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MessageBox with a timeout for .NET

By , 12 Aug 2004
 

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)

About the Author

RodgerB
Software Developer (Senior) Bloomberg
United States United States
No Biography provided

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QuestionGracias CApo! Pinmemberovamendocino23-Feb-13 5:37 
QuestionThanks Pinmembervasanthkumarmk17-Aug-12 2:40 
Really very useful this code. Thanks a lot
Questionit does not work when we use servicenotification message box (please suggest something) Pinmemberhsubhashis4-Jun-12 23:20 
GeneralWow PinmemberWabiSabi16-Oct-11 4:52 
GeneralConverted to C++/CLI PinmemberSharjith1-Sep-11 9:07 
GeneralThank you! PinmemberChrisKane15-May-11 22:19 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pinmembermatrixology4-May-11 5:06 
GeneralIts not working with DefaultDesktopOnly/ ServiceNotification option Pinmemberkirangiri4-Jan-11 7:26 
GeneralIts not working with DefaultDesktopOnly/ ServiceNotification option Pinmemberkirangiri4-Jan-11 7:26 
GeneralMy vote of 5 PinmemberFrancesco Pasquesi1-Dec-10 3:10 
GeneralSome enhancements PinmemberDanielLey25-Sep-10 6:59 
GeneralMy vote of 5 PinmemberTomChantler22-Sep-10 4:59 
GeneralThis isn't working in win7, Visual Studio 2008 PinmemberMr C P9-Mar-10 23:10 
Generalgood article PinmemberDonsw17-Jan-09 17:51 
GeneralVery very very good code, but... Pinmemberseb.4924-Apr-08 5:20 
QuestionDoes this support multi threading calls PinmemberKanna22-Mar-08 5:23 
GeneralPocketPC Pinmemberrichardjjs14-Apr-07 21:56 
GeneralAmazing Pinmemberazam's13-Feb-07 18:21 
QuestionHow to implement in CF PinmemberAjatashatru13-Sep-06 3:19 
GeneralServiceNotification PinmemberRyan McFarren5-Jun-06 10:23 
QuestionMessageBoxTimeOut API function? Pinmembereshipman13-Dec-04 3:42 
GeneralAppDomain.GetCurrentThreadId() is deprecated with Visual Studio 2005 Beta 1 PinsussAnonymous13-Oct-04 12:51 
GeneralThanks a lot Pinmemberaemmons6-Oct-04 9:54 
Generalpicture PinmemberTaha Zayed24-Sep-04 15:55 
GeneralNamespace Errors when trying to build PinmemberLordRhys3-Sep-04 6:49 
GeneralYou beat me to it. PinmemberAshaman13-Aug-04 2:54 

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