I am doing C# application, and I want to change the style of a message box. Is it possible or not?
Example: change button style, fore color, etc.
I am doing C# application, and I want to change the style of a message box. Is it possible or not?
Example: change button style, fore color, etc.
You can't restyle the default MessageBox as that's dependant on the current Windows OS theme, however you can easily create your own MessageBox. Just add a new form (i.e. MyNewMessageBox) to your project with these settings:
FormBorderStyle FixedToolWindow
ShowInTaskBar False
StartPosition CenterScreen
To show it use myNewMessageBoxInstance.ShowDialog();
. And add a label and buttons to your form, such as OK and Cancel and set their DialogResults appropriately, i.e. add a button to MyNewMessageBox
and call it btnOK
. Set the DialogResult
property in the property window to DialogResult.OK
. When that button is pressed it would return the OK result:
MyNewMessageBox myNewMessageBoxInstance = new MyNewMessageBox();
DialogResult result = myNewMessageBoxInstance.ShowDialog();
if (result == DialogResult.OK)
{
// etc
}
It would be advisable to add your own Show method that takes the text and other options you require:
public DialogResult Show(string text, Color foreColour)
{
lblText.Text = text;
lblText.ForeColor = foreColour;
return this.ShowDialog();
}
MessageBox::Show
uses function from user32.dll, and its style is dependent on Windows, so you cannot change it like that, you have to create your own form
Add a winform
to your project (I named it frmShowMessage
) and put this controls on it:
1. Panel (pnlShowMessage)
2. Label (lblMessageText)
3. PictureBox (pictureBox1)
4. ImageList (imageList1)
Replace your new form codes as below:
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
namespace CostumeMessageBox
{
public partial class frmShowMessage : Form
{
Button btnOk = new Button(); //Create object of Button.
Button btnCancel = new Button();
Button btnNo = new Button();
Button btnYes = new Button();
public const int WM_NCLBUTTONDOWN = 0xA1;
public const int HT_CAPTION = 0x2;
[DllImportAttribute("user32.dll")]
public static extern int SendMessage(IntPtr hWnd, int Msg, int wParam, int lParam);
[DllImport("user32.dll")]
public static extern bool ReleaseCapture();
public frmShowMessage()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
/// <summary>
/// Here I am overriding Paint method of form object
/// and set it's background color as gradient. Here I am
/// using LinearGradientBrush class object to make gradient
/// color which comes in System.Drawing.Drawing2D namespace.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="e"></param>
protected override void OnPaint(PaintEventArgs e)
{
base.OnPaint(e);
ControlPaint.DrawBorder(e.Graphics, ClientRectangle,
Color.DarkRed, 3, ButtonBorderStyle.Solid,
Color.DarkRed, 3, ButtonBorderStyle.Solid,
Color.DarkRed, 3, ButtonBorderStyle.Solid,
Color.DarkRed, 3, ButtonBorderStyle.Solid);
//Rectangle rect = this.ClientRectangle;
//LinearGradientBrush brush = new LinearGradientBrush(rect, Color.Snow, Color.SeaShell, 60); //LightCyan Lavender LightGray
//e.Graphics.FillRectangle(brush, rect);
//base.OnPaint(e);
}
private void frmShowMessage_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
btnOk.Text = "تایید"; //Here we set text of Button.
btnOk.DialogResult = DialogResult.OK; //Set DialogResult property of button.
btnOk.FlatStyle = FlatStyle.Popup; //Set flat appearence of button.
btnOk.BackColor = Color.Beige;
btnOk.FlatAppearance.BorderSize = 0;
btnCancel.Text = "انصراف";
btnCancel.DialogResult = DialogResult.Cancel;
btnCancel.FlatStyle = FlatStyle.Popup;
btnCancel.BackColor = Color.Beige;
btnCancel.FlatAppearance.BorderSize = 0;
btnNo.Text = "خیر";
btnNo.DialogResult = DialogResult.No;
btnNo.FlatStyle = FlatStyle.Popup;
btnNo.BackColor = Color.Beige;
btnNo.FlatAppearance.BorderSize = 0;
btnYes.Text = "بله";
btnYes.DialogResult = DialogResult.Yes;
btnYes.FlatStyle = FlatStyle.Popup;
btnYes.BackColor = Color.Beige;
btnYes.FlatAppearance.BorderSize = 0;
}
/// <summary>
/// setMessage method is used to display message
/// on form and it's height adjust automatically.
/// I am displaying message in a Label control.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="messageText">Message which needs to be displayed to user.</param>
private void setMessage(string messageText)
{
int number = Math.Abs(messageText.Length / 30);
if (number != 0)
{
lblMessageText.Height = lblRightBorder.Height = number*25;
Height = lblMessageText.Height;
}
lblMessageText.Text = messageText;
}
/// <summary>
/// This method is used to add button on message box.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="MessageButton">MessageButton is type of enumMessageButton
/// through which I get type of button which needs to be displayed.</param>
private void addButton(enumMessageButton MessageButton)
{
switch (MessageButton)
{
case enumMessageButton.OK:
{
//If type of enumButton is OK then we add OK button only.
btnOk.SetBounds(pnlShowMessage.ClientSize.Width - 80, 5, 75, 25); // Set bounds of button.
pnlShowMessage.Controls.Add(btnOk); //Finally Add button control on panel.
}
break;
case enumMessageButton.OKCancel:
{
btnOk.SetBounds((pnlShowMessage.ClientSize.Width - 70), 5, 65, 25);
pnlShowMessage.Controls.Add(btnOk);
btnCancel.SetBounds((pnlShowMessage.ClientSize.Width - (btnOk.ClientSize.Width + 5 + 80)), 5, 75, 25);
pnlShowMessage.Controls.Add(btnCancel);
}
break;
case enumMessageButton.YesNo:
{
btnNo.SetBounds((pnlShowMessage.ClientSize.Width - 70), 5, 65, 25);
pnlShowMessage.Controls.Add(btnNo);
btnYes.SetBounds((pnlShowMessage.ClientSize.Width - (btnNo.ClientSize.Width + 5 + 80)), 5, 75, 25);
pnlShowMessage.Controls.Add(btnYes);
}
break;
case enumMessageButton.YesNoCancel:
{
btnCancel.SetBounds((pnlShowMessage.ClientSize.Width - 70), 5, 65, 25);
pnlShowMessage.Controls.Add(btnCancel);
btnNo.SetBounds((pnlShowMessage.ClientSize.Width - (btnCancel.ClientSize.Width + 5 + 80)), 5, 75, 25);
pnlShowMessage.Controls.Add(btnNo);
btnYes.SetBounds((pnlShowMessage.ClientSize.Width - (btnCancel.ClientSize.Width + btnNo.ClientSize.Width + 10 + 80)), 5, 75, 25);
pnlShowMessage.Controls.Add(btnYes);
}
break;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// We can use this method to add image on message box.
/// I had taken all images in ImageList control so that
/// I can eaily add images. Image is displayed in
/// PictureBox control.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="MessageIcon">Type of image to be displayed.</param>
private void addIconImage(enumMessageIcon MessageIcon)
{
switch (MessageIcon)
{
case enumMessageIcon.Error:
pictureBox1.Image = imageList1.Images["Error"]; //Error is key name in imagelist control which uniqly identified images in ImageList control.
break;
case enumMessageIcon.Information:
pictureBox1.Image = imageList1.Images["Information"];
break;
case enumMessageIcon.Question:
pictureBox1.Image = imageList1.Images["Question"];
break;
case enumMessageIcon.Warning:
pictureBox1.Image = imageList1.Images["Warning"];
break;
}
}
#region Overloaded Show message to display message box.
/// <summary>
/// Show method is overloaded which is used to display message
/// and this is static method so that we don't need to create
/// object of this class to call this method.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="messageText"></param>
internal static DialogResult Show(string messageText)
{
frmShowMessage frmMessage = new frmShowMessage();
frmMessage.setMessage(messageText);
frmMessage.addIconImage(enumMessageIcon.Information);
frmMessage.addButton(enumMessageButton.OK);
frmMessage.ShowDialog();
return frmMessage.DialogResult;
}
internal static DialogResult Show(string messageText, string messageTitle)
{
frmShowMessage frmMessage = new frmShowMessage();
frmMessage.Text = messageTitle;
frmMessage.setMessage(messageText);
frmMessage.addIconImage(enumMessageIcon.Information);
frmMessage.addButton(enumMessageButton.OK);
frmMessage.ShowDialog();
return frmMessage.DialogResult;
}
internal static DialogResult Show(string messageText, string messageTitle, enumMessageIcon messageIcon,
enumMessageButton messageButton)
{
frmShowMessage frmMessage = new frmShowMessage();
frmMessage.setMessage(messageText);
frmMessage.Text = messageTitle;
frmMessage.addIconImage(messageIcon);
frmMessage.addButton(messageButton);
frmMessage.ShowDialog();
return frmMessage.DialogResult;
}
#endregion
private void frmShowMessage_MouseDown(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Button != MouseButtons.Left) return;
ReleaseCapture();
SendMessage(Handle, WM_NCLBUTTONDOWN, HT_CAPTION, 0);
}
}
#region constant defiend in form of enumration which is used in showMessage class.
internal enum enumMessageIcon
{
Error,
Warning,
Information,
Question,
}
internal enum enumMessageButton
{
OK,
YesNo,
YesNoCancel,
OKCancel
}
#endregion
}
Now you can call your Customized MessageBox
in your project like this:
private void btnQuestion_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
frmShowMessage.Show(rch.Text,
"Message Text", enumMessageIcon.Question, enumMessageButton.YesNoCancel);
}
private void btnInformation_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
frmShowMessage.Show(rch.Text,
"Message Text", enumMessageIcon.Information, enumMessageButton.OKCancel);
}
private void btnError_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
frmShowMessage.Show(rch.Text,
"Message Text", enumMessageIcon.Error, enumMessageButton.OK);
}
private void btnWarning_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
frmShowMessage.Show(rch.Text,
"Message Text", enumMessageIcon.Warning, enumMessageButton.YesNo);
}
I've forgotten the link which from I've learnt this.
Here is the code needed to create your own message box:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
namespace MyStuff
{
public class MyLabel : Label
{
public static Label Set(string Text = "", Font Font = null, Color ForeColor = new Color(), Color BackColor = new Color())
{
Label l = new Label();
l.Text = Text;
l.Font = (Font == null) ? new Font("Calibri", 12) : Font;
l.ForeColor = (ForeColor == new Color()) ? Color.Black : ForeColor;
l.BackColor = (BackColor == new Color()) ? SystemColors.Control : BackColor;
l.AutoSize = true;
return l;
}
}
public class MyButton : Button
{
public static Button Set(string Text = "", int Width = 102, int Height = 30, Font Font = null, Color ForeColor = new Color(), Color BackColor = new Color())
{
Button b = new Button();
b.Text = Text;
b.Width = Width;
b.Height = Height;
b.Font = (Font == null) ? new Font("Calibri", 12) : Font;
b.ForeColor = (ForeColor == new Color()) ? Color.Black : ForeColor;
b.BackColor = (BackColor == new Color()) ? SystemColors.Control : BackColor;
b.UseVisualStyleBackColor = (b.BackColor == SystemColors.Control);
return b;
}
}
public class MyImage : PictureBox
{
public static PictureBox Set(string ImagePath = null, int Width = 60, int Height = 60)
{
PictureBox i = new PictureBox();
if (ImagePath != null)
{
i.BackgroundImageLayout = ImageLayout.Zoom;
i.Location = new Point(9, 9);
i.Margin = new Padding(3, 3, 2, 3);
i.Size = new Size(Width, Height);
i.TabStop = false;
i.Visible = true;
i.BackgroundImage = Image.FromFile(ImagePath);
}
else
{
i.Visible = true;
i.Size = new Size(0, 0);
}
return i;
}
}
public partial class MyMessageBox : Form
{
private MyMessageBox()
{
this.panText = new FlowLayoutPanel();
this.panButtons = new FlowLayoutPanel();
this.SuspendLayout();
//
// panText
//
this.panText.Parent = this;
this.panText.AutoScroll = true;
this.panText.AutoSize = true;
this.panText.AutoSizeMode = AutoSizeMode.GrowAndShrink;
//this.panText.Location = new Point(90, 90);
this.panText.Margin = new Padding(0);
this.panText.MaximumSize = new Size(500, 300);
this.panText.MinimumSize = new Size(108, 50);
this.panText.Size = new Size(108, 50);
//
// panButtons
//
this.panButtons.AutoSize = true;
this.panButtons.AutoSizeMode = AutoSizeMode.GrowAndShrink;
this.panButtons.FlowDirection = FlowDirection.RightToLeft;
this.panButtons.Location = new Point(89, 89);
this.panButtons.Margin = new Padding(0);
this.panButtons.MaximumSize = new Size(580, 150);
this.panButtons.MinimumSize = new Size(108, 0);
this.panButtons.Size = new Size(108, 35);
//
// MyMessageBox
//
this.AutoScaleDimensions = new SizeF(8F, 19F);
this.AutoScaleMode = AutoScaleMode.Font;
this.ClientSize = new Size(206, 133);
this.Controls.Add(this.panButtons);
this.Controls.Add(this.panText);
this.Font = new Font("Calibri", 12F, FontStyle.Regular, GraphicsUnit.Point, ((byte)(0)));
this.FormBorderStyle = FormBorderStyle.FixedSingle;
this.Margin = new Padding(4);
this.MaximizeBox = false;
this.MinimizeBox = false;
this.MinimumSize = new Size(168, 132);
this.Name = "MyMessageBox";
this.ShowIcon = false;
this.ShowInTaskbar = false;
this.StartPosition = FormStartPosition.CenterScreen;
this.ResumeLayout(false);
this.PerformLayout();
}
public static string Show(Label Label, string Title = "", List<Button> Buttons = null, PictureBox Image = null)
{
List<Label> Labels = new List<Label>();
Labels.Add(Label);
return Show(Labels, Title, Buttons, Image);
}
public static string Show(string Label, string Title = "", List<Button> Buttons = null, PictureBox Image = null)
{
List<Label> Labels = new List<Label>();
Labels.Add(MyLabel.Set(Label));
return Show(Labels, Title, Buttons, Image);
}
public static string Show(List<Label> Labels = null, string Title = "", List<Button> Buttons = null, PictureBox Image = null)
{
if (Labels == null) Labels = new List<Label>();
if (Labels.Count == 0) Labels.Add(MyLabel.Set(""));
if (Buttons == null) Buttons = new List<Button>();
if (Buttons.Count == 0) Buttons.Add(MyButton.Set("OK"));
List<Button> buttons = new List<Button>(Buttons);
buttons.Reverse();
int ImageWidth = 0;
int ImageHeight = 0;
int LabelWidth = 0;
int LabelHeight = 0;
int ButtonWidth = 0;
int ButtonHeight = 0;
int TotalWidth = 0;
int TotalHeight = 0;
MyMessageBox mb = new MyMessageBox();
mb.Text = Title;
//Image
if (Image != null)
{
mb.Controls.Add(Image);
Image.MaximumSize = new Size(150, 300);
ImageWidth = Image.Width + Image.Margin.Horizontal;
ImageHeight = Image.Height + Image.Margin.Vertical;
}
//Labels
List<int> il = new List<int>();
mb.panText.Location = new Point(9 + ImageWidth, 9);
foreach (Label l in Labels)
{
mb.panText.Controls.Add(l);
l.Location = new Point(200, 50);
l.MaximumSize = new Size(480, 2000);
il.Add(l.Width);
}
int mw = Labels.Max(x => x.Width);
il.ToString();
Labels.ForEach(l => l.MinimumSize = new Size(Labels.Max(x => x.Width), 1));
mb.panText.Height = Labels.Sum(l => l.Height);
mb.panText.MinimumSize = new Size(Labels.Max(x => x.Width) + mb.ScrollBarWidth(Labels), ImageHeight);
mb.panText.MaximumSize = new Size(Labels.Max(x => x.Width) + mb.ScrollBarWidth(Labels), 300);
LabelWidth = mb.panText.Width;
LabelHeight = mb.panText.Height;
//Buttons
foreach (Button b in buttons)
{
mb.panButtons.Controls.Add(b);
b.Location = new Point(3, 3);
b.TabIndex = Buttons.FindIndex(i => i.Text == b.Text);
b.Click += new EventHandler(mb.Button_Click);
}
ButtonWidth = mb.panButtons.Width;
ButtonHeight = mb.panButtons.Height;
//Set Widths
if (ButtonWidth > ImageWidth + LabelWidth)
{
Labels.ForEach(l => l.MinimumSize = new Size(ButtonWidth - ImageWidth - mb.ScrollBarWidth(Labels), 1));
mb.panText.Height = Labels.Sum(l => l.Height);
mb.panText.MinimumSize = new Size(Labels.Max(x => x.Width) + mb.ScrollBarWidth(Labels), ImageHeight);
mb.panText.MaximumSize = new Size(Labels.Max(x => x.Width) + mb.ScrollBarWidth(Labels), 300);
LabelWidth = mb.panText.Width;
LabelHeight = mb.panText.Height;
}
TotalWidth = ImageWidth + LabelWidth;
//Set Height
TotalHeight = LabelHeight + ButtonHeight;
mb.panButtons.Location = new Point(TotalWidth - ButtonWidth + 9, mb.panText.Location.Y + mb.panText.Height);
mb.Size = new Size(TotalWidth + 25, TotalHeight + 47);
mb.ShowDialog();
return mb.Result;
}
private FlowLayoutPanel panText;
private FlowLayoutPanel panButtons;
private int ScrollBarWidth(List<Label> Labels)
{
return (Labels.Sum(l => l.Height) > 300) ? 23 : 6;
}
private void Button_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Result = ((Button)sender).Text;
Close();
}
private string Result = "";
}
}