--- a/api.progress/src/org/netbeans/api/progress/ProgressHandleFactory.java	Thu Dec 19 13:22:41 2013 +0100
+++ a/api.progress/src/org/netbeans/api/progress/ProgressHandleFactory.java	Thu Dec 19 14:41:43 2013 +0100
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ 
 
 package org.netbeans.api.progress;
 
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
 import javax.swing.Action;
 import javax.swing.JComponent;
 import javax.swing.JLabel;
@@ -111,6 +112,26 @@ 
     }
     
     /**
+     * Create a progress ui handle for a long lasting task.
+     * @param allowToCancel either null, if the task cannot be cancelled or 
+     *          an instance of {@link org.openide.util.Cancellable} that will be called when user 
+     *          triggers cancel of the task.
+     * @param suspendAndResume either <code>null</code> if this task does not
+     *    support user initiated suspend/resume or an instance of a callback
+     *    interface to propagate user control of progress to the task
+     * @param linkOutput an <code>Action</code> instance that links the running task in the progress bar
+     *                   to an output of the task. The action is assumed to open the apropriate component with the task's output.
+     * @param displayName to be shown in the progress UI
+     * @return an instance of {@link org.netbeans.api.progress.ProgressHandle}, initialized but not started.
+     * @since XXX
+     */
+    public static ProgressHandle createHandle(
+        String displayName, Cancellable allowToCancel, Resumable suspendAndResume, Action linkOutput
+    ) {
+        return new ProgressHandle(new InternalHandle(displayName, allowToCancel, suspendAndResume, true, linkOutput));
+    }
+    
+    /**
      * Get the progress bar component for use in custom dialogs, the task won't 
      * show in the progress bar anymore.
      * @return the component to use in custom UI.
--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ 8023922119fe	Thu Dec 19 14:41:43 2013 +0100
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@ 
+/*
+ * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS HEADER.
+ *
+ * Copyright 2013 Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates.
+ * Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
+ *
+ * The contents of this file are subject to the terms of either the GNU
+ * General Public License Version 2 only ("GPL") or the Common
+ * Development and Distribution License("CDDL") (collectively, the
+ * "License"). You may not use this file except in compliance with the
+ * License. You can obtain a copy of the License at
+ * http://www.netbeans.org/cddl-gplv2.html
+ * or nbbuild/licenses/CDDL-GPL-2-CP. See the License for the
+ * specific language governing permissions and limitations under the
+ * License.  When distributing the software, include this License Header
+ * Notice in each file and include the License file at
+ * nbbuild/licenses/CDDL-GPL-2-CP.  Oracle designates this
+ * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
+ * by Oracle in the GPL Version 2 section of the License file that
+ * accompanied this code. If applicable, add the following below the
+ * License Header, with the fields enclosed by brackets [] replaced by
+ * your own identifying information:
+ * "Portions Copyrighted [year] [name of copyright owner]"
+ *
+ * If you wish your version of this file to be governed by only the CDDL
+ * or only the GPL Version 2, indicate your decision by adding
+ * "[Contributor] elects to include this software in this distribution
+ * under the [CDDL or GPL Version 2] license." If you do not indicate a
+ * single choice of license, a recipient has the option to distribute
+ * your version of this file under either the CDDL, the GPL Version 2 or
+ * to extend the choice of license to its licensees as provided above.
+ * However, if you add GPL Version 2 code and therefore, elected the GPL
+ * Version 2 license, then the option applies only if the new code is
+ * made subject to such option by the copyright holder.
+ *
+ * Contributor(s):
+ *
+ * Portions Copyrighted 2013 Sun Microsystems, Inc.
+ */
+
+package org.netbeans.api.progress;
+
+/** A callback interface for long running tasks that wish to give
+ * the user a chance to suspend them and resume later. See
+ * {@link ProgressHandleFactory#createHandle(java.lang.String, org.openide.util.Cancellable, org.netbeans.api.progress.Resumable, javax.swing.Action)}
+ * factory method that accepts it.
+ *
+ * @author Jaroslav Tulach <jtulach@netbeans.org>
+ * @since XXX
+ */
+public interface Resumable {
+    
+}
--- a/api.progress/src/org/netbeans/modules/progress/spi/InternalHandle.java	Thu Dec 19 13:22:41 2013 +0100
+++ a/api.progress/src/org/netbeans/modules/progress/spi/InternalHandle.java	Thu Dec 19 14:41:43 2013 +0100
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ 
 import javax.swing.Action;
 import javax.swing.JComponent;
 import javax.swing.JLabel;
+import org.netbeans.api.progress.Resumable;
 import org.netbeans.progress.module.*;
 import org.openide.util.Cancellable;
 import org.openide.util.Lookup;
@@ -78,6 +79,7 @@ 
     private long timeSleepy = 0;
     private String lastMessage;
     private final Cancellable cancelable;
+    private final Resumable resumable;
     private final Action viewAction;
     private final boolean userInitiated;
     private int initialDelay = Controller.INITIAL_DELAY;
@@ -98,12 +100,33 @@ 
                    Cancellable cancel,
                    boolean userInitiated,
                    Action view) {
+        this(displayName, cancel, null, userInitiated, view);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * 
+     * @param displayName
+     * @param cancel
+     * @param suspendAndResume
+     * @param userInitiated
+     * @param view 
+     * 
+     * @since XXX
+     */
+    public InternalHandle(
+        String displayName, 
+        Cancellable cancel,
+        Resumable suspendAndResume,
+        boolean userInitiated,
+        Action view
+    ) {
         this.displayName = displayName;
         this.userInitiated = userInitiated;
         state = STATE_INITIALIZED;
         totalUnits = 0;
         lastMessage = null;
         cancelable = cancel;
+        this.resumable = suspendAndResume;
         viewAction = view;
     }
 
@@ -118,6 +141,14 @@ 
         return state;
     }
     
+    /**
+     * @return if the handle can be suspended and resumed
+     * @since XXX
+     */
+    public boolean isResumable() {
+        return resumable != null;
+    }
+    
     public boolean isAllowCancel() {
         return cancelable != null && !isCustomPlaced();
     }