Logging progress for DRC, introducing 'abstract progress' concept

src/buddies/src/bd/bdInit.cc

@@ -71,13 +71,10 @@ public:
   ProgressAdaptor (int verbosity);
   virtual ~ProgressAdaptor ();
 
-  virtual void register_object (tl::Progress *progress);
-  virtual void unregister_object (tl::Progress *progress);
   virtual void trigger (tl::Progress *progress);
   virtual void yield (tl::Progress *progress);
 
 private:
-  std::list<tl::Progress *> mp_objects;
   int m_verbosity;
   std::string m_progress_text, m_progress_value;
 };
@@ -93,36 +90,19 @@ ProgressAdaptor::~ProgressAdaptor ()
   //  .. nothing yet ..
 }
 
-void
-ProgressAdaptor::register_object (tl::Progress *progress)
-{
-  mp_objects.push_back (progress); // this keeps the outmost one visible. push_front would make the latest one visible.
-}
-
-void
-ProgressAdaptor::unregister_object (tl::Progress *progress)
-{
-  for (std::list<tl::Progress *>::iterator k = mp_objects.begin (); k != mp_objects.end (); ++k) {
-    if (*k == progress) {
-      mp_objects.erase (k);
-      return;
-    }
-  }
-}
-
 void
 ProgressAdaptor::trigger (tl::Progress *progress)
 {
-  if (! mp_objects.empty () && mp_objects.front () == progress && tl::verbosity () >= m_verbosity) {
+  if (progress && first () == progress && tl::verbosity () >= m_verbosity) {
 
-    std::string text = mp_objects.front ()->desc ();
+    std::string text = progress->desc ();
 
     if (m_progress_text != text) {
       tl::info << text << " ..";
       m_progress_text = text;
     }
 
-    std::string value = mp_objects.front ()->formatted_value ();
+    std::string value = progress->formatted_value ();
     if (m_progress_value != value) {
       tl::info << ".. " << value;
       m_progress_value = value;

src/drc/drc/built-in-macros/_drc_engine.rb

@@ -498,6 +498,20 @@ module DRC
       end
     end
     
+    # %DRC%
+    # @name warn
+    # @brief Prints a warning
+    # @synopsis warn(message)
+    # Similar to \log, but the message is printed formatted as a warning
+    
+    def warn(arg)
+      if @log_file
+        @log_file.puts("WARNING: " + arg)
+      else
+        RBA::Logger::warn(arg)
+      end
+    end
+    
     # %DRC%
     # @name log_file
     # @brief Specify the log file where to send to log to
@@ -1840,7 +1854,7 @@ CODE
     
     def run_timed(desc, obj)
 
-      info(desc)
+      log(desc)
 
       # enable progress
       if obj.is_a?(RBA::Region) || obj.is_a?(RBA::Edges) || obj.is_a?(RBA::EdgePairs) || obj.is_a?(RBA::Texts)

src/drc/drc/built-in-macros/drc_interpreters.lym

@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ module DRC
     drc._rdb_index = rdb_index
     drc._generator = generator
 
+    drc_progress = RBA::AbstractProgress::new("DRC: " + macro.path)
+
     begin
 
       # Set a debugger scope so that our errors end up with the debugger set to the DRC's line
@@ -46,6 +48,9 @@ module DRC
       # cleans up and creates layout and report views
       drc._finish
 
+      # unlocks the UI
+      drc_progress._destroy
+
     end
 
     timer.stop

src/gsi/gsi/gsiDeclTl.cc

@@ -201,25 +201,6 @@ Class<tl::Timer> decl_Timer ("tl", "Timer",
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------
 //  Progress reporter objects
 
-namespace tl {
-
-  template <> struct type_traits<tl::Progress> : public type_traits<void> {
-    typedef tl::false_tag has_copy_constructor;
-    typedef tl::false_tag has_default_constructor;
-  };
-
-  template <> struct type_traits<tl::RelativeProgress> : public type_traits<void> {
-    typedef tl::false_tag has_copy_constructor;
-    typedef tl::false_tag has_default_constructor;
-  };
-
-  template <> struct type_traits<tl::AbsoluteProgress> : public type_traits<void> {
-    typedef tl::false_tag has_copy_constructor;
-    typedef tl::false_tag has_default_constructor;
-  };
-
-}
-
 namespace gsi 
 {
   
@@ -247,6 +228,27 @@ Class<tl::Progress> decl_Progress ("tl", "Progress",
   "This class has been introduced in version 0.23.\n"
 );
 
+static tl::AbstractProgress *abstract_progress (const std::string &desc)
+{
+  return new tl::AbstractProgress (desc);
+}
+
+Class<tl::AbstractProgress> decl_AbstractProgress (decl_Progress, "tl", "AbstractProgress",
+  gsi::constructor ("new", &abstract_progress, gsi::arg ("desc"),
+    "@brief Creates an abstract progress reporter with the given description\n"
+  ),
+  "@brief The abstract progress reporter\n"
+  "\n"
+  "The abstract progress reporter acts as a 'bracket' for a sequence of operations which are connected "
+  "logically. For example, a DRC script consists of multiple operations. An abstract progress reportert "
+  "is instantiated during the run time of the DRC script. This way, the application leaves the UI open while "
+  "the DRC executes and log messages can be collected.\n"
+  "\n"
+  "The abstract progress does not have a value.\n"
+  "\n"
+  "This class has been introduced in version 0.27.\n"
+);
+
 static tl::RelativeProgress *rel_progress_2 (const std::string &desc, size_t max)
 {
   return new tl::RelativeProgress (desc, max);

src/lay/lay/layLogViewerDialog.cc

@@ -200,11 +200,33 @@ LogFile::timeout ()
   }
 }
 
+void
+LogFile::set_max_entries (size_t n)
+{
+  QMutexLocker locker (&m_lock);
+
+  m_max_entries = n;
+
+  while (m_messages.size () > m_max_entries) {
+    m_messages.pop_front ();
+  }
+}
+
+size_t
+LogFile::max_entries () const
+{
+  return m_max_entries;
+}
+
 void 
 LogFile::add (LogFileEntry::mode_type mode, const std::string &msg, bool continued)
 {
   QMutexLocker locker (&m_lock);
 
+  if (m_max_entries == 0) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (m_messages.size () >= m_max_entries) {
     m_messages.pop_front ();
   }

src/lay/lay/layLogViewerDialog.h

@@ -192,6 +192,18 @@ public slots:
     return m_log_receiver;
   }
 
+  /**
+   *  @brief Sets the maximum number of entries to show
+   *
+   *  Setting this value to 0 basically disables the log collection
+   */
+  void set_max_entries (size_t n);
+
+  /**
+   *  @brief Gets the maximum number of entries to show
+   */
+  size_t max_entries () const;
+
 private slots:
   void timeout ();
 

src/lay/lay/layProgress.cc

@@ -86,14 +86,13 @@ ProgressReporter::set_progress_bar (lay::ProgressBar *pb)
 void 
 ProgressReporter::register_object (tl::Progress *progress)
 {
-  if (mp_objects.empty ()) {
+  if (begin () == end ()) {
     //  to avoid recursions of any kind, disallow any user interaction except
     //  cancelling the operation
     QApplication::instance ()->installEventFilter (this);
   }
 
-  mp_objects.push_back (*progress); // this keeps the outmost one visible. push_front would make the latest one visible.
-  // mp_objects.push_front (progress);
+  tl::ProgressAdaptor::register_object (progress);
 
   if (m_start_time == tl::Clock () && ! m_pw_visible) {
     m_start_time = tl::Clock::current ();
@@ -104,33 +103,47 @@ ProgressReporter::register_object (tl::Progress *progress)
     set_visible (true);
   }
 
-  update_and_yield ();
+  if (progress->is_abstract ()) {
+    if (mp_pb) {
+      mp_pb->update_progress (progress);
+    }
+    process_events ();
+  } else {
+    update_and_yield ();
+  }
 }
 
 void 
 ProgressReporter::unregister_object (tl::Progress *progress)
 {
-  progress->unlink ();
+  tl::ProgressAdaptor::unregister_object (progress);
 
   //  close or refresh window
-  if (mp_objects.empty ()) {
+  if (begin () == end ()) {
+
     if (m_pw_visible) {
       set_visible (false);
     }
+
     m_start_time = tl::Clock ();
-  }
 
-  update_and_yield ();
+    if (mp_pb) {
+      mp_pb->update_progress (0);
+    }
+
+    process_events ();
 
-  if (mp_objects.empty ()) {
     QApplication::instance ()->removeEventFilter (this);
+
+  } else {
+    update_and_yield ();
   }
 }
 
 void 
 ProgressReporter::trigger (tl::Progress * /*progress*/)
 {
-  if (! mp_objects.empty ()) {
+  if (begin () != end ()) {
     //  make dialog visible after some time has passed
     if (! m_pw_visible && (tl::Clock::current () - m_start_time).seconds () > 1.0) {
       set_visible (true);
@@ -152,27 +165,22 @@ ProgressReporter::yield (tl::Progress * /*progress*/)
   }
 }
 
-void 
-ProgressReporter::signal_break ()
-{
-  for (tl::list<tl::Progress>::iterator k = mp_objects.begin (); k != mp_objects.end (); ++k) {
-    k->signal_break ();
-  }
-}
-
 void
 ProgressReporter::update_and_yield ()
 {
-  if (m_pw_visible && ! mp_objects.empty ()) {
-    if (mp_pb) {
-      mp_pb->update_progress (mp_objects.first ());
-      QWidget *w = mp_pb->progress_get_widget ();
-      if (w) {
-        mp_objects.first ()->render_progress (w);
-      }
-    }
-    process_events (); // Qt4 seems to need this
+  if (! m_pw_visible) {
+    return;
   }
+
+  if (mp_pb && first ()) {
+    mp_pb->update_progress (first ());
+    QWidget *w = mp_pb->progress_get_widget ();
+    if (w) {
+      first ()->render_progress (w);
+    }
+  }
+
+  process_events (); // Qt4 seems to need this
 }
 
 void
@@ -202,8 +210,8 @@ ProgressReporter::set_visible (bool vis)
     if (mp_pb) {
       if (!vis) {
         mp_pb->progress_remove_widget ();
-      } else if (mp_pb->progress_wants_widget () && mp_objects.first ()) {
-        mp_pb->progress_add_widget (mp_objects.first ()->progress_widget ());
+      } else if (mp_pb->progress_wants_widget () && first ()) {
+        mp_pb->progress_add_widget (first ()->progress_widget ());
       }
     }
 

src/lay/lay/layProgress.h

@@ -68,16 +68,9 @@ public:
   virtual void yield (tl::Progress *progress);
   virtual bool eventFilter (QObject *dest, QEvent *event);
 
-  void signal_break ();
   void set_progress_bar (lay::ProgressBar *pb);
 
-  bool is_busy () const
-  {
-    return !mp_objects.empty ();
-  }
-
 private:
-  tl::list<tl::Progress> mp_objects;
   tl::Clock m_start_time;
   lay::ProgressBar *mp_pb;
   bool m_pw_visible;

src/lay/lay/layProgressWidget.cc

@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ private:
 
 ProgressBarWidget::ProgressBarWidget (QWidget *parent, const char *name)
   : QWidget (parent),
-    m_value (0.0), m_width (64), m_length (0), m_fw (1), m_bw (0)
+    m_value (0.0), m_width (200), m_length (0), m_fw (1), m_bw (0)
 {
   setObjectName (QString::fromUtf8 (name));
   setMinimumSize (64, 10);
@@ -135,20 +135,49 @@ ProgressBarWidget::resizeEvent (QResizeEvent *)
 
 // --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-ProgressWidget::ProgressWidget (ProgressReporter *pr, QWidget *parent, bool full_width)
+ProgressWidget::ProgressWidget (ProgressReporter *pr, QWidget *parent, bool fw)
   : QFrame (parent),
-    mp_widget (0), mp_pr (pr), m_log_file (6, true)
+    mp_widget (0), mp_pr (pr), m_log_file (0, true), m_log_visible (false)
 {
   QVBoxLayout *top_layout = new QVBoxLayout (this);
   top_layout->addStretch (1);
 
+  mp_log_frame = new QFrame (this);
+  mp_log_frame->setFrameShape (QFrame::NoFrame);
+  mp_log_frame->hide ();
+  top_layout->addWidget (mp_log_frame);
+
+  QVBoxLayout *log_layout = new QVBoxLayout (mp_log_frame);
+
+  QListView *log_view = new QListView (this);
+  log_view->setModel (&m_log_file);
+  log_view->setUniformItemSizes (true);
+  log_layout->addWidget (log_view);
+
+  QFrame *attn_frame = new QFrame (this);
+  attn_frame->setFrameShape (QFrame::NoFrame);
+  attn_frame->hide ();
+  log_layout->addWidget (attn_frame);
+
+  QHBoxLayout *attn_layout = new QHBoxLayout (attn_frame);
+  attn_layout->setContentsMargins (0, 0, 0, 0);
+
+  QLabel *attn_label1 = new QLabel (attn_frame);
+  attn_label1->setPixmap (QPixmap (QString::fromUtf8 (":/warn_16.png")));
+  attn_layout->addWidget (attn_label1);
+
+  QLabel *attn_label2 = new QLabel (attn_frame);
+  attn_label2->setText (tr ("There are errors or warnings"));
+  attn_layout->addWidget (attn_label2);
+
+  attn_layout->addStretch (1);
+
+  connect (&m_log_file, SIGNAL (layoutChanged ()), log_view, SLOT (scrollToBottom ()));
+  connect (&m_log_file, SIGNAL (attention_changed (bool)), attn_frame, SLOT (setVisible (bool)));
+
   QFrame *bar_frame = new QFrame (this);
   top_layout->addWidget (bar_frame);
 
-  QListView *log_list = new QListView (this);
-  log_list->setModel (&m_log_file);
-  top_layout->addWidget (log_list);
-
   top_layout->addStretch (1);
 
   //  this does not allow the label to control the overall size, so a long string does not hurt:
@@ -162,12 +191,11 @@ ProgressWidget::ProgressWidget (ProgressReporter *pr, QWidget *parent, bool full
 
   int col = 0;
 
-  if (! full_width) {
-    layout->addItem (new QSpacerItem (8, 8, QSizePolicy::Expanding, QSizePolicy::Expanding), 0, col, 1, 1);
-    layout->setColumnStretch (col++, 1);
-  }
+  layout->addItem (new QSpacerItem (8, 8, QSizePolicy::Expanding, QSizePolicy::Expanding), 0, col, 1, 1);
+  m_left_col = col++;
 
   mp_label = new QLabel (bar_frame);
+  layout->setColumnStretch(col, 2);
   layout->addWidget (mp_label, 0, col++, 1, 1);
 
   layout->addItem (new QSpacerItem (8, 8, QSizePolicy::Fixed, QSizePolicy::Fixed), 0, col++, 1, 1);
@@ -176,7 +204,6 @@ ProgressWidget::ProgressWidget (ProgressReporter *pr, QWidget *parent, bool full
   progress_bar_frame->setFrameStyle (QFrame::Box | QFrame::Plain);
   progress_bar_frame->setSizePolicy (QSizePolicy::Expanding, QSizePolicy::Expanding);
   layout->addWidget (progress_bar_frame, 0, col, 1, 1);
-  layout->setColumnStretch(col++, 2);
 
   QGridLayout *pbf_layout = new QGridLayout (progress_bar_frame);
   progress_bar_frame->setLayout (pbf_layout);
@@ -196,16 +223,41 @@ ProgressWidget::ProgressWidget (ProgressReporter *pr, QWidget *parent, bool full
   mp_cancel_button->setText (QObject::tr ("Cancel"));
   layout->addWidget (mp_cancel_button, 0, col++, 1, 1);
 
-  if (! full_width) {
-    layout->addItem (new QSpacerItem (8, 8, QSizePolicy::Expanding, QSizePolicy::Expanding), 0, col, 1, 1);
-    layout->setColumnStretch (col++, 1);
-  }
+  layout->addItem (new QSpacerItem (8, 8, QSizePolicy::Expanding, QSizePolicy::Expanding), 0, col, 1, 1);
+  m_right_col = col++;
 
   layout->addItem (new QSpacerItem (10, 10, QSizePolicy::Fixed, QSizePolicy::Fixed), 1, 0, 1, col);
 
   m_widget_col = col;
 
   connect (mp_cancel_button, SIGNAL (clicked ()), this, SLOT (signal_break ()));
+
+  set_full_width (fw);
+}
+
+void
+ProgressWidget::set_log_visible (bool f)
+{
+  if (f != m_log_visible) {
+    m_log_visible = f;
+    mp_log_frame->setVisible (f);
+    set_full_width (m_full_width);
+  }
+}
+void
+ProgressWidget::set_full_width (bool fw)
+{
+  m_full_width = fw;
+
+  bool f = (fw || m_log_visible);
+  mp_layout->setColumnStretch (m_left_col, f ? 0 : 1);
+  mp_layout->setColumnStretch (m_right_col, f ? 0 : 1);
+}
+
+bool
+ProgressWidget::full_width () const
+{
+  return m_full_width;
 }
 
 QWidget *
@@ -238,6 +290,13 @@ ProgressWidget::remove_widget ()
 void
 ProgressWidget::set_progress (tl::Progress *progress)
 {
+  if (! progress || progress->is_abstract ()) {
+    m_log_file.clear ();
+    m_log_file.set_max_entries (progress ? 1000 : 0);
+    set_log_visible (progress != 0);
+    return;
+  }
+
   bool can_cancel = false;
   std::string text;
 

src/lay/lay/layProgressWidget.h

@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ class QToolButton;
 class QLabel;
 class QToolButton;
 class QGridLayout;
+class QListView;
+class QFrame;
 
 namespace tl
 {
@@ -60,6 +62,8 @@ public:
   void add_widget (QWidget *widget);
   void remove_widget ();
   QWidget *get_widget () const;
+  void set_full_width (bool fw);
+  bool full_width () const;
 
   QSize sizeHint () const;
 
@@ -75,6 +79,12 @@ private:
   QToolButton *mp_cancel_button;
   ProgressReporter *mp_pr;
   lay::LogFile m_log_file;
+  QFrame *mp_log_frame;
+  bool m_full_width;
+  int m_left_col, m_right_col;
+  bool m_log_visible;
+
+  void set_log_visible (bool f);
 };
 
 }

src/lay/lay/laySaltDownloadManager.cc

@@ -409,8 +409,6 @@ namespace
       mp_dialog->mark_fetching (m_name);
     }
 
-    virtual void register_object (tl::Progress * /*progress*/) { }
-    virtual void unregister_object (tl::Progress * /*progress*/) { }
     virtual void yield (tl::Progress * /*progress*/) { }
 
     virtual void trigger (tl::Progress *progress)

src/lay/lay/layTextProgress.cc

@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ TextProgress::TextProgress (int verbosity)
 
 void TextProgress::update_progress (tl::Progress *progress)
 {
+  if (! progress || progress->is_abstract ()) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   std::string text = progress->desc ();
   if (m_progress_text != text && tl::verbosity () >= m_verbosity) {
     tl::info << text << " ..";

src/lym/lym/lymMacro.cc

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include "tlXMLParser.h"
 #include "tlGlobPattern.h"
 #include "tlInclude.h"
+#include "tlProgress.h"
 
 #include "rba.h"
 #include "pya.h"
@@ -1022,6 +1023,8 @@ int Macro::run () const
 
   try {
 
+    tl::ProgressGarbageCollector progress_gc;
+
     gsi::Interpreter *ip = script_interpreter (interpreter ());
     if (ip) {
 

src/tl/tl/tlProgress.cc

@@ -46,6 +46,18 @@ ProgressAdaptor::~ProgressAdaptor ()
   tl::Progress::register_adaptor (0);
 }
 
+void
+ProgressAdaptor::register_object (Progress *progress)
+{
+  mp_objects.push_back (progress); // this keeps the outmost one visible. push_front would make the latest one visible.
+}
+
+void
+ProgressAdaptor::unregister_object (Progress *progress)
+{
+  progress->unlink ();
+}
+
 void
 ProgressAdaptor::prev (ProgressAdaptor *pa)
 {
@@ -58,6 +70,59 @@ ProgressAdaptor::prev ()
   return mp_prev;
 }
 
+void
+ProgressAdaptor::signal_break ()
+{
+  for (tl::list<tl::Progress>::iterator k = mp_objects.begin (); k != mp_objects.end (); ++k) {
+    k->signal_break ();
+  }
+}
+
+tl::Progress *
+ProgressAdaptor::first ()
+{
+  for (tl::list<tl::Progress>::iterator k = mp_objects.begin (); k != mp_objects.end (); ++k) {
+    if (! k->is_abstract ()) {
+      return k.operator-> ();
+    }
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+//  ProgressGarbageCollector implementation
+
+ProgressGarbageCollector::ProgressGarbageCollector ()
+{
+  tl::ProgressAdaptor *a = tl::Progress::adaptor ();
+  if (a) {
+    for (tl::ProgressAdaptor::iterator p = a->begin (); p != a->end (); ++p) {
+      mp_valid_objects.insert (p.operator-> ());
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+ProgressGarbageCollector::~ProgressGarbageCollector ()
+{
+  tl::ProgressAdaptor *a = tl::Progress::adaptor ();
+  if (a) {
+
+    for (tl::ProgressAdaptor::iterator p = a->begin (); p != a->end (); ) {
+
+      tl::ProgressAdaptor::iterator pn = p;
+      ++pn;
+
+      if (mp_valid_objects.find (p.operator-> ()) == mp_valid_objects.end ()) {
+        a->unregister_object (p.operator-> ());
+      }
+
+      p = pn;
+
+    }
+
+  }
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 //  Progress implementation
 
@@ -187,7 +252,21 @@ bool Progress::test(bool force_yield)
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-//  Progress implementation
+//  AbstractProgress implementation
+
+AbstractProgress::AbstractProgress (const std::string &desc)
+  : tl::Progress (desc)
+{
+  initialize ();
+}
+
+AbstractProgress::~AbstractProgress ()
+{
+  shutdown ();
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+//  RelativeProgress implementation
 
 RelativeProgress::RelativeProgress (const std::string &desc, size_t max_count, size_t yield_interval)
   : Progress (desc, yield_interval)

src/tl/tl/tlProgress.h

@@ -31,12 +31,57 @@
 #include "tlTimer.h"
 #include "tlList.h"
 
+#include <set>
+
 class QWidget;
 
 namespace tl
 {
 
 class Progress;
+class RelativeProgress;
+class AbstractProgress;
+class AbsoluteProgress;
+
+template <> struct type_traits<tl::Progress> : public type_traits<void> {
+  typedef tl::false_tag has_copy_constructor;
+  typedef tl::false_tag has_default_constructor;
+};
+
+template <> struct type_traits<tl::RelativeProgress> : public type_traits<void> {
+  typedef tl::false_tag has_copy_constructor;
+  typedef tl::false_tag has_default_constructor;
+};
+
+template <> struct type_traits<tl::AbstractProgress> : public type_traits<void> {
+  typedef tl::false_tag has_copy_constructor;
+  typedef tl::false_tag has_default_constructor;
+};
+
+template <> struct type_traits<tl::AbsoluteProgress> : public type_traits<void> {
+  typedef tl::false_tag has_copy_constructor;
+  typedef tl::false_tag has_default_constructor;
+};
+
+/**
+ *  @brief A helper class to clean up pending progress objects
+ *
+ *  Pending progress objects may be created in scripts. If scripts are aborted
+ *  (e.g. in the debugger), progress objects may stay behing a block the application.
+ *  To prevent this, this object keeps track of progress objects created between
+ *  it's constructor and destructor and cleans up the objects created but not
+ *  destroyed.
+ */
+
+class TL_PUBLIC ProgressGarbageCollector
+{
+public:
+  ProgressGarbageCollector ();
+  ~ProgressGarbageCollector ();
+
+private:
+  std::set<tl::Progress *> mp_valid_objects;
+};
 
 /**
  *  @brief The receivers for progress reports
@@ -48,20 +93,45 @@ class Progress;
 
 class TL_PUBLIC ProgressAdaptor
 {
-public:  
+public:
+  typedef tl::list<tl::Progress>::iterator iterator;
+
   ProgressAdaptor ();
   virtual ~ProgressAdaptor ();
 
-  virtual void register_object (Progress *progress) = 0;
-  virtual void unregister_object (Progress *progress) = 0;
+  virtual void register_object (Progress *progress);
+  virtual void unregister_object (Progress *progress);
   virtual void trigger (Progress *progress) = 0;
   virtual void yield (Progress *progress) = 0;
 
   void prev (ProgressAdaptor *pa);
   ProgressAdaptor *prev ();
 
+  bool is_busy () const
+  {
+    return !mp_objects.empty ();
+  }
+
+  tl::Progress *first ();
+
+  void signal_break ();
+
+protected:
+  iterator begin ()
+  {
+    return mp_objects.begin ();
+  }
+
+  iterator end ()
+  {
+    return mp_objects.end ();
+  }
+
 private:
+  friend class ProgressGarbageCollector;
+
   ProgressAdaptor *mp_prev;
+  tl::list<tl::Progress> mp_objects;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -77,8 +147,6 @@ public:
   BreakException () : tl::Exception ("Operation cancelled") { }
 };
 
-class Progress;
-
 /**
  *  @brief A "progress" reporter class 
  *
@@ -138,6 +206,15 @@ public:
    */
   virtual double value () const = 0;
 
+  /**
+   *  @brief Returns true if the progress is an abstract one
+   *
+   *  Abstract progress objcts don't have a value but mark a section begin executed as a top level progress.
+   *  Technically they will open a channel for the UI - e.g. leaving a progress dialog open while the
+   *  operation is running.
+   */
+  virtual bool is_abstract () const = 0;
+
   /**
    *  @brief Creates a widget that renders the progress graphically
    *
@@ -217,6 +294,7 @@ protected:
 
 private:
   friend class ProgressAdaptor;
+  friend class ProgressGarbageCollector;
 
   std::string m_desc;
   std::string m_title;
@@ -231,6 +309,43 @@ private:
   static void register_adaptor (tl::ProgressAdaptor *pa);
 };
 
+/**
+ *  @brief The abstract progress
+ *
+ *  An abstract progress object can be used as a top-level progress object to mark a section
+ *  in an operation flow. This will provide a hint for the UI to leave the progress dialog open
+ *  for example.
+ */
+class TL_PUBLIC AbstractProgress
+  : public Progress
+{
+public:
+  /**
+   *  @brief Constructor
+   */
+  AbstractProgress (const std::string &desc);
+
+  /**
+   *  @brief Destructor
+   */
+  ~AbstractProgress ();
+
+  /**
+   *  @brief Delivers the current progress as a string (empty for the abstract progress)
+   */
+  std::string formatted_value () const { return std::string (); }
+
+  /**
+   *  @brief Delivers the relative progress (0 for the abstract progress)
+   */
+  double value () const { return 0.0; }
+
+  /**
+   *  @brief Indicates this progress reporter is abstract
+   */
+  bool is_abstract() const { return true; }
+};
+
 /**
  *  @brief A relative progress value
  *
@@ -253,9 +368,6 @@ public:
    */
   RelativeProgress (const std::string &desc, size_t max_count = 0, size_t yield_interval = 1000);
 
-  /**
-   *  @brief Destructor
-   */
   ~RelativeProgress ();
 
   /**
@@ -271,6 +383,11 @@ public:
    */
   double value () const;
 
+  /**
+   *  @brief Indicates this progress reporter isn't abstract
+   */
+  bool is_abstract() const { return false; }
+
   /** 
    *  @brief Set the format of the output.
    *
@@ -345,7 +462,12 @@ public:
    */
   double value () const;
 
-  /** 
+  /**
+   *  @brief Indicates this progress reporter isn't abstract
+   */
+  bool is_abstract() const { return false; }
+
+  /**
    *  @brief Set the format of the output.
    *
    *  This is a sprintf format string with the value being

src/tl/tl/tlThreadedWorkers.cc

@@ -512,8 +512,6 @@ class TL_PUBLIC WorkerProgressAdaptor : public tl::ProgressAdaptor
 public:
   WorkerProgressAdaptor (Worker *worker);
   
-  virtual void register_object (Progress *progress);
-  virtual void unregister_object (Progress *progress);
   virtual void trigger (Progress *progress);
   virtual void yield (Progress *progress);
 
@@ -527,16 +525,6 @@ WorkerProgressAdaptor::WorkerProgressAdaptor (Worker *worker)
   // .. nothing yet .. 
 }
   
-void WorkerProgressAdaptor::register_object (Progress * /*progress*/)
-{
-  // .. nothing yet .. 
-}
-
-void WorkerProgressAdaptor::unregister_object (Progress * /*progress*/)
-{
-  // .. nothing yet .. 
-}
-
 void WorkerProgressAdaptor::trigger (Progress * /*progress*/)
 {
   // .. nothing yet ..