Is it possible to modify the ArcObjects IProgressDialog2?

Question

It turns out that the best way to run long tasks in ArcMap is to use the IProgressDialog2. The BackgroundWorker in combination with ArcObjects (STA Threads) is a mess.

However, it seems that the only implementation from ESRI is the IStepProgressor. In my case I do not need and do not want to show a progress bar. Moreover I do not need the cancel button. Is there a way to remove both things? I want only the text and the circle as you can see in my screenshot

public static void ShowProgressDialog<T>(string message, Action<T> action, T arg)
    {

        ESRI.ArcGIS.esriSystem.ITrackCancel trackCancel = new ESRI.ArcGIS.Display.CancelTrackerClass();

        ESRI.ArcGIS.Framework.IProgressDialogFactory progressDialogFactory = new ESRI.ArcGIS.Framework.ProgressDialogFactoryClass();

        // Set the properties of the Step Progressor
        System.Int32 int32_hWnd = ArcMap.Application.hWnd;
        ESRI.ArcGIS.esriSystem.IStepProgressor stepProgressor = progressDialogFactory.Create(trackCancel, int32_hWnd);


        ESRI.ArcGIS.Framework.IProgressDialog2 progressDialog2 = (ESRI.ArcGIS.Framework.IProgressDialog2)stepProgressor; // Explict Cast

        progressDialog2.CancelEnabled = false;
        progressDialog2.Description = message;
        progressDialog2.Animation = ESRI.ArcGIS.Framework.esriProgressAnimationTypes.esriProgressSpiral;

        action.Invoke(arg);

        trackCancel = null;
        progressDialog2.HideDialog();
        progressDialog2 = null;

    }

Answer 1

I agree about using the IProgressDialog2 with ArcGIS over other methods of showing progress. It always seems more reliable. I often use it for long running queries where I want to give the user the ability to cancel but don't know how long the query will take. In these cases I instantiate the dialog just like you do but before calling the action I simply hide the step progressor. The rest of the dialog will function and appear as normal. Add this just before you invoke the action:

stepProgressor.Hide();
progressDialog2.ShowDialog();

I don't know of a way to remove the cancel button.

Answer 2

Cast the ProgressDialog as IProgressor to .Hide the progressor. Cast to IProgressDialog to set CancelEnabled to true.