I just about got this, but I have a small problem in the order of things going off. Specifically, in my thread() I am setting up an array that is used by a Spinner. Problem is the Spinner is all set and done basically before my thread() is finished, so it sets itself up with a null array.

How do I associate the spinners ArrayAdapter with an array that is being loaded by another thread?

I've cut the code down to what I think is necessary to understand the problem, but just let me know if more is needed. The problem occurs whether or not refreshData() is called.

Along the same lines, sometimes I want to call loadData() from the menu. Directly following loadData() if I try to fire a toast on the next line this causes a forceclose, which is also because of how I'm implementing ProgressDialog.

THANK YOU FOR LOOKING

public class CMSHome extends Activity { 

private static List<String> pmList = new ArrayList<String>();

// Instantiate helpers
PMListHelper plh = new PMListHelper();
ProjectObjectHelper poc = new ProjectObjectHelper();

// These objects hold lists and methods for dealing with them
private Employees employees;
private Projects projects;

@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.main);

    // Loads data from filesystem, or webservice if necessary
    loadData();

    // Capture spinner and associate pmList with it through ArrayAdapter
    spinner = (Spinner) findViewById(R.id.spinner);
    ArrayAdapter<String> adapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(
                    this, android.R.layout.simple_spinner_item,
                    pmList);
    adapter.setDropDownViewResource(android.R.layout.simple_spinner_dropdown_item);
    spinner.setAdapter(adapter);

    //---the button is wired to an event handler---
    Button btn1 = (Button)findViewById(R.id.btnGetProjects);
    btn1.setOnClickListener(btnListAllProjectsListener);
    spinner.setOnItemSelectedListener(new MyOnItemSelectedListener());
}


private void loadData()
{
    final ProgressDialog pd = ProgressDialog.show(this,
            "Please wait", "Loading Data...", true, false);

    new Thread(new Runnable(){
        public void run(){
            employees = plh.deserializeEmployeeData();
            projects = poc.deserializeProjectData();

            // Check to see if data actually loaded, if not then refresh
            if ((employees == null) || (projects == null)) {
                refreshData();
            }

            // Load up pmList for spinner control
            pmList = employees.getPMList();

            pd.dismiss();
        }
    }).start();
}

private void refreshData()
{
    // Refresh data for Projects
    projects = poc.refreshData();
    poc.saveProjectData(mCtx, projects);

    // Refresh data for PMList          
    employees = plh.refreshData();
    plh.savePMData(mCtx, employees);
}
}

<---- EDIT -----> I tried changing loadData() to the following after Jims suggestion. Not sure if I did this right, still doesn't work:

private void loadData()
{
    final ProgressDialog pd = ProgressDialog.show(this,
            "Please wait", "Loading Data...", true, false);

    new Thread(new Runnable(){
        public void run(){
            employees = plh.deserializeEmployeeData();
            projects = poc.deserializeProjectData();

            // Check to see if data actually loaded, if not return false
            if ((employees == null) || (projects == null)) {
                refreshData();
            }

            pd.dismiss();

            runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
                public void run(){
                    // Load up pmList for spinner control
                    pmList = employees.getPMList();
                }
            });
        }
    }).start();
}