Converting an Unnamed Thread to a Named Thread

You can convert an unnamed thread to a named thread. For example, if you have a thread class that was created using Delphi 6 or earlier, convert it into a named thread.

To convert an unnamed thread to a named thread

Add the Windows unit to the uses clause of the unit your thread is declared in:

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//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
uses
Classes {$IFDEF MSWINDOWS} , Windows {$ENDIF};
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Add the SetName method to your thread class in the interface section:

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//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
type
TMyThread = class(TThread)
private
procedure SetName;
protected
procedure Execute; override;
end;
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
void TMyThread::SetName()
{
THREADNAME_INFO info;
info.dwType = 0x1000;
info.szName = "MyThreadName";
info.dwThreadID = -1;
info.dwFlags = 0;
__try
{
RaiseException( 0x406D1388, 0, sizeof(info)/sizeof(DWORD),(DWORD*)&info );
}
__except (EXCEPTION_CONTINUE_EXECUTION)
{
}
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Add the TThreadNameInfo record and SetName method in the implementation section:

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//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
{$IFDEF MSWINDOWS}
type
TThreadNameInfo = record
FType: LongWord;     // must be 0x1000
FName: PChar;        // pointer to name (in user address space)
FThreadID: LongWord; // thread ID (-1 indicates caller thread)
FFlags: LongWord;    // reserved for future use, must be zero
  end;
{$ENDIF}
{ TMyThread }
procedure TMyThread.SetName;
{$IFDEF MSWINDOWS}
var
ThreadNameInfo: TThreadNameInfo;
{$ENDIF}
begin
{$IFDEF MSWINDOWS}
ThreadNameInfo.FType := $1000;
ThreadNameInfo.FName := 'MyThreadName';
ThreadNameInfo.FThreadID := $FFFFFFFF;
ThreadNameInfo.FFlags := 0;
try
RaiseException( $406D1388, 0, sizeof(ThreadNameInfo) div sizeof(LongWord), @ThreadNameInfo );
 except
  end;
{$ENDIF}
end;
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: Set TThreadNameInfo to the name of your thread class.

The debugger sees the exception and looks up the thread name in the structure you pass in. When debugging, the debugger displays the name of the thread in the Thread Status box's thread ID field.

Add a call to the new SetName method at the beginning of your thread's Execute method:

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//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
procedure TMyThread.Execute;
begin
SetName;
{ Place thread code here }
end;
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
void __fastcall TMyThread::Execute()
{
SetName();
//---- Place existing Execute method code here ----
}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------