In the previous grammar point, we learned that
たところ (or
ていたところ) will mean ‘just did (A)’, or ‘was just doing (A)’.
ているところ works in a similar way, but expresses that someone is right in the middle of doing something. It is regularly translated as ‘doing (A) right now’, or ‘in the process of (A)’.
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仕事（しごと）をしているところ だから後（あと）で電話（でんわ）するね。
I am in the middle of work right now, so I will call you later, okay?
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昨日（きのう）は近所（きんじょ）で泥棒（どろぼう）が警察（けいさつ）から逃（に）げているところ を見（み）た。
Yesterday, I saw a burglar running away from the police in my neighborhood.
Using
ているところ will indicate that someone is ‘busy with (A)’, and would therefore not be used when changing actions suddenly. In these cases
ているところ だった would be used, before the (B) phrase would further explain what happened next.
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映画（えいが）を見（み）ているところ だったから電話（でんわ）に出（で）れなかった。
I was in the middle of watching a movie, so I couldn’t answer the phone.
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ギターを弾（ひ）いているところ だったからメッセージに気付（きづ）かなかった。
I was in the middle of playing my guitar, so I didn’t notice your message.