Introduction
This tip will demonstrate how to create a custom message box in WPF.
Background
We always face an issue about how we can customize a traditional message box in WPF. Here, we are going to create our own custom message box in WPF.
Using the Code
Step 1
First of all, we need to create a window with the name of 'WpfMessageBox' and create its design like below:
<Window x:Class="MySample.WpfMessageBox"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
Title="WpfMessageBox" MinHeight="160"
MinWidth="420" MaxHeight="750" MaxWidth="750"
Background="Transparent"
SizeToContent="WidthAndHeight"
WindowStartupLocation="CenterScreen"
ShowInTaskbar="False" ResizeMode="NoResize"
WindowStyle="None" Topmost="True">
<Border BorderBrush="LightSlateGray"
BorderThickness="0" CornerRadius="0">
<Grid >
<Grid.RowDefinitions>
<RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
<RowDefinition Height="*"/>
<RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
</Grid.RowDefinitions>
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
<ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<Rectangle Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="0"
Grid.RowSpan="2" Grid.ColumnSpan="2">
<Rectangle.Fill>
<LinearGradientBrush StartPoint="0,0"
EndPoint="0,1" Opacity="0.8">
<GradientStop Color="#70A4B9"
Offset="0.0"/>
<GradientStop Color="#CDDFE9"
Offset="1.0"/>
</LinearGradientBrush>
</Rectangle.Fill>
</Rectangle>
<Rectangle Grid.Row="0"
Grid.Column="0" Grid.ColumnSpan="2">
<Rectangle.Fill>
<LinearGradientBrush StartPoint="0,0"
EndPoint="0,1" Opacity="0.5">
<GradientStop Color="#26508A"
Offset="0.0"/>
<GradientStop Color="#2A739E"
Offset="1.0"/>
</LinearGradientBrush>
</Rectangle.Fill>
</Rectangle>
<Grid Grid.Row="0" Grid.ColumnSpan="2"
MinHeight="40" >
<TextBlock Margin="5,1,0,1" Name="MessageTitle"
FontWeight="Bold" TextTrimming="CharacterEllipsis"
LineHeight="22" FontSize="16"
VerticalAlignment="Center" Foreground="White"/>
</Grid>
<Image Name="img" Margin="5" Grid.Row="1"
Grid.Column="0" Width="50"
Height="50" Stretch="Fill" />
<TextBlock Margin="10,5,10,5"
VerticalAlignment="Center"
TextWrapping="Wrap" Name="txtMsg"
Grid.Row="1"
Grid.Column="1" FontSize="14"
LineHeight="20" />
<Grid Grid.Row="2" Grid.ColumnSpan="2"
Grid.Column="0" >
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal"
HorizontalAlignment="Right" >
<Button Name="btnOk" Content="OK"
Margin="3,5" MinWidth="70" Height="35"
Click="Button_Click" Foreground="Black"
FontSize="14"
Style="{StaticResource MessageBoxButtonStyle}"
Background="#b6dbd6" VerticalAlignment="Center"
HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
VerticalContentAlignment="Center"
HorizontalContentAlignment="Center" />
<Button Name="btnYes" Content="Yes"
Margin="3,5" MinWidth="70" Height="35"
Click="Button_Click" Foreground="Black" FontSize="14"
Style="{StaticResource MessageBoxButtonStyle}"
Background="#b6dbd6" VerticalAlignment="Center"
HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
VerticalContentAlignment="Center"
HorizontalContentAlignment="Center"/>
<Button Name="btnNo" Content="No"
Margin="3,5" MinWidth="70" Height="35"
Click="Button_Click" Foreground="Black"
FontSize="14"
Style="{StaticResource MessageBoxButtonStyle}"
Background="#dbb6b6" VerticalAlignment="Center"
HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
VerticalContentAlignment="Center"
HorizontalContentAlignment="Center" />
<Button Name="btnCancel" Margin="3,5"
Content="Cancel" MinWidth="70"
Height="35" Click="Button_Click"
Style="{StaticResource MessageBoxButtonStyle}"
Foreground="Black"
Background="#dbb6b6" FontSize="14"
VerticalAlignment="Center"
HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
VerticalContentAlignment="Center"
HorizontalContentAlignment="Center"/>
</StackPanel>
</Grid>
</Grid>
</Border>
</Window>
Step 2
Create 'MessageBoxButtonStyle' in your stylesheet file like given below:
<Style TargetType="Button"
x:Key="MessageBoxButtonStyle">
<Setter Property="Background"
Value="Transparent" />
<Setter Property="TextBlock.TextAlignment"
Value="Center" />
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate TargetType="Button">
<Border Name="Border" CornerRadius="0"
BorderBrush="#000" BorderThickness="1,1,1,1"
Background="{TemplateBinding Background}">
<ContentPresenter x:Name="contentPresenter"
ContentTemplate="{TemplateBinding ContentTemplate}"
Content="{TemplateBinding Content}"
HorizontalAlignment="{TemplateBinding HorizontalAlignment}"
Margin="{TemplateBinding Padding}"
VerticalAlignment="{TemplateBinding VerticalAlignment}" />
</Border>
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>
Step 3
Create the below enums for message box:
public enum MessageBoxType
{
ConfirmationWithYesNo = 0,
ConfirmationWithYesNoCancel,
Information,
Error,
Warning
}
public enum MessageBoxImage
{
Warning = 0,
Question,
Information,
Error,
None
}
Step 4
Write the below code in your WpfMessageBox.cs file:
public partial class WpfMessageBox : Window
{
private WpfMessageBox()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
static WpfMessageBox _messageBox;
static MessageBoxResult _result = MessageBoxResult.No;
public static MessageBoxResult Show
(string caption, string msg, MessageBoxType type)
{
switch (type)
{
case MessageBoxType.ConfirmationWithYesNo:
return Show(caption, msg, MessageBoxButton.YesNo,
MessageBoxImage.Question);
case MessageBoxType.ConfirmationWithYesNoCancel:
return Show(caption, msg, MessageBoxButton.YesNoCancel,
MessageBoxImage.Question);
case MessageBoxType.Information:
return Show(caption, msg, MessageBoxButton.OK,
MessageBoxImage.Information);
case MessageBoxType.Error:
return Show(caption, msg, MessageBoxButton.OK,
MessageBoxImage.Error);
case MessageBoxType.Warning:
return Show(caption, msg, MessageBoxButton.OK,
MessageBoxImage.Warning);
default:
return MessageBoxResult.No;
}
}
public static MessageBoxResult Show(string msg, MessageBoxType type)
{
return Show(string.Empty, msg, type);
}
public static MessageBoxResult Show(string msg)
{
return Show(string.Empty, msg,
MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.None);
}
public static MessageBoxResult Show
(string caption, string text)
{
return Show(caption, text,
MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.None);
}
public static MessageBoxResult Show
(string caption, string text, MessageBoxButton button)
{
return Show(caption, text, button,
MessageBoxImage.None);
}
public static MessageBoxResult Show
(string caption, string text,
MessageBoxButton button, MessageBoxImage image)
{
_messageBox = new WpfMessageBox
{txtMsg = {Text = text}, MessageTitle = {Text = caption}};
SetVisibilityOfButtons(button);
SetImageOfMessageBox(image);
_messageBox.ShowDialog();
return _result;
}
private static void SetVisibilityOfButtons(MessageBoxButton button)
{
switch (button)
{
case MessageBoxButton.OK:
_messageBox.btnCancel.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
_messageBox.btnNo.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
_messageBox.btnYes.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
_messageBox.btnOk.Focus();
break;
case MessageBoxButton.OKCancel:
_messageBox.btnNo.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
_messageBox.btnYes.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
_messageBox.btnCancel.Focus();
break;
case MessageBoxButton.YesNo:
_messageBox.btnOk.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
_messageBox.btnCancel.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
_messageBox.btnNo.Focus();
break;
case MessageBoxButton.YesNoCancel:
_messageBox.btnOk.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
_messageBox.btnCancel.Focus();
break;
default:
break;
}
}
private static void SetImageOfMessageBox(MessageBoxImage image)
{
switch (image)
{
case MessageBoxImage.Warning:
_messageBox.SetImage("Warning.png");
break;
case MessageBoxImage.Question:
_messageBox.SetImage("Question.png");
break;
case MessageBoxImage.Information:
_messageBox.SetImage("Information.png");
break;
case MessageBoxImage.Error:
_messageBox.SetImage("Error.png");
break;
default:
_messageBox.img.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
break;
}
}
private void Button_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
if (sender == btnOk)
_result = MessageBoxResult.OK;
else if (sender == btnYes)
_result = MessageBoxResult.Yes;
else if (sender == btnNo)
_result = MessageBoxResult.No;
else if (sender == btnCancel)
_result = MessageBoxResult.Cancel;
else
_result = MessageBoxResult.None;
_messageBox.Close();
_messageBox = null;
}
private void SetImage(string imageName)
{
string uri = string.Format("/Resources/images/{0}", imageName);
var uriSource = new Uri(uri, UriKind.RelativeOrAbsolute);
img.Source = new BitmapImage(uriSource);
}
}
Now your WPF message box is ready and you can use it like given below:
var messageBoxResult = WpfMessageBox.Show
("Message Box Title","Are you sure?",
MessageBoxButton.YesNo, MessageBoxImage.Warning);
if (messageBoxResult != MessageBoxResult.Yes) return;
In 'messageBoxResult' variable, you will get return result from message box.
Note: You need to put image files you own that are being used on messagebox for warning/Question/information/error.
You can modify its code and style as per your requirement.
I am working as Technical Lead having experience more than 8 years. I work in various technologies/frameworks like as - .Net Core, Angular 7/8, CI/CD, C# .net (MVC/Aspx), Web API, Wpf, Angular JS, Entity Framework (Code First), Onion Architecture, IOC, Domain Driven Design, Multi-threading Environment, PHP, Asp Classic, MySql, Ms-Sql etc. I prefer to use Agile Methodology in development process.
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