Calling Synchronous Methods Asynchronously

Calling Synchronous Methods Asynchr...

Switch on low bandwidth view

Collapse All

Language Filter

This page is specific to

Microsoft Visual Studio 2008/.NET Framework 3.5

Other versions are also available for the following:

.NET Framework Developer's Guide

Calling Synchronous Methods Asynchronously

Updated: July 2008

The .NET Framework enables you to call any method asynchronously. To do this you define a delegate with the same signature as the method you want to call; the common language runtime automatically defines BeginInvoke and EndInvoke methods for this delegate, with the appropriate signatures.

Note:
Asynchronous delegate calls, specifically the BeginInvoke and EndInvoke methods, are not supported in the .NET Compact Framework.

The BeginInvoke method initiates the asynchronous call. It has the same parameters as the method that you want to execute asynchronously, plus two additional optional parameters. The first parameter is an AsyncCallback delegate that references a method to be called when the asynchronous call completes. The second parameter is a user-defined object that passes information into the callback method. BeginInvoke returns immediately and does not wait for the asynchronous call to complete. BeginInvoke returns an IAsyncResult, which can be used to monitor the progress of the asynchronous call.

The EndInvoke method retrieves the results of the asynchronous call. It can be called any time after BeginInvoke. If the asynchronous call has not completed, EndInvoke blocks the calling thread until it completes. The parameters of EndInvoke include the out and ref parameters (<Out> ByRef and ByRef in Visual Basic) of the method that you want to execute asynchronously, plus the IAsyncResult returned by BeginInvoke.

Note:
The IntelliSense feature in Visual Studio 2005 displays the parameters of BeginInvoke and EndInvoke. If you are not using Visual Studio or a similar tool, or if you are using C# with Visual Studio 2005, see Asynchronous Programming Overview for a description of the parameters defined for these methods.

The code examples in this topic demonstrate four common ways to use BeginInvoke and EndInvoke to make asynchronous calls. After calling BeginInvoke you can do the following:

Do some work and then call EndInvoke to block until the call completes.
Obtain a WaitHandle using the IAsyncResult..::.AsyncWaitHandle property, use its WaitOne method to block execution until the WaitHandle is signaled, and then call EndInvoke.
Poll the IAsyncResult returned by BeginInvoke to determine when the asynchronous call has completed, and then call EndInvoke.
Pass a delegate for a callback method to BeginInvoke. The method is executed on a ThreadPool thread when the asynchronous call completes. The callback method calls EndInvoke.

Important Note:
No matter which technique you use, always call EndInvoke to complete your asynchronous call.

Defining the Test Method and Asynchronous Delegate

The code examples that follow demonstrate various ways of calling the same long-running method, TestMethod, asynchronously. The TestMethod method displays a console message to show that it has begun processing, sleeps for a few seconds, and then ends. TestMethod has an out parameter to demonstrate the way such parameters are added to the signatures of BeginInvoke and EndInvoke. You can handle ref parameters similarly.

The following code example shows the definition of TestMethod and the delegate named AsyncMethodCaller that can be used to call TestMethod asynchronously. To compile the code examples, you must include the definitions for TestMethod and the AsyncMethodCaller delegate.

Visual Basic

Imports System
Imports System.Threading
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices 

Namespace Examples.AdvancedProgramming.AsynchronousOperations
    Public Class AsyncDemo 
        ' The method to be executed asynchronously.
        Public Function TestMethod(ByVal callDuration As Integer, _
                <Out> ByRef threadId As Integer) As String
            Console.WriteLine("Test method begins.")
            Thread.Sleep(callDuration)
            threadId = Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId()
            return String.Format("My call time was {0}.", callDuration.ToString())
        End Function
    End Class

    ' The delegate must have the same signature as the method
    ' it will call asynchronously.
    Public Delegate Function AsyncMethodCaller(ByVal callDuration As Integer, _
        <Out> ByRef threadId As Integer) As String
End Namespace

using System;
using System.Threading; 

namespace Examples.AdvancedProgramming.AsynchronousOperations
{
    public class AsyncDemo 
    {
        // The method to be executed asynchronously.
        public string TestMethod(int callDuration, out int threadId) 
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Test method begins.");
            Thread.Sleep(callDuration);
            threadId = Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId;
            return String.Format("My call time was {0}.", callDuration.ToString());
        }
    }
    // The delegate must have the same signature as the method
    // it will call asynchronously.
    public delegate string AsyncMethodCaller(int callDuration, out int threadId);
}

Visual C++

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Threading;
using namespace System::Runtime::InteropServices; 

namespace Examples {
namespace AdvancedProgramming {
namespace AsynchronousOperations
{
    public ref class AsyncDemo 
    {
    public:
        // The method to be executed asynchronously.
        String^ TestMethod(int callDuration, [OutAttribute] int% threadId) 
        {
            Console::WriteLine("Test method begins.");
            Thread::Sleep(callDuration);
            threadId = Thread::CurrentThread->ManagedThreadId;
            return String::Format("My call time was {0}.", callDuration);
        }
    };

    // The delegate must have the same signature as the method
    // it will call asynchronously.
    public delegate String^ AsyncMethodCaller(int callDuration, [OutAttribute] int% threadId);
}}}

Waiting for an Asynchronous Call with EndInvoke

The simplest way to execute a method asynchronously is to start executing the method by calling the delegate's BeginInvoke method, do some work on the main thread, and then call the delegate's EndInvoke method. EndInvoke might block the calling thread because it does not return until the asynchronous call completes. This is a good technique to use with file or network operations.

Important Note:
Because EndInvoke might block, you should never call it from threads that service the user interface.

Visual Basic

Imports System
Imports System.Threading
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices 

Namespace Examples.AdvancedProgramming.AsynchronousOperations
    Public Class AsyncMain 
        Shared Sub Main() 
            ' The asynchronous method puts the thread id here.
            Dim threadId As Integer

            ' Create an instance of the test class.
            Dim ad As New AsyncDemo()

            ' Create the delegate.
            Dim caller As New AsyncMethodCaller(AddressOf ad.TestMethod)

            ' Initiate the asynchronous call.
            Dim result As IAsyncResult = caller.BeginInvoke(3000, _
                threadId, Nothing, Nothing)

            Thread.Sleep(0)
            Console.WriteLine("Main thread {0} does some work.", _
                 Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId)

            ' Call EndInvoke to Wait for the asynchronous call to complete,
            ' and to retrieve the results.
            Dim returnValue As String = caller.EndInvoke(threadId, result)

            Console.WriteLine("The call executed on thread {0}, with return value ""{1}"".", _
                threadId, returnValue)
        End Sub
    End Class

End Namespace

'This example produces output similar to the following:
'
'Main thread 1 does some work.
'Test method begins.
'The call executed on thread 3, with return value "My call time was 3000.".

using System;
using System.Threading;

namespace Examples.AdvancedProgramming.AsynchronousOperations
{
    public class AsyncMain 
    {
        public static void Main() 
        {
            // The asynchronous method puts the thread id here.
            int threadId;

            // Create an instance of the test class.
            AsyncDemo ad = new AsyncDemo();

            // Create the delegate.
            AsyncMethodCaller caller = new AsyncMethodCaller(ad.TestMethod);

            // Initiate the asychronous call.
            IAsyncResult result = caller.BeginInvoke(3000, 
                out threadId, null, null);

            Thread.Sleep(0);
            Console.WriteLine("Main thread {0} does some work.",
                Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId);

            // Call EndInvoke to wait for the asynchronous call to complete,
            // and to retrieve the results.
            string returnValue = caller.EndInvoke(out threadId, result);

            Console.WriteLine("The call executed on thread {0}, with return value \"{1}\".",
                threadId, returnValue);
        }
    }
}

/* This example produces output similar to the following:

Main thread 1 does some work.
Test method begins.
The call executed on thread 3, with return value "My call time was 3000.".
 */

Visual C++

#using <TestMethod.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Threading;
using namespace Examples::AdvancedProgramming::AsynchronousOperations;

void main() 
{
    // The asynchronous method puts the thread id here.
    int threadId = 2546;

    // Create an instance of the test class.
    AsyncDemo^ ad = gcnew AsyncDemo();

    // Create the delegate.
    AsyncMethodCaller^ caller = gcnew AsyncMethodCaller(ad, &AsyncDemo::TestMethod);

    // Initiate the asychronous call.
    IAsyncResult^ result = caller->BeginInvoke(3000, 
        threadId, nullptr, nullptr);

    Thread::Sleep(1);
    Console::WriteLine("Main thread {0} does some work.",
        Thread::CurrentThread->ManagedThreadId);

    // Call EndInvoke to wait for the asynchronous call to complete,
    // and to retrieve the results.
    String^ returnValue = caller->EndInvoke(threadId, result);

    Console::WriteLine("The call executed on thread {0}, with return value \"{1}\".",
        threadId, returnValue);
}

/* This example produces output similar to the following:

Main thread 1 does some work.
Test method begins.
The call executed on thread 3, with return value "My call time was 3000.".
 */

Waiting for an Asynchronous Call with WaitHandle

You can obtain a WaitHandle by using the AsyncWaitHandle property of the IAsyncResult returned by BeginInvoke. The WaitHandle is signaled when the asynchronous call completes, and you can wait for it by calling the WaitOne method.

If you use a WaitHandle, you can perform additional processing before or after the asynchronous call completes, but before calling EndInvoke to retrieve the results.

Note:
The wait handle is not closed automatically when you call EndInvoke. If you release all references to the wait handle, system resources are freed when garbage collection reclaims the wait handle. To free the system resources as soon as you are finished using the wait handle, dispose of it by calling the WaitHandle..::.Close method. Garbage collection works more efficiently when disposable objects are explicitly disposed.

Note:

The wait handle is not closed automatically when you call EndInvoke. If you release all references to the wait handle, system resources are freed when garbage collection reclaims the wait handle. To free the system resources as soon as you are finished using the wait handle, dispose of it by calling the WaitHandle..::.Close method. Garbage collection works more efficiently when disposable objects are explicitly disposed.

Visual Basic

Imports System
Imports System.Threading
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices 

Namespace Examples.AdvancedProgramming.AsynchronousOperations

    Public Class AsyncMain 
        Shared Sub Main() 
            ' The asynchronous method puts the thread id here.
            Dim threadId As Integer

            ' Create an instance of the test class.
            Dim ad As New AsyncDemo()

            ' Create the delegate.
            Dim caller As New AsyncMethodCaller(AddressOf ad.TestMethod)

            ' Initiate the asynchronous call.
            Dim result As IAsyncResult = caller.BeginInvoke(3000, _
                threadId, Nothing, Nothing)

            Thread.Sleep(0)
            Console.WriteLine("Main thread {0} does some work.", _
                Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId)
            ' Perform additional processing here and then
            ' wait for the WaitHandle to be signaled.
            result.AsyncWaitHandle.WaitOne()

            ' Call EndInvoke to retrieve the results.
            Dim returnValue As String = caller.EndInvoke(threadId, result)

            ' Close the wait handle.
            result.AsyncWaitHandle.Close()

            Console.WriteLine("The call executed on thread {0}, with return value ""{1}"".", _
                threadId, returnValue)
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

'This example produces output similar to the following:
'
'Main thread 1 does some work.
'Test method begins.
'The call executed on thread 3, with return value "My call time was 3000.".

using System;
using System.Threading;

namespace Examples.AdvancedProgramming.AsynchronousOperations
{
    public class AsyncMain 
    {
        static void Main() 
        {
            // The asynchronous method puts the thread id here.
            int threadId;

            // Create an instance of the test class.
            AsyncDemo ad = new AsyncDemo();

            // Create the delegate.
            AsyncMethodCaller caller = new AsyncMethodCaller(ad.TestMethod);

            // Initiate the asychronous call.
            IAsyncResult result = caller.BeginInvoke(3000, 
                out threadId, null, null);

            Thread.Sleep(0);
            Console.WriteLine("Main thread {0} does some work.",
                Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId);

            // Wait for the WaitHandle to become signaled.
            result.AsyncWaitHandle.WaitOne();

            // Perform additional processing here.
            // Call EndInvoke to retrieve the results.
            string returnValue = caller.EndInvoke(out threadId, result);

            // Close the wait handle.
            result.AsyncWaitHandle.Close();

            Console.WriteLine("The call executed on thread {0}, with return value \"{1}\".",
                threadId, returnValue);
        }
    }
}

/* This example produces output similar to the following:

Main thread 1 does some work.
Test method begins.
The call executed on thread 3, with return value "My call time was 3000.".
 */

Visual C++

#using <TestMethod.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Threading;
using namespace Examples::AdvancedProgramming::AsynchronousOperations;

void main() 
{
    // The asynchronous method puts the thread id here.
    int threadId;

    // Create an instance of the test class.
    AsyncDemo^ ad = gcnew AsyncDemo();

    // Create the delegate.
    AsyncMethodCaller^ caller = gcnew AsyncMethodCaller(ad, &AsyncDemo::TestMethod);

    // Initiate the asychronous call.
    IAsyncResult^ result = caller->BeginInvoke(3000, 
        threadId, nullptr, nullptr);

    Thread::Sleep(0);
    Console::WriteLine("Main thread {0} does some work.",
        Thread::CurrentThread->ManagedThreadId);

    // Wait for the WaitHandle to become signaled.
    result->AsyncWaitHandle->WaitOne();

    // Perform additional processing here.
    // Call EndInvoke to retrieve the results.
    String^ returnValue = caller->EndInvoke(threadId, result);

    // Close the wait handle.
    result->AsyncWaitHandle->Close();

    Console::WriteLine("The call executed on thread {0}, with return value \"{1}\".",
        threadId, returnValue);
}

/* This example produces output similar to the following:

Main thread 1 does some work.
Test method begins.
The call executed on thread 3, with return value "My call time was 3000.".
 */

Polling for Asynchronous Call Completion

You can use the IsCompleted property of the IAsyncResult returned by BeginInvoke to discover when the asynchronous call completes. You might do this when making the asynchronous call from a thread that services the user interface. Polling for completion allows the calling thread to continue executing while the asynchronous call executes on a ThreadPool thread.

Visual Basic

Imports System
Imports System.Threading
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices 

Namespace Examples.AdvancedProgramming.AsynchronousOperations

    Public Class AsyncMain 
        Shared Sub Main() 
            ' The asynchronous method puts the thread id here.
            Dim threadId As Integer

            ' Create an instance of the test class.
            Dim ad As New AsyncDemo()

            ' Create the delegate.
            Dim caller As New AsyncMethodCaller(AddressOf ad.TestMethod)

            ' Initiate the asynchronous call.
            Dim result As IAsyncResult = caller.BeginInvoke(3000, _
                threadId, Nothing, Nothing)

            ' Poll while simulating work.
            While result.IsCompleted = False
                Thread.Sleep(250)
                Console.Write(".")
            End While

            ' Call EndInvoke to retrieve the results.
            Dim returnValue As String = caller.EndInvoke(threadId, result)

            Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & _
                "The call executed on thread {0}, with return value ""{1}"".", _
                threadId, returnValue)
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

' This example produces output similar to the following:
'
'Test method begins.
'.............
'The call executed on thread 3, with return value "My call time was 3000.".

using System;
using System.Threading;

namespace Examples.AdvancedProgramming.AsynchronousOperations
{
    public class AsyncMain 
    {
        static void Main() {
            // The asynchronous method puts the thread id here.
            int threadId;

            // Create an instance of the test class.
            AsyncDemo ad = new AsyncDemo();

            // Create the delegate.
            AsyncMethodCaller caller = new AsyncMethodCaller(ad.TestMethod);

            // Initiate the asychronous call.
            IAsyncResult result = caller.BeginInvoke(3000, 
                out threadId, null, null);

            // Poll while simulating work.
            while(result.IsCompleted == false) {
                Thread.Sleep(250);
                Console.Write(".");
            }

            // Call EndInvoke to retrieve the results.
            string returnValue = caller.EndInvoke(out threadId, result);

            Console.WriteLine("\nThe call executed on thread {0}, with return value \"{1}\".",
                threadId, returnValue);
        }
    }
}

/* This example produces output similar to the following:

Test method begins.
.............
The call executed on thread 3, with return value "My call time was 3000.".
 */

Visual C++

#using <TestMethod.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Threading;
using namespace Examples::AdvancedProgramming::AsynchronousOperations;

void main() 
{
    // The asynchronous method puts the thread id here.
    int threadId;

    // Create an instance of the test class.
    AsyncDemo^ ad = gcnew AsyncDemo();

    // Create the delegate.
    AsyncMethodCaller^ caller = gcnew AsyncMethodCaller(ad, &AsyncDemo::TestMethod);

    // Initiate the asychronous call.
    IAsyncResult^ result = caller->BeginInvoke(3000, 
        threadId, nullptr, nullptr);

    // Poll while simulating work.
    while(result->IsCompleted == false)
    {
        Thread::Sleep(250);
        Console::Write(".");
    }

    // Call EndInvoke to retrieve the results.
    String^ returnValue = caller->EndInvoke(threadId, result);

    Console::WriteLine("\nThe call executed on thread {0}, with return value \"{1}\".",
        threadId, returnValue);
}

/* This example produces output similar to the following:

Test method begins.
.............
The call executed on thread 3, with return value "My call time was 3000.".
 */

Executing a Callback Method When an Asynchronous Call Completes

If the thread that initiates the asynchronous call does not need to be the thread that processes the results, you can execute a callback method when the call completes. The callback method is executed on a ThreadPool thread.

To use a callback method, you must pass BeginInvoke an AsyncCallback delegate that represents the callback method. You can also pass an object that contains information to be used by the callback method. In the callback method, you can cast the IAsyncResult, which is the only parameter of the callback method, to an AsyncResult object. You can then use the AsyncResult..::.AsyncDelegate property to get the delegate that was used to initiate the call so that you can call EndInvoke.

Notes on the example:

The threadId parameter of TestMethod is an out parameter (<Out> ByRef in Visual Basic), so its input value is never used by TestMethod. A dummy variable is passed to the BeginInvoke call. If the threadId parameter were a ref parameter (ByRef in Visual Basic), the variable would have to be a class-level field so that it could be passed to both BeginInvoke and EndInvoke.
The state information that is passed to BeginInvoke is a format string, which the callback method uses to format an output message. Because it is passed as type Object, the state information must be cast to its proper type before it can be used.
The callback is made on a ThreadPool thread. ThreadPool threads are background threads, which do not keep the application running if the main thread ends, so the main thread of the example has to sleep long enough for the callback to finish.

Visual Basic

Imports System
Imports System.Threading
Imports System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging

Namespace Examples.AdvancedProgramming.AsynchronousOperations

    Public Class AsyncMain 

        Shared Sub Main() 

            ' Create an instance of the test class.
            Dim ad As New AsyncDemo()

            ' Create the delegate.
            Dim caller As New AsyncMethodCaller(AddressOf ad.TestMethod)

            ' The threadId parameter of TestMethod is an <Out> parameter, so
            ' its input value is never used by TestMethod. Therefore, a dummy
            ' variable can be passed to the BeginInvoke call. If the threadId
            ' parameter were a ByRef parameter, it would have to be a class-
            ' level field so that it could be passed to both BeginInvoke and 
            ' EndInvoke.
            Dim dummy As Integer = 0

            ' Initiate the asynchronous call, passing three seconds (3000 ms)
            ' for the callDuration parameter of TestMethod; a dummy variable 
            ' for the <Out> parameter (threadId); the callback delegate; and
            ' state information that can be retrieved by the callback method.
            ' In this case, the state information is a string that can be used
            ' to format a console message.
            Dim result As IAsyncResult = caller.BeginInvoke(3000, _
                dummy, _
                AddressOf CallbackMethod, _
                "The call executed on thread {0}, with return value ""{1}"".")

            Console.WriteLine("The main thread {0} continues to execute...", _
                Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId)

            ' The callback is made on a ThreadPool thread. ThreadPool threads
            ' are background threads, which do not keep the application running
            ' if the main thread ends. Comment out the next line to demonstrate
            ' this.
            Thread.Sleep(4000)

            Console.WriteLine("The main thread ends.")
        End Sub

        ' The callback method must have the same signature as the
        ' AsyncCallback delegate.
        Shared Sub CallbackMethod(ByVal ar As IAsyncResult)
            ' Retrieve the delegate.
            Dim result As AsyncResult = CType(ar, AsyncResult)
            Dim caller As AsyncMethodCaller = CType(result.AsyncDelegate, AsyncMethodCaller)

            ' Retrieve the format string that was passed as state 
            ' information.
            Dim formatString As String = CType(ar.AsyncState, String)

            ' Define a variable to receive the value of the <Out> parameter.
            ' If the parameter were ByRef rather than <Out> then it would have to
            ' be a class-level field so it could also be passed to BeginInvoke.
            Dim threadId As Integer = 0

            ' Call EndInvoke to retrieve the results.
            Dim returnValue As String = caller.EndInvoke(threadId, ar)

            ' Use the format string to format the output message.
            Console.WriteLine(formatString, threadId, returnValue)
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

' This example produces output similar to the following:
'
'The main thread 1 continues to execute...
'Test method begins.
'The call executed on thread 3, with return value "My call time was 3000.".
'The main thread ends.

using System;
using System.Threading;
using System.Runtime.Remoting.Messaging;

namespace Examples.AdvancedProgramming.AsynchronousOperations
{
    public class AsyncMain 
    {
        static void Main() 
        {
            // Create an instance of the test class.
            AsyncDemo ad = new AsyncDemo();

            // Create the delegate.
            AsyncMethodCaller caller = new AsyncMethodCaller(ad.TestMethod);

            // The threadId parameter of TestMethod is an out parameter, so
            // its input value is never used by TestMethod. Therefore, a dummy
            // variable can be passed to the BeginInvoke call. If the threadId
            // parameter were a ref parameter, it would have to be a class-
            // level field so that it could be passed to both BeginInvoke and 
            // EndInvoke.
            int dummy = 0;

            // Initiate the asynchronous call, passing three seconds (3000 ms)
            // for the callDuration parameter of TestMethod; a dummy variable 
            // for the out parameter (threadId); the callback delegate; and
            // state information that can be retrieved by the callback method.
            // In this case, the state information is a string that can be used
            // to format a console message.
            IAsyncResult result = caller.BeginInvoke(3000,
                out dummy, 
                new AsyncCallback(CallbackMethod),
                "The call executed on thread {0}, with return value \"{1}\".");

            Console.WriteLine("The main thread {0} continues to execute...", 
                Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId);

            // The callback is made on a ThreadPool thread. ThreadPool threads
            // are background threads, which do not keep the application running
            // if the main thread ends. Comment out the next line to demonstrate
            // this.
            Thread.Sleep(4000);

            Console.WriteLine("The main thread ends.");
        }

        // The callback method must have the same signature as the
        // AsyncCallback delegate.
        static void CallbackMethod(IAsyncResult ar) 
        {
            // Retrieve the delegate.
            AsyncResult result = (AsyncResult) ar;
            AsyncMethodCaller caller = (AsyncMethodCaller) result.AsyncDelegate;

            // Retrieve the format string that was passed as state 
            // information.
            string formatString = (string) ar.AsyncState;

            // Define a variable to receive the value of the out parameter.
            // If the parameter were ref rather than out then it would have to
            // be a class-level field so it could also be passed to BeginInvoke.
            int threadId = 0;

            // Call EndInvoke to retrieve the results.
            string returnValue = caller.EndInvoke(out threadId, ar);

            // Use the format string to format the output message.
            Console.WriteLine(formatString, threadId, returnValue);
        }
    }
}

/* This example produces output similar to the following:

The main thread 1 continues to execute...
Test method begins.
The call executed on thread 3, with return value "My call time was 3000.".
The main thread ends.
 */

Visual C++

#using <TestMethod.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Threading;
using namespace System::Runtime::Remoting::Messaging;
using namespace Examples::AdvancedProgramming::AsynchronousOperations;

// The callback method must have the same signature as the
// AsyncCallback delegate.
void CallbackMethod(IAsyncResult^ ar) 
{
    // Retrieve the delegate.
    AsyncResult^ result = (AsyncResult^) ar;
    AsyncMethodCaller^ caller = (AsyncMethodCaller^) result->AsyncDelegate;

    // Retrieve the format string that was passed as state 
    // information.
    String^ formatString = (String^) ar->AsyncState;

    // Define a variable to receive the value of the out parameter.
    // If the parameter were ref rather than out then it would have to
    // be a class-level field so it could also be passed to BeginInvoke.
    int threadId = 0;

    // Call EndInvoke to retrieve the results.
    String^ returnValue = caller->EndInvoke(threadId, ar);

    // Use the format string to format the output message.
    Console::WriteLine(formatString, threadId, returnValue);
};

void main() 
{
    // Create an instance of the test class.
    AsyncDemo^ ad = gcnew AsyncDemo();

    // Create the delegate.
    AsyncMethodCaller^ caller = gcnew AsyncMethodCaller(ad, &AsyncDemo::TestMethod);

    // The threadId parameter of TestMethod is an out parameter, so
    // its input value is never used by TestMethod. Therefore, a dummy
    // variable can be passed to the BeginInvoke call. If the threadId
    // parameter were a ref parameter, it would have to be a class-
    // level field so that it could be passed to both BeginInvoke and 
    // EndInvoke.
    int dummy = 0;

    // Initiate the asynchronous call, passing three seconds (3000 ms)
    // for the callDuration parameter of TestMethod; a dummy variable 
    // for the out parameter (threadId); the callback delegate; and
    // state information that can be retrieved by the callback method.
    // In this case, the state information is a string that can be used
    // to format a console message.
    IAsyncResult^ result = caller->BeginInvoke(3000,
        dummy, 
        gcnew AsyncCallback(&CallbackMethod),
        "The call executed on thread {0}, with return value \"{1}\".");

    Console::WriteLine("The main thread {0} continues to execute...", 
        Thread::CurrentThread->ManagedThreadId);

    // The callback is made on a ThreadPool thread. ThreadPool threads
    // are background threads, which do not keep the application running
    // if the main thread ends. Comment out the next line to demonstrate
    // this.
    Thread::Sleep(4000);
    Console::WriteLine("The main thread ends.");
}

/* This example produces output similar to the following:

The main thread 1 continues to execute...
Test method begins.
The call executed on thread 3, with return value "My call time was 3000.".
The main thread ends.
 */

Reference

Delegate

Other Resources

Asynchronous Programming Design Patterns

Change History

Date	History	Reason
July 2008	Updated the code that waits on a WaitHandle to dispose of the wait handle. Added a note about disposing of wait handles.	Customer feedback.

Date

History

Reason

July 2008

Updated the code that waits on a WaitHandle to dispose of the wait handle. Added a note about disposing of wait handles.

Customer feedback.