NotifyWindow: A different MSN Messenger style notification window

Hi Jisha-

You probably want to display the NotifyWindow() indirectly using Invoke() or BeginInvoke(). You can probably find excellent examples of how to do this in various articles on this site.

Regards,
Robert

Hi,
Thanks a lot. I got that working using MethodInvoker and BeginInvoke for calling the notifywindow

Jisha

Can you please please share your code with me? I tried making notifywindow work using threadstart...but no luck. and tried they way you mentioned. Can you please show you code?

thanks

<br />
    this.BeginInvoke(new MethodInvoker(delegate()<br />
    {<br />
         NotifyWindow alertWindow = new NotifyWindow("Test");<br />
         alertWindow.Notify();<br />
    }<br />

Manjit Sooch wrote:
Can you please please share your code with me? I tried making notifywindow work using threadstart...but no luck. and tried they way you mentioned. Can you please show you code?

public delegate void Show_Notify(NotifyWindow nw);

//The code is in somewhere that call NotifyWindow
object[] myArray = new object[1];
myArray[0] = new NotifyWindow(title, text);
this.BeginInvoke(new Show_Notify(ShowNotify), myArray);   

//The method
private  void ShowNotify(NotifyWindow nw)
{
     nw.SetDimensions(200, 150);
     nw.Notify();
}

Can you post your solution please?

Hi,

I tried to use invoke but I get this exeption "Invoke or BeginInvoke cannot be called on a control until the window handle has been created."

CODE:

C#

public delegate void Show_Notify(NotifyWindow nw);

 object[] myArray = new object[1];
 myArray[0] = new NotifyWindow("title", "text");
 this.BeginInvoke(new Show_Notify(ShowNotify), myArray);

N00b

Hi there,

Nice code! Thanks very much. I have just amended it to allow stacking of messages above each other (i.e. upwards towards the top of the screen) like Messenger does

Apologies for the cut n' paste (not sure how else to send it.)

John Wood

// NotifyWindow.cs<br />
// Copyright © 2004 by Robert Misiak <rmisiak@users.sourceforge.net><br />
// All Rights Reserved.<br />
//<br />
// Permission is granted to use, modify and distribute this code, as long as credit is given to the original author, and the copyright notice<br />
// is retained.<br />
//<br />
// Based on a similar implementation used in ChronosXP, an open-source project:  http://chronosxp.sourceforge.net<br />
//<br />
// JW 29/03/2006: Added code to allow multiple windows to show in a stacked layout, each <br />
//                higher up than the other so they don't overlay each other anymore. This is <br />
//                how MSN Messenger shows them. <br />
//<br />
//                Also there is a parameter to prevent ignore calls if there are already<br />
//                lots of windows being shown. <br />
<br />
<br />
using System;<br />
using System.Drawing;<br />
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;<br />
using System.Reflection;<br />
using System.Windows.Forms;<br />
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;<br />
<br />
namespace NotifyWindow<br />
{<br />
	/// <summary><br />
	/// Display An MSN-Messenger-Style NotifyWindow.<br />
	/// </summary><br />
	public class NotifyWindow : System.Windows.Forms.Form<br />
	{<br />
		<br />
		//Used to keep track of which windows are active<br />
		//This stores NotifyWindow objects.<br />
		static System.Collections.ArrayList activeWindows = new System.Collections.ArrayList();<br />
<br />
		//JW: The max number of windows to display at once<br />
		public int MaxActiveWindows= 6; //6 is about right for my screen<br />
<br />
		#region Public Variables<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets the title text to be displayed in the NotifyWindow.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public string Title;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets the Font used for the title text.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public System.Drawing.Font TitleFont;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets the Font used when the mouse hovers over the main body of text.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public System.Drawing.Font HoverFont;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets the Font used when the mouse hovers over the title text.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public System.Drawing.Font TitleHoverFont;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets the style used when drawing the background of the NotifyWindow.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public BackgroundStyles BackgroundStyle;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets the Blend used when drawing a gradient background for the NotifyWindow.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public System.Drawing.Drawing2D.Blend Blend;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets the StringFormat used when drawing text in the NotifyWindow.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public System.Drawing.StringFormat StringFormat;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets a value specifiying whether or not the window should continue to be displayed if the mouse cursor is inside the bounds<br />
		/// of the NotifyWindow.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public bool WaitOnMouseOver;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// An EventHandler called when the NotifyWindow main text is clicked.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public event System.EventHandler TextClicked;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// An EventHandler called when the NotifyWindow title text is clicked.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public event System.EventHandler TitleClicked;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets the color of the title text.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public System.Drawing.Color TitleColor;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets the color of the NotifyWindow main text.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public System.Drawing.Color TextColor;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets the gradient color which will be blended in drawing the background.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public System.Drawing.Color GradientColor;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets the color of text when the user clicks on it.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public System.Drawing.Color PressedColor;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets the amount of milliseconds to display the NotifyWindow for.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public int WaitTime;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets the full height of the NotifyWindow, used after the opening animation has been completed.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public int ActualHeight;<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Gets or sets the full width of the NotifyWindow.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public int ActualWidth;<br />
<br />
		public enum BackgroundStyles { BackwardDiagonalGradient, ForwardDiagonalGradient, HorizontalGradient, VerticalGradient, Solid };<br />
		public enum ClockStates { Opening, Closing, Showing, None };<br />
		public ClockStates ClockState;<br />
		#endregion<br />
<br />
		#region Protected Variables<br />
		protected bool closePressed = false, textPressed = false, titlePressed = false, closeHot = false, textHot = false, titleHot = false;<br />
		protected Rectangle rClose, rText, rTitle, rDisplay, rScreen, rGlobClose, rGlobText, rGlobTitle, rGlobDisplay;<br />
		protected System.Windows.Forms.Timer viewClock;<br />
		#endregion<br />
<br />
		#region Constructor<br />
		/// <param name="title">Title text displayed in the NotifyWindow</param><br />
		/// <param name="text">Main text displayedin the NotifyWindow</param><br />
		public NotifyWindow (string title, string text) : this() { Title = title; Text = text; }<br />
		/// <param name="text">Text displayed in the NotifyWindow</param><br />
		public NotifyWindow (string text) : this() { Text = text; }<br />
		public NotifyWindow()<br />
		{<br />
			SetStyle (ControlStyles.UserMouse, true);<br />
			SetStyle (ControlStyles.UserPaint, true);<br />
			SetStyle (ControlStyles.AllPaintingInWmPaint, true);		// WmPaint calls OnPaint and OnPaintBackground<br />
			SetStyle (ControlStyles.DoubleBuffer, true);<br />
<br />
			ShowInTaskbar = false;<br />
			FormBorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.None;<br />
			StartPosition = System.Windows.Forms.FormStartPosition.Manual;<br />
<br />
			// Default values<br />
			BackgroundStyle = BackgroundStyles.VerticalGradient;<br />
			ClockState = ClockStates.None;<br />
			BackColor = Color.SteelBlue;<br />
			GradientColor = Color.WhiteSmoke;<br />
			PressedColor = Color.Gray;<br />
			TitleColor = SystemColors.ControlText;<br />
			TextColor = SystemColors.ControlText;<br />
			WaitOnMouseOver = true;<br />
			ActualWidth = 130;<br />
			ActualHeight = 110;<br />
			WaitTime = 11000;<br />
		}<br />
		#endregion<br />
<br />
		#region Public Methods<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Sets the width and height of the NotifyWindow.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public void SetDimensions (int width, int height)<br />
		{<br />
			ActualWidth = width;<br />
			ActualHeight = height;<br />
		}<br />
<br />
<br />
		//JW: How much to adjust the height by (allows stacking of boxes)<br />
		private int heightAdjustment = 0;<br />
<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Displays the NotifyWindow.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		public void Notify()<br />
		{<br />
			//JW: Prevent multiple displays<br />
			if (activeWindows.Count > MaxActiveWindows)<br />
			{<br />
				//Should we dispose now?<br />
				this.Dispose(true);<br />
				return;<br />
			}<br />
<br />
			if (Text == null || Text.Length < 1)<br />
				throw new System.Exception ("You must set NotifyWindow.Text before calling Notify()");<br />
<br />
			Width = ActualWidth;<br />
			rScreen = Screen.GetWorkingArea (Screen.PrimaryScreen.Bounds);<br />
			Height = 0;<br />
			Top = rScreen.Bottom;<br />
			Left = rScreen.Width - Width - 11;<br />
<br />
			//JW: Work out the stacking adjustment<br />
			//{{{<br />
			heightAdjustment = activeWindows.Count * this.ActualHeight;<br />
			Top -= heightAdjustment;<br />
<br />
			//Record that the window exists in the static member<br />
			activeWindows.Add(this);<br />
			//}}}<br />
			<br />
<br />
			if (HoverFont == null)<br />
				HoverFont = new Font (Font, Font.Style | FontStyle.Underline);<br />
			if (TitleFont == null)<br />
				TitleFont = Font;<br />
			if (TitleHoverFont == null)<br />
				TitleHoverFont = new Font (TitleFont, TitleFont.Style | FontStyle.Underline);<br />
			if (this.StringFormat == null)<br />
			{<br />
				this.StringFormat = new StringFormat();<br />
				this.StringFormat.Alignment = StringAlignment.Center;<br />
				this.StringFormat.LineAlignment = StringAlignment.Center;<br />
				this.StringFormat.Trimming = StringTrimming.EllipsisWord;<br />
			}<br />
<br />
			rDisplay = new Rectangle (0, 0, Width, ActualHeight);<br />
			rClose = new Rectangle (Width - 21, 10, 13, 13);<br />
<br />
			int offset;<br />
			if (Title != null)<br />
			{<br />
				using (Graphics fx = CreateGraphics())<br />
				{<br />
					SizeF sz = fx.MeasureString (Title, TitleFont, ActualWidth - rClose.Width - 22, this.StringFormat);<br />
					rTitle = new Rectangle (11, 12, (int) Math.Ceiling (sz.Width), (int) Math.Ceiling (sz.Height));<br />
					offset = (int) Math.Max (Math.Ceiling (sz.Height + rTitle.Top + 2), rClose.Bottom + 5);<br />
				}<br />
			}<br />
			else<br />
			{<br />
				offset = rClose.Bottom + 1;<br />
				rTitle = new Rectangle (-1, -1, 1, 1);<br />
			}<br />
<br />
			rText = new Rectangle (11, offset, ActualWidth - 22, ActualHeight - (int)(offset * 1.5));<br />
			// rGlob* are Rectangle's Offset'ed to their actual position on the screen, for use with Cursor.Position.<br />
			rGlobClose = rClose;<br />
			rGlobClose.Offset (Left, rScreen.Bottom - ActualHeight);<br />
			rGlobText = rText;<br />
			rGlobText.Offset (Left, rScreen.Bottom - ActualHeight);<br />
			rGlobTitle = rTitle;<br />
			if (Title != null)<br />
				rGlobTitle.Offset (Left, rScreen.Bottom - ActualHeight);<br />
			rGlobDisplay = rDisplay;<br />
			rGlobDisplay.Offset (Left, rScreen.Bottom - ActualHeight);<br />
			rGlobClose = rClose;<br />
			rGlobClose.Offset (Left, rScreen.Bottom - ActualHeight);<br />
			rGlobDisplay = rDisplay;<br />
			rGlobDisplay.Offset (Left, rScreen.Bottom - ActualHeight);<br />
<br />
			// Use unmanaged ShowWindow() and SetWindowPos() instead of the managed Show() to display the window - this method will display<br />
			// the window TopMost, but without stealing focus (namely the SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE and SWP_NOACTIVATE flags)<br />
			ShowWindow (Handle, SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE);<br />
			<br />
			//JW Note heightAdjustment<br />
			//was:<br />
			//  SetWindowPos (Handle, HWND_TOPMOST, rScreen.Width - ActualWidth - 11, rScreen.Bottom, ActualWidth, 0, SWP_NOACTIVATE);<br />
			SetWindowPos (Handle, HWND_TOPMOST, rScreen.Width - ActualWidth - 11, rScreen.Bottom - heightAdjustment, ActualWidth, 0, SWP_NOACTIVATE);<br />
<br />
			viewClock = new System.Windows.Forms.Timer();<br />
			viewClock.Tick += new System.EventHandler (viewTimer);<br />
			viewClock.Interval = 1;<br />
			viewClock.Start();<br />
<br />
			ClockState = ClockStates.Opening;<br />
		}<br />
		#endregion<br />
<br />
		#region Drawing<br />
		protected override void OnPaint (System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)<br />
		{<br />
			// Draw the close button and text.<br />
			drawCloseButton (e.Graphics);<br />
<br />
			Font useFont;  Color useColor;<br />
			if (Title != null)<br />
			{<br />
				if (titleHot)<br />
					useFont = TitleHoverFont;<br />
				else<br />
					useFont = TitleFont;<br />
				if (titlePressed)<br />
					useColor = PressedColor;<br />
				else<br />
					useColor = TitleColor;<br />
				using (SolidBrush sb = new SolidBrush (useColor))<br />
					e.Graphics.DrawString (Title, useFont, sb, rTitle, this.StringFormat);<br />
			}<br />
<br />
			if (textHot)<br />
				useFont = HoverFont;<br />
			else<br />
				useFont = Font;<br />
			if (textPressed)<br />
				useColor = PressedColor;<br />
			else<br />
				useColor = TextColor;<br />
			using (SolidBrush sb = new SolidBrush (useColor))<br />
				e.Graphics.DrawString (Text, useFont, sb, rText, this.StringFormat);<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		protected override void OnPaintBackground (System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)<br />
		{<br />
			// First paint the background<br />
			if (BackgroundStyle == BackgroundStyles.Solid)<br />
			{<br />
				using (SolidBrush sb = new SolidBrush (BackColor))<br />
					e.Graphics.FillRectangle (sb, rDisplay);<br />
			}<br />
			else<br />
			{<br />
				LinearGradientMode lgm;<br />
				switch (BackgroundStyle)<br />
				{<br />
					case BackgroundStyles.BackwardDiagonalGradient:<br />
						lgm = LinearGradientMode.BackwardDiagonal;<br />
						break;<br />
					case BackgroundStyles.ForwardDiagonalGradient:<br />
						lgm = LinearGradientMode.ForwardDiagonal;<br />
						break;<br />
					case BackgroundStyles.HorizontalGradient:<br />
						lgm = LinearGradientMode.Horizontal;<br />
						break;<br />
					default:<br />
					case BackgroundStyles.VerticalGradient:<br />
						lgm = LinearGradientMode.Vertical;<br />
						break;<br />
				}<br />
				using (LinearGradientBrush lgb = new LinearGradientBrush (rDisplay, GradientColor, BackColor, lgm))<br />
				{<br />
					if (this.Blend != null)<br />
						lgb.Blend = this.Blend;<br />
					e.Graphics.FillRectangle (lgb, rDisplay);<br />
				}<br />
			}<br />
<br />
			// Next draw borders...<br />
			drawBorder (e.Graphics);<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		protected virtual void drawBorder (Graphics fx)<br />
		{<br />
			fx.DrawRectangle (Pens.Silver, 2, 2, Width - 4, ActualHeight - 4);<br />
			<br />
			// Top border<br />
			fx.DrawLine (Pens.Silver, 0, 0, Width, 0);<br />
			fx.DrawLine (Pens.White, 0, 1, Width, 1);<br />
			fx.DrawLine (Pens.DarkGray, 3, 3, Width - 4, 3);<br />
			fx.DrawLine (Pens.DimGray, 4, 4, Width - 5, 4);<br />
<br />
			// Left border<br />
			fx.DrawLine (Pens.Silver, 0, 0, 0, ActualHeight);<br />
			fx.DrawLine (Pens.White, 1, 1, 1, ActualHeight);<br />
			fx.DrawLine (Pens.DarkGray, 3, 3, 3, ActualHeight - 4);<br />
			fx.DrawLine (Pens.DimGray, 4, 4, 4, ActualHeight - 5);<br />
<br />
			// Bottom border<br />
			fx.DrawLine (Pens.DarkGray, 1, ActualHeight - 1, Width - 1, ActualHeight - 1);<br />
			fx.DrawLine (Pens.White, 3, ActualHeight - 3, Width - 3, ActualHeight - 3);<br />
			fx.DrawLine (Pens.Silver, 4, ActualHeight - 4, Width - 4, ActualHeight - 4);<br />
<br />
			// Right border<br />
			fx.DrawLine (Pens.DarkGray, Width - 1, 1, Width - 1, ActualHeight - 1);<br />
			fx.DrawLine (Pens.White, Width - 3, 3, Width - 3, ActualHeight - 3);<br />
			fx.DrawLine (Pens.Silver, Width - 4, 4, Width - 4, ActualHeight - 4);<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		protected virtual void drawCloseButton (Graphics fx)<br />
		{<br />
			if (visualStylesEnabled())<br />
				drawThemeCloseButton (fx);<br />
			else<br />
				drawLegacyCloseButton (fx);<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Draw a Windows XP style close button.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		protected void drawThemeCloseButton (Graphics fx)<br />
		{<br />
			IntPtr hTheme = OpenThemeData (Handle, "Window");<br />
			if (hTheme == IntPtr.Zero)<br />
			{<br />
				drawLegacyCloseButton (fx);<br />
				return;<br />
			}<br />
			int stateId;<br />
			if (closePressed)<br />
				stateId = CBS_PUSHED;<br />
			else if (closeHot)<br />
				stateId = CBS_HOT;<br />
			else<br />
				stateId = CBS_NORMAL;<br />
			RECT reClose = new RECT (rClose);<br />
			RECT reClip = reClose; // should fx.VisibleClipBounds be used here?<br />
			IntPtr hDC = fx.GetHdc();<br />
			DrawThemeBackground (hTheme, hDC, WP_CLOSEBUTTON, stateId, ref reClose, ref reClip);<br />
			fx.ReleaseHdc (hDC);<br />
			CloseThemeData (hTheme);<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Draw a Windows 95 style close button.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		protected void drawLegacyCloseButton (Graphics fx)<br />
		{<br />
			ButtonState bState;<br />
			if (closePressed)<br />
				bState = ButtonState.Pushed;<br />
			else // the Windows 95 theme doesn't have a "hot" button<br />
				bState = ButtonState.Normal;<br />
			ControlPaint.DrawCaptionButton (fx, rClose, CaptionButton.Close, bState);<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		/// <summary><br />
		/// Determine whether or not XP Visual Styles are active.  Compatible with pre-UxTheme.dll versions of Windows.<br />
		/// </summary><br />
		protected bool visualStylesEnabled()<br />
		{<br />
			try<br />
			{<br />
				if (IsThemeActive() == 1)<br />
					return true;<br />
				else<br />
					return false;<br />
			}<br />
			catch (System.DllNotFoundException)  // pre-XP systems which don't have UxTheme.dll<br />
			{<br />
				return false;<br />
			}<br />
		}<br />
		#endregion<br />
<br />
		<br />
<br />
		#region Timers and EventHandlers<br />
		protected void viewTimer (object sender, System.EventArgs e)<br />
		{<br />
			switch (ClockState)<br />
			{<br />
				case ClockStates.Opening:<br />
					//JW: Note heightAdjustment<br />
					if (Top - 2 <= rScreen.Height - ActualHeight - heightAdjustment)<br />
					{<br />
						//JW: Note heightAdjustment<br />
						Top = rScreen.Height - ActualHeight - heightAdjustment;<br />
						Height = ActualHeight;<br />
						ClockState = ClockStates.Showing;<br />
						viewClock.Interval = WaitTime;<br />
					}<br />
					else<br />
					{<br />
						Top -= 2;<br />
						Height += 2;<br />
					}<br />
					break;<br />
<br />
				case ClockStates.Showing:<br />
					if (!WaitOnMouseOver || !rGlobDisplay.Contains (Cursor.Position))<br />
					{<br />
						viewClock.Interval = 1;<br />
						ClockState = ClockStates.Closing;<br />
					}<br />
					break;<br />
<br />
				case ClockStates.Closing:<br />
					Top += 2;<br />
					Height -= 2;<br />
					<br />
					//JW: Note heightAdjustment<br />
					if (Top >= rScreen.Height - heightAdjustment)<br />
					{<br />
						ClockState = ClockStates.None;<br />
						viewClock.Stop();<br />
						viewClock.Dispose();<br />
<br />
						//JW: Remove the item from our map<br />
						activeWindows.Remove(this);						 <br />
<br />
						Close();<br />
<br />
						//JW: Just in case...<br />
						this.Dispose(true);<br />
					}<br />
					break;<br />
			}<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		protected override void OnMouseMove (System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs e)<br />
		{<br />
			if (Title != null && rGlobTitle.Contains (Cursor.Position) && !textPressed && !closePressed)<br />
			{<br />
				Cursor = Cursors.Hand;<br />
				titleHot = true;<br />
				textHot = false;  closeHot = false;<br />
				Invalidate();<br />
			}<br />
			else if (rGlobText.Contains (Cursor.Position) && !titlePressed && !closePressed)<br />
			{<br />
				Cursor = Cursors.Hand;<br />
				textHot = true;<br />
				titleHot = false;  closeHot = false;<br />
				Invalidate();<br />
			}<br />
			else if (rGlobClose.Contains (Cursor.Position) && !titlePressed && !textPressed)<br />
			{<br />
				Cursor = Cursors.Hand;<br />
				closeHot = true;<br />
				titleHot = false;  textHot = false;<br />
				Invalidate();<br />
			}<br />
			else if ((textHot || titleHot || closeHot) && (!titlePressed && !textPressed && !closePressed))<br />
			{<br />
				Cursor = Cursors.Default;<br />
				titleHot = false;  textHot = false;  closeHot = false;<br />
				Invalidate();<br />
			}<br />
			base.OnMouseMove (e);<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		protected override void OnMouseDown (System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs e)<br />
		{<br />
			if (e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)<br />
			{<br />
				if (rGlobClose.Contains (Cursor.Position))<br />
				{<br />
					closePressed = true;<br />
					closeHot = false;<br />
					Invalidate();<br />
				}<br />
				else if (rGlobText.Contains (Cursor.Position))<br />
				{<br />
					textPressed = true;<br />
					Invalidate();<br />
				}<br />
				else if (Title != null && rGlobTitle.Contains (Cursor.Position))<br />
				{<br />
					titlePressed = true;<br />
					Invalidate();<br />
				}<br />
			}<br />
			base.OnMouseDown (e);<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		protected override void OnMouseUp (System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs e)<br />
		{<br />
			if (e.Button == MouseButtons.Left)<br />
			{<br />
				if (closePressed)<br />
				{<br />
					Cursor = Cursors.Default;<br />
					closePressed = false;<br />
					closeHot = false;<br />
					Invalidate();<br />
					if (rGlobClose.Contains (Cursor.Position))<br />
						Close();<br />
				}<br />
				else if (textPressed)<br />
				{<br />
					Cursor = Cursors.Default;<br />
					textPressed = false;<br />
					textHot = false;<br />
					Invalidate();<br />
					if (rGlobText.Contains (Cursor.Position))<br />
					{<br />
						Close();<br />
						if (TextClicked != null)<br />
							TextClicked (this, new System.EventArgs());<br />
					}<br />
				}<br />
				else if (titlePressed)<br />
				{<br />
					Cursor = Cursors.Default;<br />
					titlePressed = false;<br />
					titleHot = false;<br />
					Invalidate();<br />
					if (rGlobTitle.Contains (Cursor.Position))<br />
					{<br />
						Close();<br />
						if (TitleClicked != null)<br />
							TitleClicked (this, new System.EventArgs());<br />
					}<br />
				}<br />
			}<br />
			base.OnMouseUp (e);<br />
		}<br />
		#endregion<br />
<br />
		#region P/Invoke<br />
		// DrawThemeBackground()<br />
		protected const Int32 WP_CLOSEBUTTON = 18;<br />
		protected const Int32 CBS_NORMAL = 1;<br />
		protected const Int32 CBS_HOT = 2;<br />
		protected const Int32 CBS_PUSHED = 3;<br />
		[StructLayout (LayoutKind.Explicit)]<br />
		protected struct RECT<br />
		{<br />
			[FieldOffset (0)] public Int32 Left;<br />
			[FieldOffset (4)] public Int32 Top;<br />
			[FieldOffset (8)] public Int32 Right;<br />
			[FieldOffset (12)] public Int32 Bottom;<br />
<br />
			public RECT (System.Drawing.Rectangle bounds)<br />
			{<br />
				Left = bounds.Left;<br />
				Top = bounds.Top;<br />
				Right = bounds.Right;<br />
				Bottom = bounds.Bottom;<br />
			}<br />
		}<br />
<br />
		// SetWindowPos()<br />
		protected const Int32 HWND_TOPMOST = -1;<br />
		protected const Int32 SWP_NOACTIVATE = 0x0010;<br />
<br />
		// ShowWindow()<br />
		protected const Int32 SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE = 4;<br />
<br />
		// UxTheme.dll<br />
		[DllImport ("UxTheme.dll")]<br />
		protected static extern Int32 IsThemeActive();<br />
		[DllImport ("UxTheme.dll")]<br />
		protected static extern IntPtr OpenThemeData (IntPtr hWnd, [MarshalAs (UnmanagedType.LPTStr)] string classList);<br />
		[DllImport ("UxTheme.dll")]<br />
		protected static extern void CloseThemeData (IntPtr hTheme);<br />
		[DllImport ("UxTheme.dll")]<br />
		protected static extern void DrawThemeBackground (IntPtr hTheme, IntPtr hDC, Int32 partId, Int32 stateId, ref RECT rect, ref RECT clipRect);<br />
<br />
		// user32.dll<br />
		[DllImport ("user32.dll")]<br />
		protected static extern bool ShowWindow (IntPtr hWnd, Int32 flags);<br />
		[DllImport ("user32.dll")]<br />
		protected static extern bool SetWindowPos (IntPtr hWnd, Int32 hWndInsertAfter, Int32 X, Int32 Y, Int32 cx, Int32 cy, uint uFlags);<br />
		#endregion<br />
	}<br />
}<br />

Oops the formatting appears to be lost and I didn't realise how long my posting would be - sorry!

If anyone wants this e-mailed to them give me a shout

John

To save myself a bit of time...- can you tell me if your code includes or is in addition to the author's code?

And since you know how to do this so well, how about this:

I have searched every article on Code Project, Code Guru, etc. that I can find on Balloon tooltips.

Have you found a way to do the following:

A balloon tooltip that
1. Points to whichever control you want it to.
2. Has the usual (small) xp-ish info, warning, error icons.
3. Can optionally show a nice xp-ish close button - and of course therefore stays open indefinitely until the user decides to close it.
4. (Not as important) - Has clickable link text.
5. Is in C# and/or VB

If such an article could be posted, there would be a lot of happy people out there. I have seen a lot of articles that have some but not all of the above, and yet it seems so simple and common-sense for these features to be possible.

________
42-Huh?

Thanks a lot ... Works like charm Smile | :)

I have been having a few problems with this modified code. First, if you press the Close button or click on a link, the window is closed but it is not removed from the static ArrayList activeWindows. The next time the NotifyWindow is activated, it will appear stacked where the previous one was located if called before the timer expires. In the OnMouseUp event, "activeWindows.Remove(this)" needs to be inserted before each call to Close().

Second, for windows other than the first, clicking on the Close button does not work. The statement:

if (rGlobClose.Contains(Cursor.Position))

needs to be changed to:

if (rClose.Contains(this.PointToClient(Cursor.Position)))

So that the button rectangle is interpreted within the context of popup window and not the screen. While I have not tested it, the same change should probably be applied to the hot text and hot title functions as well.

send me the complete code plz.Thanks. Sniff | :^)

mail:atomy130@yahoo.com

How do the windows appear all the same size and get the window width of the largest

Love your application,
I was wandering how I could impliment this in a C# ASP.net Web Project. I tried something really simple as pulling over your AlertWindow.cs class into my project. Made a simple webpage WebForm1.aspx. Then added reference system.windows.forms to the project.

Here is my actual code behind under the name space:

public class WebForm1 : System.Web.UI.Page
{
protected System.Web.UI.WebControls.Button Button1;

private void Page_Load(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
}

#region Web Form Designer generated code
override protected void OnInit(EventArgs e)
{
//
// CODEGEN: This call is required by the ASP.NET Web Form Designer.
//
InitializeComponent();
base.OnInit(e);
}

///

/// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
/// the contents of this method with the code editor.
///

private void InitializeComponent()
{
this.Load += new System.EventHandler(this.Page_Load);
this.Button1.Click += new EventHandler(this.Button1_Click);

}
#endregion

protected void Button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
try
{
NotifyWindow nw;
if (true) //checkBoxTitle.Checked
{
nw = new NotifyWindow ("Test Title", "Notification");
nw.TitleClicked += new System.EventHandler (titleClick);
}
//else
//nw = new NotifyWindow ("Let the bodies hit the floor");
nw.TextClicked += new System.EventHandler (textClick);
//nw.SetDimensions ((int) numericUpDownWidth.Value, (int) numericUpDownHeight.Value);
nw.SetDimensions (300, 300);
nw.Notify();
}
catch(Exception exc)
{
string strExceptionMessage = exc.Message;
}
}

protected void titleClick (object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
MessageBox.Show ("Title text clicked");
}

protected void textClick (object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
MessageBox.Show ("Text clicked");
}
}
}
Leaving your code with the NotifyWindow.cs exactly the same.

It compiles with no errors. When debug and step thru it steps through mine then yours no problem. Only problem is the window NotifyWindow does not show at all.

Thanks in Advance,

Todd

MrAnimal

This is rather a newbie question. However, I think a lot of people have pondered this one when they start out with .NET.

Its not possible to have the Windows.Forms libraries draw anything to the screen from asp.net. For one, which screen does it draw to? The web server's screen? the client computer (the one running Internet Explorer)? Remember these two machines could be on the opposite sides of the planet.

Do you really want websites to be able to tell your machine to run a windows form? Think of all the adverts you would receive.

Another issue is that the asp.net webpages are generated by aspnet_wp.exe. aspnet_wp.exe is (generally) run by the ASPNET user. This user only has limited security and should not have security access to create forms on the desktop. Also the aspnet_wp.exe process is not linked to a desktop else someone would have to be logged into your machine for the asp.net pages to work (think how impractical that would be in a big server room).

So, there are three of the (many) reasons why asp.net can't draw windows forms controls to the screen.

A work around you say? Yes, there is a (complicated) one. You would run a windows forms app on the machine that is to display the notification window. Your asp.net page then communicates with it via .net remoting or microsoft message queue, etc... and tells it to pop up the notification window. The windows forms app will have access to a desktop on which to draw a notfication window.

Thanks for putting this together, it is good jumping off point for something that we need to do here. Appreciate your efforts.

Dave Galligher
Director of Product Development
Cougar Mountain Software
davegalligher@cougarmtn.com
Voice: 208.375.4455 x180
Fax: 208.375.4460

What do you think about using native window... Smile | :)

We'd love to see your work if you want to take the time to code a version of your own.

As pointed out in a post later on, there's an MFC implementation available on my web site at http://www.naughter.com/toasterwnd.html

It's worth noting that this code doens't dispose of any resources it uses. You may find any app you use this in chewing up hundreds of MB in no time.

You are certainly welcome to improve the code if you feel that there are problems with it.

i have tried other similar ones on this site and this one turns out best performance of all. It is simplest and cleanest.

How u doing?
Is there is any way to bring image on this Excellent Notify Window. I got TaskNotifier code too but it using image file as background and this Notifywindow tool is more convenient that we can specify the color of the form .It will be more convenient if image get displayed in this massive notify window...Can u help me out?

Thanx in Advance,
suresh

SureshKumar

Hello!

Here's how you can include an image in your notify window:

1. Find the OnPaintBackground method and add this to the bottom of the method's code block:

Bitmap picture = new Bitmap(Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceStream("NAMESPACE.Resources.IMAGE.PNG"));<br />
e.Graphics.DrawImage(picture, 3, 3, 150, 18);

2. Change the "NAMESPACE" and "IMAGE.PNG" placeholders and the arguments in the DrawImage method according to documentation. You can add new resources to the project by adding an existing item in the Solution Explorer and setting its "Build Action" to "Embedded Resource".

Hope this helps Smile | :)

Marko

NotifyWindow: A different MSN Messenger style notification window

Introduction

Using the code

Points of Interest

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License

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