Indeterminate Mode

A feature that displays an ongoing, infinite progress animation when a definitive progress value is not available.

Overview

The Indeterminate Mode feature allows the SiticoneRadialProgressBar to indicate continuous activity without specifying an exact progress value. This is particularly useful for operations where progress cannot be measured, such as loading or processing tasks. When enabled, the control animates the progress arc in a looping fashion, giving users visual feedback that an operation is in progress.

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Sections

Key Points

Aspect	Description	Example/Notes
Indeterminate	When set to true, the control displays an infinite progress animation, ignoring the static progress value.	progressBar.Indeterminate = true;
AnimationSpeed	Controls the speed of the indeterminate animation, ensuring smooth and continuous motion.	progressBar.AnimationSpeed = 4;
Visual Feedback	Provides clear visual feedback during operations where progress cannot be quantified, enhancing user perception.	Indeterminate mode overrides the normal text and value display.

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Best Practices

Recommendation	Rationale	Code Example
Enable Indeterminate mode only when necessary	Use this mode only for operations without a measurable progress to avoid confusing users.	csharp<br>progressBar.Indeterminate = true;<br>
Set appropriate AnimationSpeed for smooth transitions	A lower AnimationSpeed value (in milliseconds) creates a fluid and visually appealing animation.	csharp<br>progressBar.AnimationSpeed = 4;<br>
Clearly signal state transitions	Switch from indeterminate to a measurable state as soon as progress can be quantified.	csharp<br>// End indeterminate mode when progress is determined<br>progressBar.Indeterminate = false;<br>progressBar.Value = 100;<br>

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Common Pitfalls

Pitfall	Explanation	How to Avoid
Leaving the control in indeterminate mode indefinitely	Users may think the operation is stuck if the mode never switches to a specific progress value.	Ensure to disable indeterminate mode once the process is complete by setting Indeterminate to false.
Confusing users by displaying both indeterminate and static values	Mixing indeterminate animations with a numeric progress value can be misleading.	Rely on indeterminate mode exclusively when precise progress measurement is unavailable.
Poorly configured AnimationSpeed leading to jittery animations	Too high or too low a value for AnimationSpeed can make the animation appear choppy or too slow.	Test and adjust the AnimationSpeed for the best visual experience under different system loads.

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Usage Scenarios

Scenario	How Indeterminate Mode Helps	Sample Code Example
Loading Data	When retrieving data from a database or a remote service where the duration is unpredictable.	csharp<br>// Set the progress bar to indeterminate while data is loading<br>progressBar.Indeterminate = true;<br>// Once data is loaded:<br>progressBar.Indeterminate = false;<br>progressBar.Value = 100;<br>
Processing Operations	For tasks like file processing or network operations where progress cannot be quantified.	csharp<br>// Display continuous activity during a processing operation<br>progressBar.Indeterminate = true;<br>// On process completion:<br>progressBar.Indeterminate = false;<br>
System Wait States	Indicate that the system is busy (e.g., during a long computation) without providing an exact progress indicator.	csharp<br>progressBar.Indeterminate = true;<br>// End indeterminate mode when computation is complete<br>

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Code Examples and Integration Demos

Example 1: Basic Indeterminate Progress

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using SiticoneNetFrameworkUI;

public class IndeterminateBasicForm : Form
{
    public IndeterminateBasicForm()
    {
        var progressBar = new SiticoneRadialProgressBar
        {
            Size = new Size(160, 160),
            Location = new Point(20, 20),
            TextFormat = "{0}%", // This will be hidden when indeterminate
            AnimationSpeed = 4,
            // Enable indeterminate mode for continuous animation
            Indeterminate = true
        };

        this.Controls.Add(progressBar);

        // Simulate a long-running process that completes after 5 seconds
        Timer processTimer = new Timer { Interval = 5000 };
        processTimer.Tick += (s, e) =>
        {
            progressBar.Indeterminate = false;
            progressBar.Value = 100;
            processTimer.Stop();
        };
        processTimer.Start();
    }

    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.Run(new IndeterminateBasicForm());
    }
}

Example 2: Switching from Indeterminate to Determinate

using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using SiticoneNetFrameworkUI;

public class IndeterminateSwitchForm : Form
{
    public IndeterminateSwitchForm()
    {
        var progressBar = new SiticoneRadialProgressBar
        {
            Size = new Size(180, 180),
            Location = new Point(30, 30),
            Minimum = 0,
            Maximum = 100,
            Value = 0,
            TextFormat = "{0}%",
            AnimationSpeed = 4,
            // Start in indeterminate mode
            Indeterminate = true
        };

        this.Controls.Add(progressBar);

        // Timer to simulate a delay before progress can be measured
        Timer switchTimer = new Timer { Interval = 3000 };
        switchTimer.Tick += (s, e) =>
        {
            // Once the process starts providing measurable progress, disable indeterminate mode
            progressBar.Indeterminate = false;
            // Simulate measurable progress updates
            Timer updateTimer = new Timer { Interval = 100 };
            updateTimer.Tick += (sender, args) =>
            {
                if (progressBar.Value < progressBar.Maximum)
                {
                    progressBar.Value += 3;
                }
                else
                {
                    updateTimer.Stop();
                }
            };
            updateTimer.Start();

            switchTimer.Stop();
        };
        switchTimer.Start();
    }

    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Application.Run(new IndeterminateSwitchForm());
    }
}

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Review

Review Aspect	Discussion	Recommendations
Clarity of Feedback	Indeterminate mode provides clear feedback during uncertain operations, improving user trust.	Clearly signal the start and end of indeterminate mode transitions.
Smoothness of Animation	A well-configured AnimationSpeed ensures the continuous animation remains smooth and engaging.	Test on different systems to ensure consistency and adjust AnimationSpeed as needed.
Ease of Integration	The property-based approach makes it simple to toggle indeterminate mode on and off during runtime.	Follow best practices for state transitions to prevent user confusion.

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Summary

The Indeterminate Mode feature is ideal for scenarios where progress cannot be measured precisely, such as during data loading or lengthy processing operations. By enabling the Indeterminate property, developers can provide users with continuous visual feedback through an animated progress arc. This documentation, including code examples and best practices, is designed to help you seamlessly integrate indeterminate behavior into your .NET WinForms applications using the SiticoneRadialProgressBar control.

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Additional Useful Sections

Troubleshooting Tips

Issue	Potential Cause	Suggested Resolution
Animation remains active even after completion	The Indeterminate property might not be properly reset after the operation.	Ensure that you explicitly set Indeterminate = false and update the Value once the process is done.
Indeterminate animation appears choppy	AnimationSpeed is not optimized for the target system's performance.	Test and adjust the AnimationSpeed to achieve a fluid animation without excessive resource usage.
Confusing UI due to mixed modes	Displaying static progress values alongside indeterminate animations.	Use indeterminate mode exclusively during uncertain operations, then switch to determinate mode once available.

FAQs

Question	Answer
When should I use indeterminate mode?	Use indeterminate mode when the progress cannot be quantified, such as during initial loading or processing delays.
Can I switch between indeterminate and determinate modes?	Yes, simply set the Indeterminate property to false and update the Value once a measurable progress state is available.
Does indeterminate mode display any progress text?	Typically, indeterminate mode hides the progress text to avoid misleading information, but you can customize the TextFormat if needed.

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This comprehensive documentation for the Indeterminate Mode feature provides you with the necessary insights, best practices, and code examples to effectively integrate continuous progress animations into the SiticoneRadialProgressBar control, enhancing user experience in scenarios where precise progress measurement is not possible.