Progress indicator in complicated silverlight proccess

Question

I'm working on a silverlight app. When the app loads it starts a complicated layout procedure that takes about 10 seconds to

1. Load the Dataset via web service
2. Create objects
3. Place objects
4. Download photos
5. Connect objects

I am unable to show the user any sort of progress indicator that all this is happening. With the exception of step 1 all of the steps seem to be happening on the visual thread. Does anyone have any idea how to split the thread so I can give the user some indication of what is happening?

Thanks ~Steve

Answer 1

I can't solve you whole problem for you, but can maybe give you a hint in the right direction. I just read this Wicked code article from msdn.

There is an item in there about "Just in time rendering", it is a bit similar in that it is also showing photos, but only when they are available.

Hope it helps a bit.