay)
    Next
    WinSetTrans($ssGDI[$d], "", 254)
    WinSetOnTop($ssGDI[Not ($d)], "", 0)
    WinSetTrans($ssGDI[Not ($d)], "", 0)
    _GDIPlus_GraphicsClear($ssGraphic[Not ($d)])
    $c = 1 - $d

    _GDIPlus_ImageDispose ($ssImage) ; very important to realease the pics
    $timer = TimerInit()
    While TimerDiff($timer) < $sleep
        _Check_MSG()
    WEnd

EndFunc   ;==>screenshotWidgetTransition

Func screenshotWidgetInit($ssW,$ssH,$ssX,$ssY)
    $ssGDI[2] = GUICreate("", $ssW, $ssH, $ssX, $ssY, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_MDICHILD, $mainWindow)
    $ssGDI[0] = GUICreate("", $ssW, $ssH, 3, 3, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_MDICHILD, $ssGDI[2])
    $ssGDI[1] = GUICreate("", $ssW, $ssH, 3, 3, $WS_POPUP, $WS_EX_MDICHILD, $ssGDI[2])
;    GUISetBkColor("0x" & $bg_color, $ssGDI[2])
    GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $ssGDI[2])
    GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $ssGDI[0])
    GUISetState(@SW_SHOW, $ssGDI[1])
    WinSetTrans($ssGDI[0], "", 0)
    WinSetTrans($ssGDI[1], "", 0)
    _GDIPlus_Startup()
    $ssGraphic[0] = _GDIPlus_GraphicsCreateFromHWND($ssGDI[0])
    $ssGraphic[1] = _GDIPlus_GraphicsCreateFromHWND($ssGDI[1])
    _GDIPlus_GraphicsClear($ssGraphic[0], "0xFF" & $bg_color)
    _GDIPlus_GraphicsClear($ssGraphic[1], "0xFF" & $bg_color)
EndFunc   ;==>screenshotWidgetInit

Func _Exit()
    _GDIPlus_ImageDispose($ssImage)
    _GDIPlus_GraphicsDispose($ssGraphic[0])
    _GDIPlus_GraphicsDispose($ssGraphic[1])
    GUIDelete($ssGDI[0])
    GUIDelete($ssGDI[1])
    GUIDelete($ssGDI[2])
    _GDIPlus_Shutdown()
    Exit
EndFunc   ;==>_Exit

 

Edited October 23, 2017 by nend

[0Ethan0]

nend, Thank you so much for the reply and the code - it gave me a clearer concept of how things work behind the Autoit scene : )

I also read in the Wiki about the exact problem I was facing --> https://www.autoitscript.com/wiki/Interrupting_a_running_function

I hope it's OK to share the link here, just for others who stumble upon this topic can have a better understanding.