For the similar purpose we use a modal form, which is sitting at the top of the screen and showing statistics while the process is going... We're using bunch of textboxes and labels and the form is refreshed on each new record...
You may use another interval, if this form would slow things down...

>I Have a Program which continuesly run on the Data server and downloads data into local server.
>
>While this is being done I want to update the user on status of the download e.g.
>
>"Download started at:"
>"Date:"
>"Time:"
>"Last record no.downloaded"
>
>things like that.
>
>How can this be achieved.
>
>Can I use an edit box on the dialog and append status string continuesly to it.
>
>One more thing how to pass this string continuesly to the form as form will be up all the time
>
>TIA
>Munish