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"Sterling Bates" <noone@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:T1d17.12112$E93.2145422@news1.telusplanet.net...
> I'm use several TThreads to spawn instances of the same form multiple
times;

> This tends to create interesting errors (window handle no longer valid) on
> the Release of the form, and the message "Canvas does not allow drawing"
> when activating a form (this primarly caused, it seems, by TRichEdit).
>
> Another poster mentioned that only the main VCL thread properly handles
> forms, but need to know if there's an elegant way to work with this.
>
> Note: I *do* need to pop up multiple instances of the same form -- I'm
open
> to suggestions on other ideas.

The VCL is not thread safe. What you are trying to do will simply not work.

But you don't need threads to do what you want. Instead set Action to caFree
in the form's OnClose and use the following code like the following (shows 2
copies of the same form)

tMyForm.Create (Application).Show;
tMyForm.Create (Application).Show;

An application can have as many windows open as it wishes; including, if
you like, multiple copies of the same form.  (You simply must be sure
that you keep each TForm object separate from the others, e.g. in a
TList.  You can't use Delphi's standard trick of creating a global
variable to hold it.)

Intrinsically, a form .. any Windows window .. is dependent upon the
Windows software to draw and maintain it, and this occurs through the
use of Windows messages.  Only one thread (the main thread) should be
having anything to do with Windows messages.  It can, however, support
any number of windows at the same time.  (All the messages for all the
windows flow through it.)




>Sterling Bates wrote:
> 
> I'm use several TThreads to spawn instances of the same form multiple times;
> ie:
> 
> procedure TSpawnFormThread.Execute;
> begin
>     FreeOnTerminate := true;
>     with TMyForm.Create(nil) do
>     begin
>         ShowModal;
>         Release;
>     end;
> end;
> 
> This tends to create interesting errors (window handle no longer valid) on
> the Release of the form, and the message "Canvas does not allow drawing"
> when activating a form (this primarly caused, it seems, by TRichEdit).
> 
> Another poster mentioned that only the main VCL thread properly handles
> forms, but need to know if there's an elegant way to work with this.
> 
> Note: I *do* need to pop up multiple instances of the same form -- I'm open
> to suggestions on other ideas.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Sundial Services :: Scottsdale, AZ (USA) :: (480) 946-8259
mailto:info@sundialservices.com  (PGP public key available.)
> Fast(!), automatic table-repair with two clicks of the mouse!
> ChimneySweep(R):  "Click click, it's fixed!" {tm}
> http://www.sundialservices.com/products/chimneysweep

The TList is exactly how I went about it.  Thanks to you and Bruce for your
help.

"Sundial Services" <info_NS1@sundialservices.com> wrote in message
news:3B45F003.2FA5@sundialservices.com...
> An application can have as many windows open as it wishes; including, if
> you like, multiple copies of the same form.  (You simply must be sure
> that you keep each TForm object separate from the others, e.g. in a
> TList.  You can't use Delphi's standard trick of creating a global
> variable to hold it.)
>
> Intrinsically, a form .. any Windows window .. is dependent upon the
> Windows software to draw and maintain it, and this occurs through the
> use of Windows messages.  Only one thread (the main thread) should be
> having anything to do with Windows messages.  It can, however, support
> any number of windows at the same time.  (All the messages for all the
> windows flow through it.)
>
>
>
>
> >Sterling Bates wrote:
> >
> > I'm use several TThreads to spawn instances of the same form multiple
times;
> > ie:
> >
> > procedure TSpawnFormThread.Execute;
> > begin
> >     FreeOnTerminate := true;
> >     with TMyForm.Create(nil) do
> >     begin
> >         ShowModal;
> >         Release;
> >     end;
> > end;
> >
> > This tends to create interesting errors (window handle no longer valid)
on
> > the Release of the form, and the message "Canvas does not allow drawing"
> > when activating a form (this primarly caused, it seems, by TRichEdit).
> >
> > Another poster mentioned that only the main VCL thread properly handles
> > forms, but need to know if there's an elegant way to work with this.
> >
> > Note: I *do* need to pop up multiple instances of the same form -- I'm
open
> > to suggestions on other ideas.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> Sundial Services :: Scottsdale, AZ (USA) :: (480) 946-8259
> mailto:info@sundialservices.com  (PGP public key available.)
> > Fast(!), automatic table-repair with two clicks of the mouse!
> > ChimneySweep(R):  "Click click, it's fixed!" {tm}
> > http://www.sundialservices.com/products/chimneysweep