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.NET Development
Previous Versions
.NET Framework 3.0
Class Library
System.Threading
This page is specific to
.NET Framework 3.0

Other versions are also available for the following:
ManualResetEvent Class
Notifies one or more waiting threads that an event has occurred. This class cannot be inherited.

Namespace: System.Threading
Assembly: mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

Visual Basic (Declaration)
<ComVisibleAttribute(True)> _
Public NotInheritable Class ManualResetEvent
    Inherits EventWaitHandle
Visual Basic (Usage)
Dim instance As ManualResetEvent
C#
[ComVisibleAttribute(true)] 
public sealed class ManualResetEvent : EventWaitHandle
C++
[ComVisibleAttribute(true)] 
public ref class ManualResetEvent sealed : public EventWaitHandle
J#
/** @attribute ComVisibleAttribute(true) */ 
public final class ManualResetEvent extends EventWaitHandle
JScript
ComVisibleAttribute(true) 
public final class ManualResetEvent extends EventWaitHandle
XAML
Not applicable.

In the .NET Framework version 2.0, ManualResetEvent derives from the new EventWaitHandle class. A ManualResetEvent is functionally equivalent to an EventWaitHandle created with EventResetMode.ManualReset.

NoteNote:

Unlike the ManualResetEvent class, the EventWaitHandle class provides access to named system synchronization events.

ManualResetEvent allows threads to communicate with each other by signaling. Typically, this communication concerns a task which one thread must complete before other threads can proceed.

When a thread begins an activity that must complete before other threads proceed, it calls Reset to put ManualResetEvent in the non-signaled state. This thread can be thought of as controlling the ManualResetEvent. Threads that call WaitOne on the ManualResetEvent will block, awaiting the signal. When the controlling thread completes the activity, it calls Set to signal that the waiting threads can proceed. All waiting threads are released.

Once it has been signaled, ManualResetEvent remains signaled until it is manually reset. That is, calls to WaitOne return immediately.

You can control the initial state of a ManualResetEvent by passing a Boolean value to the constructor, true if the initial state is signaled and false otherwise.

ManualResetEvent can also be used with the staticWaitAll and WaitAny methods.

For more information about thread synchronization mechanisms, see ManualResetEvent in the conceptual documentation.

The following code example demonstrates how to use wait handles to signal the completion of various stages of a complicated number calculation. The calculation takes the form: result = first term + second term + third term, where each term requires a precalculation and a final calculation using a calculated base number.

Visual Basic
Imports System
Imports System.Threading

Public Class CalculateTest

    <MTAThreadAttribute> _
    Shared Sub Main()
        Dim calc As New Calculate()
        Console.WriteLine("Result = {0}.", _
            calc.Result(234).ToString())
        Console.WriteLine("Result = {0}.", _
            calc.Result(55).ToString())
    End Sub
End Class

Public Class Calculate

    Dim baseNumber, firstTerm, secondTerm, thirdTerm As Double
    Dim autoEvents() As AutoResetEvent
    Dim manualEvent As ManualResetEvent

    ' Generate random numbers to simulate the actual calculations.
    Dim randomGenerator As Random 

    Sub New()
        autoEvents = New AutoResetEvent(2) { _
            New AutoResetEvent(False), _
            New AutoResetEvent(False), _
            New AutoResetEvent(False) }

        manualEvent = New ManualResetEvent(False)
    End Sub

    Private Sub CalculateBase(stateInfo As Object)
        baseNumber = randomGenerator.NextDouble()

        ' Signal that baseNumber is ready.
        manualEvent.Set()
    End Sub

    ' The following CalculateX methods all perform the same
    ' series of steps as commented in CalculateFirstTerm.

    Private Sub CalculateFirstTerm(stateInfo As Object)
    
        ' Perform a precalculation.
        Dim preCalc As Double = randomGenerator.NextDouble()

        ' Wait for baseNumber to be calculated.
        manualEvent.WaitOne()

        ' Calculate the first term from preCalc and baseNumber.
        firstTerm = preCalc * baseNumber * _
            randomGenerator.NextDouble()

        ' Signal that the calculation is finished.
        autoEvents(0).Set()
    End Sub

    Private Sub CalculateSecondTerm(stateInfo As Object)
        Dim preCalc As Double = randomGenerator.NextDouble()
        manualEvent.WaitOne()
        secondTerm = preCalc * baseNumber * _
            randomGenerator.NextDouble()
        autoEvents(1).Set()
    End Sub

    Private Sub CalculateThirdTerm(stateInfo As Object)
        Dim preCalc As Double = randomGenerator.NextDouble()
        manualEvent.WaitOne()
        thirdTerm = preCalc * baseNumber * _
            randomGenerator.NextDouble()
        autoEvents(2).Set()
    End Sub

    Function Result(seed As Integer) As Double

        randomGenerator = New Random(seed)

        ' Simultaneously calculate the terms.
        ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(AddressOf CalculateBase)
        ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(AddressOf CalculateFirstTerm)
        ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(AddressOf CalculateSecondTerm)
        ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(AddressOf CalculateThirdTerm)

        ' Wait for all of the terms to be calculated.
        WaitHandle.WaitAll(autoEvents)

        ' Reset the wait handle for the next calculation.
        manualEvent.Reset()

        Return firstTerm + secondTerm + thirdTerm
    End Function

End Class
C#
using System;
using System.Threading;

class CalculateTest
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Calculate calc = new Calculate();
        Console.WriteLine("Result = {0}.", 
            calc.Result(234).ToString());
        Console.WriteLine("Result = {0}.", 
            calc.Result(55).ToString());
    }
}

class Calculate
{
    double baseNumber, firstTerm, secondTerm, thirdTerm;
    AutoResetEvent[] autoEvents;
    ManualResetEvent manualEvent;

    // Generate random numbers to simulate the actual calculations.
    Random randomGenerator;

    public Calculate()
    {
        autoEvents = new AutoResetEvent[]
        {
            new AutoResetEvent(false),
            new AutoResetEvent(false),
            new AutoResetEvent(false)
        };

        manualEvent = new ManualResetEvent(false);
    }

    void CalculateBase(object stateInfo)
    {
        baseNumber = randomGenerator.NextDouble();

        // Signal that baseNumber is ready.
        manualEvent.Set();
    }

    // The following CalculateX methods all perform the same
    // series of steps as commented in CalculateFirstTerm.

    void CalculateFirstTerm(object stateInfo)
    {
        // Perform a precalculation.
        double preCalc = randomGenerator.NextDouble();

        // Wait for baseNumber to be calculated.
        manualEvent.WaitOne();

        // Calculate the first term from preCalc and baseNumber.
        firstTerm = preCalc * baseNumber * 
            randomGenerator.NextDouble();

        // Signal that the calculation is finished.
        autoEvents[0].Set();
    }

    void CalculateSecondTerm(object stateInfo)
    {
        double preCalc = randomGenerator.NextDouble();
        manualEvent.WaitOne();
        secondTerm = preCalc * baseNumber * 
            randomGenerator.NextDouble();
        autoEvents[1].Set();
    }

    void CalculateThirdTerm(object stateInfo)
    {
        double preCalc = randomGenerator.NextDouble();
        manualEvent.WaitOne();
        thirdTerm = preCalc * baseNumber * 
            randomGenerator.NextDouble();
        autoEvents[2].Set();
    }

    public double Result(int seed)
    {
        randomGenerator = new Random(seed);

        // Simultaneously calculate the terms.
        ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(
            new WaitCallback(CalculateBase));
        ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(
            new WaitCallback(CalculateFirstTerm));
        ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(
            new WaitCallback(CalculateSecondTerm));
        ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(
            new WaitCallback(CalculateThirdTerm));

        // Wait for all of the terms to be calculated.
        WaitHandle.WaitAll(autoEvents);

        // Reset the wait handle for the next calculation.
        manualEvent.Reset();

        return firstTerm + secondTerm + thirdTerm;
    }
}
C++
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Threading;
ref class Calculate
{
private:
   double baseNumber;
   double firstTerm;
   double secondTerm;
   double thirdTerm;
   array<AutoResetEvent^>^autoEvents;
   ManualResetEvent^ manualEvent;

   // Generate random numbers to simulate the actual calculations.
   Random^ randomGenerator;

public:
   Calculate()
   {
      autoEvents = gcnew array<AutoResetEvent^>(3);
      autoEvents[ 0 ] = gcnew AutoResetEvent( false );
      autoEvents[ 1 ] = gcnew AutoResetEvent( false );
      autoEvents[ 2 ] = gcnew AutoResetEvent( false );
      manualEvent = gcnew ManualResetEvent( false );
   }


private:
   void CalculateBase( Object^ /*stateInfo*/ )
   {
      baseNumber = randomGenerator->NextDouble();
      
      // Signal that baseNumber is ready.
      manualEvent->Set();
   }


   // The following CalculateX methods all perform the same
   // series of steps as commented in CalculateFirstTerm.
   void CalculateFirstTerm( Object^ /*stateInfo*/ )
   {
      
      // Perform a precalculation.
      double preCalc = randomGenerator->NextDouble();
      
      // Wait for baseNumber to be calculated.
      manualEvent->WaitOne();
      
      // Calculate the first term from preCalc and baseNumber.
      firstTerm = preCalc * baseNumber * randomGenerator->NextDouble();
      
      // Signal that the calculation is finished.
      autoEvents[ 0 ]->Set();
   }

   void CalculateSecondTerm( Object^ /*stateInfo*/ )
   {
      double preCalc = randomGenerator->NextDouble();
      manualEvent->WaitOne();
      secondTerm = preCalc * baseNumber * randomGenerator->NextDouble();
      autoEvents[ 1 ]->Set();
   }

   void CalculateThirdTerm( Object^ /*stateInfo*/ )
   {
      double preCalc = randomGenerator->NextDouble();
      manualEvent->WaitOne();
      thirdTerm = preCalc * baseNumber * randomGenerator->NextDouble();
      autoEvents[ 2 ]->Set();
   }


public:
   double Result( int seed )
   {
      randomGenerator = gcnew Random( seed );
      
      // Simultaneously calculate the terms.
      ThreadPool::QueueUserWorkItem( gcnew WaitCallback( this, &Calculate::CalculateBase ) );
      ThreadPool::QueueUserWorkItem( gcnew WaitCallback( this, &Calculate::CalculateFirstTerm ) );
      ThreadPool::QueueUserWorkItem( gcnew WaitCallback( this, &Calculate::CalculateSecondTerm ) );
      ThreadPool::QueueUserWorkItem( gcnew WaitCallback( this, &Calculate::CalculateThirdTerm ) );
      
      // Wait for all of the terms to be calculated.
      WaitHandle::WaitAll( autoEvents );
      
      // Reset the wait handle for the next calculation.
      manualEvent->Reset();
      return firstTerm + secondTerm + thirdTerm;
   }

};

int main()
{
   Calculate^ calc = gcnew Calculate;
   Console::WriteLine( "Result = {0}.", calc->Result( 234 ).ToString() );
   Console::WriteLine( "Result = {0}.", calc->Result( 55 ).ToString() );
}

J#
import System.*;
import System.Threading.*;

class CalculateTest
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        Calculate calc = new Calculate();
        Console.WriteLine("Result = {0}.", String.valueOf(calc.Result(234)));
        Console.WriteLine("Result = {0}.", String.valueOf(calc.Result(55)));
    } //main
} //CalculateTest

class Calculate
{
    private double baseNumber, firstTerm, secondTerm, thirdTerm;
    private AutoResetEvent autoEvents[];
    private ManualResetEvent manualEvent;

    // Generate random numbers to simulate the actual calculations.
    private Random randomGenerator;

    public Calculate()
    {
        autoEvents = new AutoResetEvent[] { new AutoResetEvent(false), 
            new AutoResetEvent(false), new AutoResetEvent(false) };
        manualEvent = new ManualResetEvent(false);
    } //Calculate

    void CalculateBase(Object stateInfo)
    {
        baseNumber = randomGenerator.NextDouble();

        // Signal that baseNumber is ready.
        manualEvent.Set();
    } //CalculateBase

    // The following CalculateX methods all perform the same
    // series of steps as commented in CalculateFirstTerm.
    void CalculateFirstTerm(Object stateInfo)
    {
        // Perform a precalculation.
        double preCalc = randomGenerator.NextDouble();

        // Wait for baseNumber to be calculated.
        manualEvent.WaitOne();

        // Calculate the first term from preCalc and baseNumber.
        firstTerm = preCalc * baseNumber * randomGenerator.NextDouble();

        // Signal that the calculation is finished.
        autoEvents[0].Set();
    } //CalculateFirstTerm

    void CalculateSecondTerm(Object stateInfo)
    {
        double preCalc = randomGenerator.NextDouble();

        manualEvent.WaitOne();
        secondTerm = preCalc * baseNumber * randomGenerator.NextDouble();
        autoEvents[1].Set();
    } //CalculateSecondTerm

    void CalculateThirdTerm(Object stateInfo)
    {
        double preCalc = randomGenerator.NextDouble();

        manualEvent.WaitOne();
        thirdTerm = preCalc * baseNumber * randomGenerator.NextDouble();
        autoEvents[2].Set();
    } //CalculateThirdTerm

    public double Result(int seed)
    {
        randomGenerator = new Random(seed);

        // Simultaneously calculate the terms.
        ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(new WaitCallback(CalculateBase));
        ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(new WaitCallback(CalculateFirstTerm));
        ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(new WaitCallback(CalculateSecondTerm));
        ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(new WaitCallback(CalculateThirdTerm));

        // Wait for all of the terms to be calculated.
        WaitHandle.WaitAll(autoEvents);

        // Reset the wait handle for the next calculation.
        manualEvent.Reset();
        return firstTerm + secondTerm + thirdTerm;
    } //Result
} //Calculate
System.Object
   System.MarshalByRefObject
     System.Threading.WaitHandle
       System.Threading.EventWaitHandle
        System.Threading.ManualResetEvent

This class is thread safe.

Windows 98, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows CE, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Starter Edition

The Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 is supported on Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP SP2, and Windows Server 2003 SP1.

.NET Framework

Supported in: 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Compact Framework

Supported in: 2.0, 1.0

XNA Framework

Supported in: 1.0
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