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MessageBox with a timeout for .NET

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4.83/5 (53 votes)
12 Aug 2004CPOL1 min read 264.7K   12.5K   72   52
Just like MessageBox.Show but with an added timeout parameter

Introduction

Have you ever wanted a message box that times out? Well here you go.

Using the code

  1. Add MessageBoxEx.cs to your project or assembly your project references.
  2. Change MessageBox.Show(...); calls to MessageBoxEx.Show(..., timeout);.
  3. That's it!

Notes

  1. MessageBoxEx has all 12 of the MessageBox.Show overloads.
  2. The timeout is expressed in milliseconds.
  3. MessageBoxEx does not support reentrancy. Good thing too. Why would you want to have more than one message box at the same time?
  4. If the user doesn't press a button before the timeout elapses the function will return the DialogResult of the messagebox dialogs default button.

How does it work?

Just before calling MessageBox.Show(...), SetWindowsHookEx(WH_CALLWNDPROCRET, ...) is called. The hook proc looks for a WM_INITDIALOG on a window with text equal to the message box caption. A windows timer is started on that window with the appropriate timeout. When the timeout fires EndDialog is called with the result set to the dialog default button ID. You can get that ID by sending a dialog box a DM_GETDEFID message. Pretty simple.

References

KB318804: HOW TO: Set a Windows Hook in Visual C#.NET

Acknowledgements

GipsySoft: http://www.gipsysoft.com/messagebox. You'll find a C++ implementation with many more features.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Software Developer (Senior) Adobe, LLC
United States United States
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Comments and Discussions

 
QuestionAwesomesauce! Pin
Blerghl4-Dec-15 16:45
Blerghl4-Dec-15 16:45 
QuestionHow to set icon MessageBox display on Windows Taskbar ? Pin
Member 1139632522-Jan-15 20:37
Member 1139632522-Jan-15 20:37 
AnswerRe: How to set icon MessageBox display on Windows Taskbar ? Pin
Member 1084242722-Jan-15 22:22
Member 1084242722-Jan-15 22:22 
QuestionSystem.AppDomain.GetCurrentThreadId()' is obsolete Pin
Member 1034965229-Oct-13 5:10
Member 1034965229-Oct-13 5:10 
QuestionGracias CApo! Pin
ovamendocino23-Feb-13 5:37
ovamendocino23-Feb-13 5:37 
QuestionThanks Pin
vasanthkumarmk17-Aug-12 2:40
vasanthkumarmk17-Aug-12 2:40 
Questionit does not work when we use servicenotification message box (please suggest something) Pin
hsubhashis4-Jun-12 23:20
hsubhashis4-Jun-12 23:20 
AnswerRe: it does not work when we use servicenotification message box (please suggest something) Pin
RodgerB4-Jun-12 23:34
RodgerB4-Jun-12 23:34 
GeneralWow Pin
WabiSabi16-Oct-11 4:52
WabiSabi16-Oct-11 4:52 
GeneralConverted to C++/CLI Pin
Sharjith1-Sep-11 9:07
professionalSharjith1-Sep-11 9:07 
GeneralRe: Converted to C++/CLI Pin
RodgerB1-Sep-11 9:28
RodgerB1-Sep-11 9:28 
GeneralThank you! Pin
ChrisKane15-May-11 22:19
ChrisKane15-May-11 22:19 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
matrixology4-May-11 5:06
matrixology4-May-11 5:06 
GeneralIts not working with DefaultDesktopOnly/ ServiceNotification option Pin
kirangiri4-Jan-11 7:26
kirangiri4-Jan-11 7:26 
GeneralIts not working with DefaultDesktopOnly/ ServiceNotification option Pin
kirangiri4-Jan-11 7:26
kirangiri4-Jan-11 7:26 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Francesco Pasquesi1-Dec-10 3:10
Francesco Pasquesi1-Dec-10 3:10 
GeneralSome enhancements PinPopular
Daniel Leykauf25-Sep-10 6:59
Daniel Leykauf25-Sep-10 6:59 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Tom Chantler22-Sep-10 4:59
professionalTom Chantler22-Sep-10 4:59 
GeneralThis isn't working in win7, Visual Studio 2008 Pin
Mr C P9-Mar-10 23:10
Mr C P9-Mar-10 23:10 
GeneralRe: This isn't working in win7, Visual Studio 2008 Pin
Mr C P9-Mar-10 23:15
Mr C P9-Mar-10 23:15 
GeneralRe: This isn't working in win7, Visual Studio 2008 Pin
Tom Chantler22-Sep-10 5:00
professionalTom Chantler22-Sep-10 5:00 
Generalgood article Pin
Donsw17-Jan-09 17:51
Donsw17-Jan-09 17:51 
GeneralVery very very good code, but... Pin
seb.4924-Apr-08 5:20
seb.4924-Apr-08 5:20 
QuestionDoes this support multi threading calls Pin
Kanna22-Mar-08 5:23
Kanna22-Mar-08 5:23 
GeneralRe: Does this support multi threading calls Pin
RodgerB31-Mar-08 13:00
RodgerB31-Mar-08 13:00 

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