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How to intercept unminizing? [duplicate]

Is there an event that is fired when you maximize a Form or un-maximize it?
Before you say Resize or SizeChanged: Those get only fired if the Size actually changes. If your window happens to be equal in size to the maximized window, they do not fire. Location looks like the next best bet, but that again feels like gambling on a coincidence.

Suprising that no one mentioned the inbuilt .NET method.
This way you don't need to override the Window Message Processing handler.
It even captures maximize/restore events caused by double-clicking the window titlebar, which the WndProc method does not.
Copy this in and link it to the "Resize" event handler on the form.
FormWindowState LastWindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized;
private void Form1_Resize(object sender, EventArgs e) {
// When window state changes
if (WindowState != LastWindowState) {
LastWindowState = WindowState;
if (WindowState == FormWindowState.Maximized) {
// Maximized!
}
if (WindowState == FormWindowState.Normal) {
// Restored!
}
}
}

You can do this by overriding WndProc:
protected override void WndProc( ref Message m )
{
if( m.Msg == 0x0112 ) // WM_SYSCOMMAND
{
// Check your window state here
if (m.WParam == new IntPtr( 0xF030 ) ) // Maximize event - SC_MAXIMIZE from Winuser.h
{
// THe window is being maximized
}
}
base.WndProc(ref m);
}
This should handle the event on any window. SC_RESTORE is 0xF120, and SC_MINIMIZE is 0XF020, if you need those constants, too.

Another little addition in order to check for the restore to the original dimension and position after the maximization:
protected override void WndProc(ref Message m)
{
base.WndProc(ref m);
// WM_SYSCOMMAND
if (m.Msg == 0x0112)
{
if (m.WParam == new IntPtr(0xF030) // Maximize event - SC_MAXIMIZE from Winuser.h
|| m.WParam == new IntPtr(0xF120)) // Restore event - SC_RESTORE from Winuser.h
{
UpdateYourUI();
}
}
}
Hope this help.

I believe the code is even simpler than that. You don't need to save the lastState because the WindowState is checked anytime when the event is fired.
private void MainForm_Resize(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (WindowState == FormWindowState.Maximized)
{
spContainer.SplitterDistance = 1000;
}
if (WindowState == FormWindowState.Normal)
spContainer.SplitterDistance = 500;
}

I had the same problem, and I could solve it without overriding.
Because I have a PictureBox in dock mode "Fill" I could use it's SizeChanged event, which fired also on maximizing the window.

I hope this part of code will be useful.
if (m.Msg == User32.WM_WINDOWPOSCHANGING && IsHandleCreated)
{
User32.WINDOWPLACEMENT wp = new User32.WINDOWPLACEMENT();
wp.length = Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(User32.WINDOWPLACEMENT));
User32.GetWindowPlacement(Handle, ref wp);
switch (wp.showCmd)
{
case User32.SW_RESTORE:
case User32.SW_NORMAL:
case User32.SW_SHOW:
case User32.SW_SHOWNA:
case User32.SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE:
_windState = FormWindowState.Normal;
if (wp.showCmd == User32.SW_RESTORE)
Update();
break;
case User32.SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED:
_windState = FormWindowState.Maximized;
SetMaximumSize();
break;
case User32.SW_SHOWMINIMIZED:
case User32.SW_MINIMIZE:
case User32.SW_SHOWMINNOACTIVE:
_windState = FormWindowState.Minimized;
break;
}
}
private void SetMaximumSize()
{
Screen screen = Screen.FromControl(this);
if (screen != null && !screen.WorkingArea.IsEmpty)
{
int sizeDiff = this.Size.Width - this.ClientSize.Width;
var maxSize = new Size(screen.WorkingArea.Width + sizeDiff, screen.WorkingArea.Height + sizeDiff);
this.MaximumSize = maxSize;
}
}
#region Window State
public const int SW_NORMAL = 1,
SW_SHOWMINIMIZED = 2,
SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED = 3,
SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE = 4,
SW_SHOW = 5,
SW_MINIMIZE = 6,
SW_SHOWMINNOACTIVE = 7,
SW_SHOWNA = 8,
SW_RESTORE = 9;
#endregion Window State

If there's no obvious event to listen for, you're probably going to need to hook into the Windows API and catch the appropriate message (Google turns up that you'll want to intercept the WM_SYSCOMMAND message: http://www.codeguru.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-234554.html).

I'm a newbie here so comments not allowed, but this IS a comment to the clean answer by GeoTarget:
The first line OUGHT to be slightly changed to nullable, to catch if the form is started Minimized:
FormWindowState? LastWindowState = null;
And a banal suggestion: Move the assignment of LastWindowState to after the "if"s, so the user can easily check not only what you go to, but also what it came from:
FormWindowState? LastWindowState = null;
private void Form1_Resize(object sender, EventArgs e) {
// When window state changes
if (WindowState != LastWindowState) {
if (WindowState == FormWindowState.Maximized) {
// Maximized!
}
if (WindowState == FormWindowState.Normal) {
// Restored!
}
LastWindowState = WindowState;
}
}

A complete solution with maximize, minimize, restore and correct remove of the lower bits which are used for internal purposes only.
protected override void WndProc(ref Message m)
{
const int WM_SYSCOMMAND = 0x0112;
const int SC_MAXIMIZE = 0xF030;
const int SC_MINIMIZE = 0xF020;
const int SC_RESTORE = 0xF120;
// Call beofre - don't use when "call after" is used
// dependig on the needs may be called before, after or even never (see below)
// base.WndProc(ref m);
if (m.Msg == WM_SYSCOMMAND)
{
/// <see cref="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/menurc/wm-syscommand"/>
/// Quote:
/// In WM_SYSCOMMAND messages, the four low - order bits of the wParam parameter
/// are used internally by the system.To obtain the correct result when testing
/// the value of wParam, an application must combine the value 0xFFF0 with the
/// wParam value by using the bitwise AND operator.
int wParam = (m.WParam.ToInt32() & 0xFFF0);
Debug.WriteLine($"Received param: { Convert.ToString(wParam, 16) } ");
if (wParam == SC_MAXIMIZE)
{
}
if (wParam == SC_MINIMIZE)
{
}
if (wParam == SC_RESTORE)
{
}
}
// Call after - don't use when "call before" is used
base.WndProc(ref m);
}

' Great tip. So if it helps to VisualBasic In Code
Private Const WM_SYSCOMMAND As Integer = &H112
Private Const SC_MAXIMIZE As Integer = &HF030
' # WndProcess 루프함수
Protected Overrides Sub WndProc(ByRef m As Message)
If m.Msg.Equals(WM_SYSCOMMAND) Then
If (m.WParam.ToInt32.Equals(SC_MAXIMIZE)) Then
Me.p_FullScreen()
Return
End If
End If
MyBase.WndProc(m)
End Sub

How to get the windows messages according to the child?

I am creating a form inside another form. In the child form I have created taskbar button. I am overriding WndProc in the button.I am referring https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/10171/Adding-a-Minimize-to-tray-button-to-a-Form-s-caption bar. But whenever I am getting messages(mouse coordinates) , it is given with respect to the parent form. This makes trouble in calculations .I want those with respect to child form.How to achieve this?
This is the code for form1
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
Form2 form2 = new Form2();
form2.TopLevel = false;
form2.AutoScroll = true;
form2.Anchor = AnchorStyles.Top;
form2.Dock = DockStyle.Fill;
this.splitContainer1.Panel2.Controls.Add(form2);
form2.Show();
}
}
this is form2.
public partial class Form2 : Form
{
TyronM.MinTrayBtn Pin_Button;
public Form2()
{
InitializeComponent();
Pin_Button = new TyronM.MinTrayBtn(this);
Pin_Button.MinTrayBtnClicked += new TyronM.MinTrayBtnClickedEventHandler(this.Pin_Button_Clicked);
}
public void Pin_Button_Clicked(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
MessageBox.Show("Pin button got Clicked");
}
protected override void WndProc(ref Message message)
{
const int WM_SYSCOMMAND = 0x0112;
const int SC_MOVE = 0xF010;
switch (message.Msg)
{
case WM_SYSCOMMAND:
int command = message.WParam.ToInt32() & 0xfff0;
if (command == SC_MOVE)
return;
break;
}
base.WndProc(ref message);
}
}
And this is for button.
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Collections;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Data;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Resources;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
namespace TyronM {
public delegate void MinTrayBtnClickedEventHandler(object sender, EventArgs e);
/// <summary>
/// Summary description for Class.
/// </summary>
public class MinTrayBtn : NativeWindow {
bool pinned = false;
bool pressed = false;
Size wnd_size = new Size();
public bool captured;
Form parent;
public event MinTrayBtnClickedEventHandler MinTrayBtnClicked;
#region Constants
const int WM_SIZE = 5;
const int WM_SYNCPAINT = 136;
const int WM_MOVE = 3;
const int WM_ACTIVATE = 6;
const int WM_LBUTTONDOWN =513;
const int WM_LBUTTONUP =514;
const int WM_LBUTTONDBLCLK =515;
const int WM_MOUSEMOVE = 512;
const int WM_PAINT = 15;
const int WM_GETTEXT = 13;
const int WM_NCCREATE =129;
const int WM_NCLBUTTONDOWN = 161;
const int WM_NCLBUTTONUP = 162;
const int WM_NCMOUSEMOVE = 160;
const int WM_NCACTIVATE =134;
const int WM_NCPAINT = 133;
const int WM_NCHITTEST = 132;
const int WM_NCLBUTTONDBLCLK = 163;
const int VK_LBUTTON = 1;
const int SM_CXSIZE = 30;
const int SM_CYSIZE = 31;
#endregion
#region Extra Constants
const int WM_MBUTTONUP = 0x0208;
#endregion
#region WinAPI Imports
[DllImport("user32")]
public static extern int GetWindowDC(int hwnd);
[DllImport("user32")]
public static extern short GetAsyncKeyState(int vKey);
[DllImport("user32")]
public static extern int SetCapture(int hwnd);
[DllImport("user32")]
public static extern bool ReleaseCapture();
[DllImport("user32")]
public static extern int GetSysColor(int nIndex);
[DllImport("user32")]
public static extern int GetSystemMetrics(int nIndex);
#endregion
#region Constructor and Handle-Handler ^^
public MinTrayBtn(Form parent) {
parent.HandleCreated += new EventHandler(this.OnHandleCreated);
parent.HandleDestroyed+= new EventHandler(this.OnHandleDestroyed);
parent.TextChanged+= new EventHandler(this.OnTextChanged);
this.parent = parent;
}
// Listen for the control's window creation and then hook into it.
internal void OnHandleCreated(object sender, EventArgs e){
// Window is now created, assign handle to NativeWindow.
AssignHandle(((Form)sender).Handle);
}
internal void OnHandleDestroyed(object sender, EventArgs e) {
// Window was destroyed, release hook.
ReleaseHandle();
}
// Changing the Text invalidates the Window, so we got to Draw the Button again
private void OnTextChanged(object sender, EventArgs e) {
DrawButton();
}
#endregion
#region WndProc
[System.Security.Permissions.PermissionSet(System.Security.Permissions.SecurityAction.Demand, Name="FullTrust")]
protected override void WndProc(ref Message m){
//label3.Text = "Button pressed: " + pressed;
//label4.Text = "Mouse captured: " + captured;
// Change the Pressed-State of the Button when the User pressed the
// left mouse button and moves the cursor over the button
if (m.Msg == WM_LBUTTONDBLCLK ||m.Msg == WM_LBUTTONDOWN || m.Msg == WM_LBUTTONUP
||m.Msg == WM_MBUTTONUP
)
MessageBox.Show("click happened");
if(m.Msg==WM_MOUSEMOVE) {
Point pnt2 = new Point((int)m.LParam);
Size rel_pos2 = new Size(parent.PointToClient(new Point(parent.Location.X, parent.Location.Y)));
// Not needed because SetCapture seems to convert the cordinates anyway
//pnt2 = PointToClient(pnt2);
pnt2-=rel_pos2;
//label2.Text = "Cursor #"+pnt2.X+"/"+pnt2.Y;
if(pressed) {
Point pnt = new Point((int)m.LParam);
Size rel_pos = new Size(parent.PointToClient(new Point(parent.Location.X, parent.Location.Y)));
//pnt = PointToClient(pnt);
pnt-=rel_pos;
if(!MouseinBtn(pnt)) {
pressed = false;
DrawButton();
}
} else {
if((GetAsyncKeyState(VK_LBUTTON)&(-32768))!=0) {
Point pnt = new Point((int)m.LParam);
Size rel_pos = new Size(parent.PointToClient(new Point(parent.Location.X, parent.Location.Y)));
//pnt = PointToClient(pnt);
pnt-=rel_pos;
if(MouseinBtn(pnt)) {
pressed = true;
DrawButton();
}
}
}
}
// Ignore Double-Clicks on the Traybutton
if(m.Msg==WM_NCLBUTTONDBLCLK) {
Point pnt = new Point((int)m.LParam);
Size rel_pos = new Size(parent.PointToClient(new Point(parent.Location.X, parent.Location.Y)));
pnt = parent.PointToClient(pnt);
pnt-=rel_pos;
if(MouseinBtn(pnt)) {
return;
}
}
#region NOT WORKING
// Button released and eventually clicked
if(m.Msg==WM_LBUTTONUP)
{
ReleaseCapture();
captured = false;
if(pressed) {
pressed = false;
DrawButton();
Point pnt = new Point((int)m.LParam);
Size rel_pos = new Size(parent.PointToClient(new Point(parent.Location.X, parent.Location.Y)));
pnt-=rel_pos;
if(MouseinBtn(pnt)) {
//TrayButton_clicked();
EventArgs e = new EventArgs();
if (MinTrayBtnClicked != null)
MinTrayBtnClicked(this, e);
return;
}
}
}
#endregion
// Clicking the Button - Capture the Mouse and await until the Uses relases the Button again
if(m.Msg==WM_NCLBUTTONDOWN) {
//MessageBox.Show("clicked");
Point pnt = new Point((int)m.LParam);
Size rel_pos = new Size(parent.PointToClient(new Point(parent.Location.X, parent.Location.Y)));
pnt = parent.PointToClient(pnt);
pnt-=rel_pos;
if(MouseinBtn(pnt)) {
MessageBox.Show("clicked");
pressed = true;
DrawButton();
SetCapture((int)parent.Handle);
captured = true;
return;
}
}
// Drawing the Button and getting the Real Size of the Window
if(m.Msg == WM_ACTIVATE || m.Msg==WM_SIZE || m.Msg==WM_SYNCPAINT || m.Msg==WM_NCACTIVATE || m.Msg==WM_NCCREATE || m.Msg==WM_NCPAINT || m.Msg==WM_NCACTIVATE || m.Msg==WM_NCHITTEST || m.Msg==WM_PAINT) {
if(m.Msg==WM_SIZE) wnd_size = new Size(new Point((int)m.LParam));
DrawButton();
}
base.WndProc(ref m);
}
#endregion
#region Button-Specific Functions
public bool MouseinBtn(Point click) {
int btn_width = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXSIZE);
int btn_height = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYSIZE);
Size btn_size = new Size(btn_width, btn_height);
Point pos = new Point(wnd_size.Width - 3 * btn_width - 12 - (btn_width - 18)+7, 6+4);
return click.X>=pos.X && click.X<=pos.X+btn_size.Width &&
click.Y>=pos.Y && click.Y<=pos.Y+btn_size.Height;
}
public void DrawButton() {
Graphics g = Graphics.FromHdc((IntPtr)GetWindowDC((int)parent.Handle)); //m.HWnd));
DrawButton(g, pressed);
}
public void DrawButton(Graphics g, bool pressed) {
int btn_width = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXSIZE);
int btn_height = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYSIZE);
//Point pos = new Point(wnd_size.Width-3*btn_width-12-(btn_width-18),6);
Point pos = new Point(wnd_size.Width - 3 * btn_width - 12 - (btn_width - 18)+7, 6+4);
// real button size
btn_width-=2;
btn_height-=4;
Color light = SystemColors.ControlLightLight;
Color icon = SystemColors.ControlText;
Color background = SystemColors.Control;
Color shadow1 = SystemColors.ControlDark;
Color shadow2 = SystemColors.ControlDarkDark;
Color tmp1, tmp2;
if(pressed) {
tmp1 = shadow2;
tmp2 = light;
} else {
tmp1 = light;
tmp2 = shadow2;
}
g.DrawLine(new Pen(tmp1),pos, new Point(pos.X+btn_width-1,pos.Y));
g.DrawLine(new Pen(tmp1),pos, new Point(pos.X,pos.Y+btn_height-1));
if(pressed) {
g.DrawLine(new Pen(shadow1),pos.X+1, pos.Y+1, pos.X+btn_width-2, pos.Y+1);
g.DrawLine(new Pen(shadow1),pos.X+1, pos.Y+1, pos.X+1, pos.Y+btn_height-2);
} else {
g.DrawLine(new Pen(shadow1),pos.X+btn_width-2, pos.Y+1, pos.X+btn_width-2, pos.Y+btn_height-2);
g.DrawLine(new Pen(shadow1),pos.X+1, pos.Y+btn_height-2, pos.X+btn_width-2, pos.Y+btn_height-2);
}
g.DrawLine(new Pen(tmp2),pos.X+btn_width-1, pos.Y+0, pos.X+btn_width-1, pos.Y+btn_height-1);
g.DrawLine(new Pen(tmp2),pos.X+0, pos.Y+btn_height-1, pos.X+btn_width-1, pos.Y+btn_height-1);
g.FillRectangle(new SolidBrush(background),pos.X+1+Convert.ToInt32(pressed), pos.Y+1+Convert.ToInt32(pressed), btn_width-3,btn_height-3);
#region Added Code
g.FillRectangle(new SolidBrush(icon),pos.X+(float)0.5625*btn_width+Convert.ToInt32(pressed),pos.Y+(float)0.6428*btn_height+Convert.ToInt32(pressed),btn_width*(float)0.1875,btn_height*(float)0.143);
g.DrawImage(Image.FromFile("red_Pushpin.jfif"),new Rectangle( pos,new Size(btn_width,btn_height)));
#endregion
}
#endregion
}
}
This is code for main
static class Program
{
/// <summary>
/// The main entry point for the application.
/// </summary>
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
Application.EnableVisualStyles();
Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
Application.Run(new Form1());
}
}
This is the screenshot of the winform.
EDIT:
Upon investigation I found that WM_LBUTTONUP(Mouse left button up) is not triggered. Or it is not coming inside WndProc.
EDIT1:
It seems there was a problem in brackets.I changed the if conditions into switch case. This somewhat cleared the "Mouse left button up" problem. Now it is properly triggering. The remaining problem is mouse points based on parent form.

c# : how to remove tabcontrol border?

In my form, I'm using a tabcontrol. I want to hide the tab headers and border both. I can do either one, if I try to hide the headers then the border becomes visible. Can anyone help me, please? thanks and here's my code:
public Form3()
{
InitializeComponent();
this.NativeTabControl1 = new NativeTabControl();
this.NativeTabControl1.AssignHandle(this.tabControl1.Handle);
}
private NativeTabControl NativeTabControl1;
private class NativeTabControl : NativeWindow
{
protected override void WndProc(ref Message m)
{
if ((m.Msg == TCM_ADJUSTRECT))
{
RECT rc = (RECT)m.GetLParam(typeof(RECT));
//Adjust these values to suit, dependant upon Appearance
rc.Left -= 3;
rc.Right += 3;
rc.Top -= 3;
rc.Bottom += 3;
Marshal.StructureToPtr(rc, m.LParam, true);
}
base.WndProc(ref m);
}
private const Int32 TCM_FIRST = 0x1300;
private const Int32 TCM_ADJUSTRECT = (TCM_FIRST + 40);
private struct RECT
{
public Int32 Left;
public Int32 Top;
public Int32 Right;
public Int32 Bottom;
}
private void Form3_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
//hides tabcontrol headers
tabControl1.Appearance = TabAppearance.Buttons;
tabControl1.ItemSize = new Size(0, 1);
tabControl1.SizeMode = TabSizeMode.Fixed;
}
}

There is another thread on Stackoverflow, which provides some ideas to hide the tab row of the TabControl in Windows Forms.
My favorite one is to override WndProc and set the Multiline property to true.
public partial class TabControlWithoutHeader : TabControl
{
public TabControlWithoutHeader()
{
if (!this.DesignMode) this.Multiline = true;
}
protected override void WndProc(ref Message m)
{
if (m.Msg == 0x1328 && !this.DesignMode)
m.Result = new IntPtr(1);
else
base.WndProc(ref m);
}
}
I tested the code on Windows 8.1 and see neither the tabs nor a border line. So I think you do not need to use code like you posted.

I would usually suggest doing this in the xaml not C# (I'm a WPF developer) I believe you can do it in the C# as well by naming both the TabControl as well as each Tab itself.
tabControlName.BorderBrush = null;
///^Gets rid of the TabControl's border.
tabName1.Height = 0;
tabName2.Height = 0;
tabNameETC.Height = 0;
///^Removes the tabs(headers) if you have the TabControl.TabStripPlacement set to left
/// or right, then use the following instead:
tabName1.Width = 0
tabName2.Width = 0
tabNameETC.Width = 0

Force to close MessageBox programmatically

Let me give you the background.
We have an Application(medium sized) that is using MessageBox.Show (....) at various places (in hundreds).
These message boxes are part of workflow and being used for informing,warning or taking input from an user. Application is supposed to automatically log off after certain time if there is no activity. We have a requirement that while logging out the application, just to clean the session data , to clear views and to hide itself so that in next launch, it won't have to execute the startup process which is costly in terms of time.
Everything is working fine but in a scenario when there is some message box on the screen and user left the machine without responding to message box and then due to no activity to make the application to log out. Problem is Message box won't disappear.
How I can close the opened messagebox, if any, while hiding the application?

Here is a piece of code based on UIAutomation (a cool but still not very used API) that attempts to close all modal windows (including the one opened with MessageBox) of the current process:
/// <summary>
/// Attempt to close modal windows if there are any.
/// </summary>
public static void CloseModalWindows()
{
// get the main window
AutomationElement root = AutomationElement.FromHandle(Process.GetCurrentProcess().MainWindowHandle);
if (root == null)
return;
// it should implement the Window pattern
object pattern;
if (!root.TryGetCurrentPattern(WindowPattern.Pattern, out pattern))
return;
WindowPattern window = (WindowPattern)pattern;
if (window.Current.WindowInteractionState != WindowInteractionState.ReadyForUserInteraction)
{
// get sub windows
foreach (AutomationElement element in root.FindAll(TreeScope.Children, new PropertyCondition(AutomationElement.ControlTypeProperty, ControlType.Window)))
{
// hmmm... is it really a window?
if (element.TryGetCurrentPattern(WindowPattern.Pattern, out pattern))
{
// if it's ready, try to close it
WindowPattern childWindow = (WindowPattern)pattern;
if (childWindow.Current.WindowInteractionState == WindowInteractionState.ReadyForUserInteraction)
{
childWindow.Close();
}
}
}
}
}
For example, if you have a WinForms application that pops up a MessageBox when you press some button1, you will still be able to close the app using Windows "Close Window" menu (right click in the task bar):
private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
MessageBox.Show("Don't click me. I want to be closed automatically!");
}
protected override void WndProc(ref System.Windows.Forms.Message m)
{
const int WM_SYSCOMMAND = 0x0112;
const int SC_CLOSE = 0xF060;
if (m.Msg == WM_SYSCOMMAND) // this is sent even if a modal MessageBox is shown
{
if ((int)m.WParam == SC_CLOSE)
{
CloseModalWindows();
Close();
}
}
base.WndProc(ref m);
}
You could use CloseModalWindows somewhere else in your code of course, this is just a sample.

This link on MSDN forums shows how to close a message box by using FindWindow and sending a WM_CLOSE message. Although the question was asked for .NET/WindowsCE, it might solve your problem, its worth a look

Refer to DmitryG post in "Close a MessageBox after several seconds"
Auto-Close MessageBox after timeout reach
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Threading;
using System.Windows.Forms;
public class AutoClosingMessageBox
{
System.Threading.Timer _timeoutTimer;
string _caption;
AutoClosingMessageBox(string text, string caption, int timeout)
{
_caption = caption;
_timeoutTimer = new System.Threading.Timer(OnTimerElapsed,
null, timeout, System.Threading.Timeout.Infinite);
MessageBox.Show(text, caption);
}
public static void Show(string text, string caption, int timeout)
{
new AutoClosingMessageBox(text, caption, timeout);
}
void OnTimerElapsed(object state)
{
IntPtr mbWnd = FindWindow(null, _caption);
if (mbWnd != IntPtr.Zero)
SendMessage(mbWnd, WM_CLOSE, IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero);
_timeoutTimer.Dispose();
}
const int WM_CLOSE = 0x0010;
[System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
static extern IntPtr FindWindow(string lpClassName, string lpWindowName);
[System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet = System.Runtime.InteropServices.CharSet.Auto)]
static extern IntPtr SendMessage(IntPtr hWnd, UInt32 Msg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam);
}
and Call it via
AutoClosingMessageBox.Show("Content", "Title", TimeOut);

First a Question: If messages boxes are used as part of workflow, won't programatically closing message box cause the flow to change/continue?
I think you have three options
Create your own version of the messagebox class that opens a dialog window that looks like a messagebox with added functionality so it closed automatically after a period of time.
Implement something like this in c# to close message boxes programtically.
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/dialog/AutoCloseMessageBox.aspx
Get rid of the message boxes from interupting the workflow. This is probably the best solution as from the sound of it closing a message box programatically will cause workflow to continue/change, and perhaps even cause another messagebox to show which may not be desirable. But obviously fixing the root problem might be best, but isn't always the easiest.
1 and 2 would need to be done from a separate thread, so you will need to think about the implications of that as showing the messagebox will be blocking.

Heres my example with SendKeys - tested and working:
lets say we have backgroundworker and button in form. After button was click - start worker and show message box. In workers DoWork event sleep for 5s and then send enter key - messsage box closed.
private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
backgroundWorker1.RunWorkerAsync();
MessageBox.Show("Close this message!");
}
private void backgroundWorker1_DoWork(object sender, DoWorkEventArgs e)
{
Thread.Sleep(5000);
SendKeys.SendWait("{Enter}");//or Esc
}

This topic has been abundantly covered in other SO questions but since this particular one has several answers about using UI automation/window lookup techniques (which I don't particularly like) and generic suggestions about creating own dialog without provided code, I decided post my own solution. One can create an instantiable MessageBox like class as it follows:
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
namespace Common
{
// Loosely based on: https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/17253/A-Custom-Message-Box
class MsgBox : Form
{
private Panel _plHeader = new Panel();
private Panel _plFooter = new Panel();
private Panel _plIcon = new Panel();
private PictureBox _picIcon = new PictureBox();
private FlowLayoutPanel _flpButtons = new FlowLayoutPanel();
private Label _lblMessage;
private MsgBox()
{
FormBorderStyle = FormBorderStyle.FixedDialog;
BackColor = Color.White;
StartPosition = FormStartPosition.CenterScreen;
MinimizeBox = false;
MaximizeBox = false;
ShowIcon = false;
Width = 400;
_lblMessage = new Label();
_lblMessage.Font = new Font("Segoe UI", 10);
_lblMessage.Dock = DockStyle.Fill;
_lblMessage.TextAlign = ContentAlignment.MiddleLeft;
_flpButtons.FlowDirection = FlowDirection.RightToLeft;
_flpButtons.Dock = DockStyle.Fill;
//_plHeader.FlowDirection = FlowDirection.TopDown;
_plHeader.Dock = DockStyle.Fill;
_plHeader.Padding = new Padding(20);
_plHeader.Controls.Add(_lblMessage);
_plFooter.Dock = DockStyle.Bottom;
_plFooter.BackColor = Color.FromArgb(240, 240, 240);
_plFooter.Padding = new Padding(10);
_plFooter.Height = 60;
_plFooter.Controls.Add(_flpButtons);
_picIcon.Location = new Point(30, 50);
_plIcon.Dock = DockStyle.Left;
_plIcon.Padding = new Padding(20);
_plIcon.Width = 70;
_plIcon.Controls.Add(_picIcon);
Controls.Add(_plHeader);
Controls.Add(_plIcon);
Controls.Add(_plFooter);
}
public static DialogResult Show(IWin32Window owner, string message, string title = null, MessageBoxButtons? buttons = MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon icon = MessageBoxIcon.Information)
{
var msgBox = Create(message, title, buttons, icon);
return msgBox.ShowDialog(owner);
}
public static DialogResult Show(string message, string title = null, MessageBoxButtons? buttons = MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon icon = MessageBoxIcon.Information)
{
var msgBox = Create(message, title, buttons, icon);
return msgBox.ShowDialog();
}
public static MsgBox Create(string message, string title = null, MessageBoxButtons? buttons = MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon icon = MessageBoxIcon.Information)
{
var msgBox = new MsgBox();
msgBox.Init(message, title, buttons, icon);
return msgBox;
}
void Init(string message, string title, MessageBoxButtons? buttons, MessageBoxIcon icon)
{
_lblMessage.Text = message;
Text = title;
InitButtons(buttons);
InitIcon(icon);
Size = MessageSize(message);
}
void InitButtons(MessageBoxButtons? buttons)
{
if (!buttons.HasValue)
return;
switch (buttons)
{
case MessageBoxButtons.AbortRetryIgnore:
AddButton("Ignore");
AddButton("Retry");
AddButton("Abort");
break;
case MessageBoxButtons.OK:
AddButton("OK");
break;
case MessageBoxButtons.OKCancel:
AddButton("Cancel");
AddButton("OK");
break;
case MessageBoxButtons.RetryCancel:
AddButton("Cancel");
AddButton("Retry");
break;
case MessageBoxButtons.YesNo:
AddButton("No");
AddButton("Yes");
break;
case MessageBoxButtons.YesNoCancel:
AddButton("Cancel");
AddButton("No");
AddButton("Yes");
break;
}
}
void InitIcon(MessageBoxIcon icon)
{
switch (icon)
{
case MessageBoxIcon.None:
_picIcon.Hide();
break;
case MessageBoxIcon.Exclamation:
_picIcon.Image = SystemIcons.Exclamation.ToBitmap();
break;
case MessageBoxIcon.Error:
_picIcon.Image = SystemIcons.Error.ToBitmap();
break;
case MessageBoxIcon.Information:
_picIcon.Image = SystemIcons.Information.ToBitmap();
break;
case MessageBoxIcon.Question:
_picIcon.Image = SystemIcons.Question.ToBitmap();
break;
}
_picIcon.Width = _picIcon.Image.Width;
_picIcon.Height = _picIcon.Image.Height;
}
private void ButtonClick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Button btn = (Button)sender;
switch (btn.Text)
{
case "Abort":
DialogResult = DialogResult.Abort;
break;
case "Retry":
DialogResult = DialogResult.Retry;
break;
case "Ignore":
DialogResult = DialogResult.Ignore;
break;
case "OK":
DialogResult = DialogResult.OK;
break;
case "Cancel":
DialogResult = DialogResult.Cancel;
break;
case "Yes":
DialogResult = DialogResult.Yes;
break;
case "No":
DialogResult = DialogResult.No;
break;
}
Close();
}
private static Size MessageSize(string message)
{
int width=350;
int height = 230;
SizeF size = TextRenderer.MeasureText(message, new Font("Segoe UI", 10));
if (message.Length < 150)
{
if ((int)size.Width > 350)
{
width = (int)size.Width;
}
}
else
{
string[] groups = (from Match m in Regex.Matches(message, ".{1,180}") select m.Value).ToArray();
int lines = groups.Length+1;
width = 700;
height += (int)(size.Height+10) * lines;
}
return new Size(width, height);
}
private void AddButton(string caption)
{
var btn = new Button();
btn.Text = caption;
btn.Font = new Font("Segoe UI", 8);
btn.BackColor = Color.FromArgb(225, 225, 225);
btn.Padding = new Padding(3);
btn.Height = 30;
btn.Click += ButtonClick;
_flpButtons.Controls.Add(btn);
}
}
}
One can then just keep the reference of the dialog in a class scope, show the dialog and get the result, or just close it in an application exit event handler.
MsgBox _msgBox;
void eventHandler1(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
_msgBox = MsgBox.Create("Do you want to continue", "Inquiry", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo);
var result = _msgBox.ShowDialog();
// do something with result
}
void applicationExitHandler(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (_msgBox != null)
_msgBox.Close();
}

I think the cleanest way would be to implement you own message box form like
class MyMessageBox : Form {
private MyMessageBox currentForm; // The currently active message box
public static Show(....) { // same as MessageBox.Show
// ...
}
public static Show(...) { // define additional overloads
}
public static CloseCurrent() {
if (currentForm != null)
currentForm.Close();
}
// ...
}
In some of my larger projects, I found this approach useful also for other purposes (such as automatic logging of error messages etc.)
The second idea I have would be to use GetTopWindow() (or maybe some other WIN32 function) to get the current top-level window of your application and send a WM_CLOSE message to it.

Taking as an assumption that you can edit the code that's calling the
MessageBox.Show() method, I would recommend not use
MessageBox. Instead, just use your own custom form, calling ShowDialog()
on it to do basically the same thing as the MessageBox class. Then, you
have the instance of the form itself, and you can call Close() on that
instance to close it.
A good example is here.

I used .net 2 and two approaches with the same trick.
Open the MessageBox from stub-Form with MessageBox.Show(this,"message")
When the form is not visible or doesn't has really UI.
Keep the form handler and close it with:
static extern IntPtr SendMessage(IntPtr hWnd, UInt32 Msg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam);
or
holding the form as class parameter and using FormX.Close().
Since the Form is the owner of the MessageBox, Closing it will close the MessageBox.

The easiest solution is to create a form that will close on timer_tick
private int interval = 0;
private string message = "";
public msgBox(string msg = "", int i = 0)
{
InitializeComponent();
interval = i;
message = msg;
}
private void MsgBox_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (interval > 0)
timer1.Interval = interval;
lblMessage.Text = message;
lblMessage.Width = panel1.Width - 20;
lblMessage.Left = 10;
}
private void Timer1_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
this.Close();
}
private void Panel1_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
{
ControlPaint.DrawBorder(e.Graphics, this.panel1.ClientRectangle, Color.DarkBlue, ButtonBorderStyle.Solid);
}
Method to use in main form
private void showMessage(string msg, int interval = 0)
{
msgBox mb = new msgBox(msg, interval);
mb.ShowDialog(this);
}
Call it
showMessage("File saved");

Create your own control for this and implement behavior you like to have there. As an option there may be a timer to close this MessageBox.

How do you prevent a windows from being moved?

How would i go about stopping a form from being moved. I have the form border style set as FixedSingle and would like to keep it this way because it looks good in vista :)

Take a look at this link. You might be interested in option #3. It will require you to wrap some native code, but should work. There's also a comment at the bottom of the link that shows an easier way to do it. Taken from the comment (can't take credit for it, but I'll save you some searching):
protected override void WndProc(ref Message message)
{
const int WM_SYSCOMMAND = 0x0112;
const int SC_MOVE = 0xF010;
switch(message.Msg)
{
case WM_SYSCOMMAND:
int command = message.WParam.ToInt32() & 0xfff0;
if (command == SC_MOVE)
return;
break;
}
base.WndProc(ref message);
}

You can set the FormBorderStyle property of the Form to None
this.FormBorderStyle=System.Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.None

I found this to stop the form from moving (its in c#)
protected override void WndProc(ref Message m)
{
const int WM_SYSCOMMAND = 0x0112;
const int SC_MOVE = 0xF010;
switch (m.Msg)
{
case WM_SYSCOMMAND:
int command = m.WParam.ToInt32() & 0xfff0;
if (command == SC_MOVE)
return;
break;
}
base.WndProc(ref m);
}
Found here

Try to override WndProc:
protected override void WndProc(ref Message m)
{
const int WM_NCLBUTTONDOWN = 161;
const int WM_SYSCOMMAND = 274;
const int HTCAPTION = 2;
const int SC_MOVE = 61456;
if ((m.Msg == WM_SYSCOMMAND) && (m.WParam.ToInt32() == SC_MOVE))
{
return;
}
if ((m.Msg == WM_NCLBUTTONDOWN) && (m.WParam.ToInt32() == HTCAPTION))
{
return;
}
base.WndProc(ref m);
}

It's not all pretty (there is some flashing going on when you try to move the form), but you can use the LocationChanged property to keep the form where you want it:
private Point _desiredLocation;
// assign the _desiredLocation variable with the form location at some
// point in the code where you know that the form is in the "correct" position
private void Form_LocationChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (this.Location != _desiredLocation)
{
this.Location = _desiredLocation;
}
}
Out of curiousity; why would you want to do this?

In Windows, the WS_CAPTION style is the non-client area that allows your window to be moved with a mouse. So the easiest way to do what you want is to remove this style from your window.
However, if you need to have a caption and still achieve what you want, then the next style would be to capture the WM_NCHITTEST message and check for HTCAPTION. If the code is HTCAPTION, return NTNOWHERE instead. This will prevent the default window procedure from executing the default move window thing.

It's not a good practice to make your form immovable. I'd think agfain about it if I were you.
Anyway, you can do this by overridding the WinProc to disable the [Move] menuitem from the system menu.
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
private static extern Int32 EnableMenuItem ( System.IntPtr hMenu , Int32uIDEnableItem, Int32 uEnable);
private const Int32 HTCAPTION = 0×00000002;
private const Int32 MF_BYCOMMAND =0×00000000;
private const Int32 MF_ENABLED =0×00000000;
private const Int32 MF_GRAYED =0×00000001;
private const Int32 MF_DISABLED =0×00000002;
private const Int32 SC_MOVE = 0xF010;
private const Int32 WM_NCLBUTTONDOWN = 0xA1;
private const Int32 WM_SYSCOMMAND = 0×112;
private const Int32 WM_INITMENUPOPUP = 0×117;
protected override void WndProc(ref System.Windows.Forms.Message m )
{
if (m.Msg == WM_INITMENUPOPUP)
{
//handles popup of system menu
if ((m.LParam.ToInt32() / 65536) != 0) // 'divide by 65536 to get hiword
{
Int32 AbleFlags = MF_ENABLED;
if (!Moveable)
{
AbleFlags = MF_DISABLED | MF_GRAYED; // disable the move
}
EnableMenuItem(m.WParam, SC_MOVE, MF_BYCOMMAND | AbleFlags);
}
}
if (!Moveable)
{
if (m.Msg == WM_NCLBUTTONDOWN) //cancels the drag this is IMP
{
if (m.WParam.ToInt32() == HTCAPTION) return;
}
if (m.Msg == WM_SYSCOMMAND) // Cancels any clicks on move menu
{
if ((m.WParam.ToInt32() & 0xFFF0) == SC_MOVE) return;
}
}
base.WndProc(ref m);
}
Also, you can handle OnMove event of your form. But I think this will cause some flickering:
private void Form1_Move(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
this.Location = defaultLocation;
}

Just change the FormBorderStyle property to None.

change the Form property StartPostion to Manual.
Then, handle the LocationChanged event:
private void frmMain_LocationChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Location = new Point(0, 0);
}

Go to form events-> Location changed
write the following code
Location = new Point(this.Width,this.Height);

I would question your need to make the form unmovable. This doesn't sound nice. You could of course save the location of the window when the window closes and reopen the window into that position. That gives the user some control over where the window should be located.

You can subscribe to the Form.Move event and reposition from it.

Just reset the location on formlocation_changed event to where it was i.e. set the Form.Location to a variable before it's moved and when the user tries to move it, it will go back to the variable location you set it to.

Private Sub MyFormLock()
Me.Location = New Point(0, 0)
End Sub
Private Sub SearchSDR_LocationChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.LocationChanged
Call MyFormLock()
End Sub

You can try:
this.Locked = true;