Run two winform windows simultaneously

Question

I have two C# winform (.NET 4.0) forms that each run separate but similar automated tasks continuously. Separate in that they are distinct processes/workflows, but similar enough in how they operate to share the same resources (methods, data models, assemblies, etc) in the project.

Both forms are complete, but now I'm not sure how to run the program so that each window opens on launch and runs independently. The program will be "always-on" when deployed.

This might seem a little basic, but most of my development experience has been web applications. Threading/etc is still a little foreign to me. I've researched but most of the answers I've found relate to user interaction and sequential use cases -- this will just be one system continuously running two distinct processes, which will need to interact with the world independently.

Potential solutions I've found might involve multi-threading, or maybe some kind of MDI, or a few folks have suggested the DockPanelSuite (although being in a super-corporate environment, downloading third party files is easier said than done).

static class Program
{
    /// <summary>
    /// The main entry point for the application.
    /// </summary>
    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);

        // Rather than specifying frmOne or frmTwo,
        // load both winforms and keep them running.
        Application.Run(new frmOne());
    }
}

Answer 1

You can create a new ApplicationContext to represent multiple forms:

public class MultiFormContext : ApplicationContext
{
    private int openForms;
    public MultiFormContext(params Form[] forms)
    {
        openForms = forms.Length;

        foreach (var form in forms)
        {
            form.FormClosed += (s, args) =>
            {
                //When we have closed the last of the "starting" forms, 
                //end the program.
                if (Interlocked.Decrement(ref openForms) == 0)
                    ExitThread();
            };

            form.Show();
        }
    }
}

Using that you can now write:

Application.EnableVisualStyles();
Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
Application.Run(new MultiFormContext(new Form1(), new Form2()));

Answer 2

If you really need two windows/forms to run on two separate UI threads, you could do something like this:

static class Program
{
    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);

        var thread = new Thread(ThreadStart);
        // allow UI with ApartmentState.STA though [STAThread] above should give that to you
        thread.TrySetApartmentState(ApartmentState.STA); 
        thread.Start(); 

        Application.Run(new frmOne());
    }

    private static void ThreadStart()
    {
        Application.Run(new frmTwo()); // <-- other form started on its own UI thread
    }
}

Answer 3

Assumption

You do not need the two different processes, you are only using the 2 processes because you want to have the two different forms and want to be able to keep the application running until both forms are exited.

Another solution

Rely on the Form.Closed event mechanism. You can add an eventhandler which allows you to specify what to do when a form closes. E.g. exit the application when both forms are closed.

In terms of some code

    public Form1()
    {
        InitializeComponent();

        _form2 = new Form2();
        _form2.Show(this);

        this.Closed += Form1Closed;
        _form2.Closed += Form2Closed;
    }

    protected override void OnFormClosing(FormClosingEventArgs e)
    {
        e.Cancel = true;
        Hide();
        Form1Closed(this, new EventArgs());
        base.OnFormClosing(e);
    }

    private void Form1Closed(object sender, EventArgs eventArgs)
    {
        form1IsClosed = true;

        TryExitApplication();
    }

    private void Form2Closed(object sender, EventArgs eventArgs)
    {
        _form2IsClosed = true;

        TryExitApplication();
    }

    private void TryExitApplication()
    {
        if (form1IsClosed && _form2IsClosed)
        {
            Dispose();
            Application.Exit();
        }
    }

Note that this should be refactored to make it a better solution.

---

UPDATE

The comments provided by Servy made my revise this "supposed to be simple solution", which pointed out that his solution is way better then this solution. Since I am supported to leave the answer I will use this answer I will also address the issues that start arising when going for this solution:

• cancelling close events
• rerouting from one event to another
• force calling Dispose.
• as Servy pointed out: maintenance unfriendly (state to check which form is closed)