Create event and share variables - multithreading

Question

I am using Delphi 2007 and threads.
My problem (sorry, i'll try to explain better):
1) I created a file "utilities.pas" where i have the function i use more.
2) I created a new program, in this program i have one thread
3) in the execute method of the thread i call one function in my file "utilities.pas".
this function connects to an ftp using clever components (tclftp). This components logs the server responce in a dedicated event. What i would like to do is to save the log in a stringlist and then send the stringlist back to the calling thread.
This is part of the file "utilities.pas":
// I created TEventHandlers because it's the only way to assign the event runtime
// without having a class
type
TEventHandlers = class
procedure clFtp1SendCommand(Sender: TObject; const AText: string);
end;
var EvHandler: TEventHandlers;
// this is the porcedure called from the thread. i want to send the stringlist
// back to it containing the ftp log
procedure Test(VAR slMain: tStringlist);
var cFTP: TclFtp;
begin
cFTP := TclFtp.Create(nil);
cFTP.Server := 'XXX';
cFTP.UserName := 'XXX';
cFTP.Password := 'XXX';
cFTP.OnSendCommand := EvHandler.clFtp1SendCommand;
// i connect to the ftp
cFTP.Open;
FreeAndNil(cFTP);
end;
procedure TEventHandlers.clFtp1SendCommand(Sender: TObject; const AText: string);
begin
// here the component (cftp) sends me back the answer from the server.
// i am logging it
// HERE IT'S THE PROBLEM:
// I can't reach slMain from here.....
slmain.add(Atext);
end;
this is the calling thread:
procedure TCalcThread.Execute;
var slMain: tstringlist;
begin
inherited;
slmain := tstringlist.create(nil);
Test(slmain);
if slMain.count > 0 then
slMain.savetofile('c:\a.txt');
// i won't free the list box now, but in the thread terminated.
end;
this is the main program:
procedure TfMain.ThreadTerminated(Sender: TObject);
Var ExThread: TCalcThread;
begin
ExThread := (Sender as TCalcThread);
if ExThread.slMain.Count > 0 then
ExThread.slMain.SaveToFile('LOG\Errori.log');
freeandnil(slMain);
end;
Please can anybody help me in solving this? I really don't know what to do.
I hope now it more clear.
p.s. thanks for all the answer..

Answer 1

Another approach would be to have your thread object have its own instance of the stringlist and its own cFTP. If you need to have one "master thread" that everything writes to (perhaps for a summary of what each thread accomplished), use this class:
TThreadStringList by Tilo Eckert
http://www.swissdelphicenter.ch/torry/showcode.php?id=2167

Answer 2

I think one (BAD) approach would be to create a pool of components in the main thread or at design time, and assign one to each thread. i.e. 5 instances of cFTP, 5 stringlists, 5 threads.
Update: Martin James points out why this is a terrible idea, and I agree. So don't do this. Post stays as a deterrent.

Answer 3

Intercept the event within the thread class, and fire an own typed event from within that handler. Synchronize this call! And try to prevent the global variable. All this as follows:
type
TFtpSendCommandEvent = procedure(Mail: TStrings; const AText: String) of object;
TMyThread = class(TThread)
private
FclFtp: TclFtp;
FslMail: TStrings;
FOnFtpSendCommand: TFtpSendCommandEvent;
FText: String;
procedure clFtpSendCommand(Sender: TObject; const AText: String);
procedure DoFtpSendCommand;
protected
procedure Execute; override;
public
// You could add this property as parameter to the constructor to prevent the
// need to assign it separately
property OnFtpSendCommand: TFtpSendCommandEvent read FOnFtpSendCommand
write FOnFtpSendCommand;
end;
// If you dont want to make this a property or private field of the thread class:
var
EvHandler: TFtpSendCommandEvent;
{ TMyThread }
procedure TMyThread.clFtpSendCommand(Sender: TObject; const AText: string);
begin
// Store the AText parameter temporarily in a private field: Synchronize only
// takes a parameterless method
FText := AText;
Synchronize(DoFtpSendCommand);
end;
procedure TMyThread.DoFtpSendCommand;
begin
if Assigned(FOnFtpSendCommand) then
FOnFtpSendCommand(FslMail, FText);
// Or, if you really like to use that global variable:
if Assigned(EvHandler) then
EvHandler(FslMail, FText);
end;
procedure TMyThread.Execute;
begin
...
FclFtp := TclFtp.Create(nil);
FslMail := TStringList.Create(nil);
try
FclFtp.Server := 'XXX';
FclFtp.UserName := 'XXX';
FclFtp.Password := 'XXX';
FclFtp.OnSendCommand := clFtpSendCommand;
FclFtp.Open;
finally
FreeAndNil(FclFtp);
FreeAndNil(FslMail);
end;
...
end;