Introduction
In my software development career, I have seen many types of message boxes. In VB 6.0: MsgBox(“ ……”). In .NET: MessageBox.Show(“……”). But all message boxes are dull looking. This article demonstrates a smooth, glass effect message box for Windows based development.
Using the Code
The following is the main part of this control. The MakeMessage function generates a message box according to the string size.
Private Shared Function MakeMessage(ByVal WinText As String, _
ByVal WinHeader As String, _
ByVal WinIcon As MessageBoxIcon, _
ByVal WinButtons As MessageBoxButtons, _
ByVal WinDefault As MessageBoxDefaultButton) As DialogResult
ObjWinMessage = Nothing
ObjWinMessage = New Glass()
MessageText = "" : MessageText = WinText
HeaderText = "" : HeaderText = WinHeader
FormWidth = 0 : FormHeight = 0
HeaderWidth = 0
MsgWidth = 0 : MsgHeight = 0
WinReturn = 0
If MessageText.Trim().Length = 0 And HeaderText.Trim().Length = 0 Then
FormSize = New Size(305, 135)
FormWidth = 305 : FormHeight = 135
WinMsg.Size = New Size(FormSize.Width, FormSize.Height)
GoTo Mess
End If
HeaderWidth = StringSize(HeaderText.Trim(), MaxWidth, WinFnt).Width
MessageSize = StringSize(MessageText.Trim(), MaxWidth, WinFnt)
MsgWidth = MessageSize.Width : MsgHeight = MessageSize.Height
If HeaderText.Trim().Length > 0 And MessageText.Trim().Length = 0 Then
HeaderWidth = HeaderWidth + 80
WinReturn = Math.Max(HeaderWidth, 305)
FormSize = New Size(WinReturn, 135)
FormWidth = FormSize.Width : FormHeight = FormSize.Height
GoTo Mess
End If
HeaderWidth = HeaderWidth + 80
FormWidth = MsgWidth + 60
FormHeight = MsgHeight + 120
If HeaderText.Trim().Length = 0 And MessageText.Trim().Length > 0 Then
FormWidth = Math.Max(FormWidth, 305)
FormHeight = Math.Max(FormHeight, 135)
FormSize = New Size(FormWidth, FormHeight)
FormWidth = FormSize.Width : FormHeight = FormSize.Height
GoTo Mess
End If
If HeaderText.Trim().Length > 0 And MessageText.Trim().Length > 0 Then
WinReturn = Math.Max(HeaderWidth, FormWidth)
FormWidth = Math.Max(WinReturn, 305)
FormHeight = Math.Max(FormHeight, 135)
FormSize = New Size(FormWidth, FormHeight)
FormWidth = FormSize.Width : FormHeight = FormSize.Height
GoTo Mess
End If
Mess:
Call CreateBaseScreen()
Call CreateHeader()
Call CreateMessageIcon()
Call CreateMeaasge()
Call AddToBaseScreen()
WinMessage.Text = WinText
LblHeader.Text = WinHeader
Select Case WinIcon
Case MessageBoxIcon.Asterisk
PicIcon.Image = Drawing.SystemIcons.Asterisk.ToBitmap()
Case MessageBoxIcon.Error
PicIcon.Image = Drawing.SystemIcons.Error.ToBitmap()
Case MessageBoxIcon.Exclamation
PicIcon.Image = Drawing.SystemIcons.Exclamation.ToBitmap()
Case MessageBoxIcon.Hand
PicIcon.Image = Drawing.SystemIcons.Hand.ToBitmap()
Case MessageBoxIcon.Information
PicIcon.Image = Drawing.SystemIcons.Information.ToBitmap()
Case MessageBoxIcon.None
PicIcon.Image = Nothing
Case MessageBoxIcon.Question
PicIcon.Image = Drawing.SystemIcons.Question.ToBitmap()
Case MessageBoxIcon.Stop
PicIcon.Image = Drawing.SystemIcons.Error.ToBitmap()
Case MessageBoxIcon.Warning
PicIcon.Image = Drawing.SystemIcons.Warning.ToBitmap()
End Select
Call CreateMessageButtons(WinButtons)
Select Case WinButtons
Case MessageBoxButtons.AbortRetryIgnore
Select Case WinDefault
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button1
CmdAbort.Select()
CmdAbort.Focus() : Exit Select
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button2
CmdRetry.Select()
CmdRetry.Focus() : Exit Select
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button3
CmdIgnore.Select()
CmdIgnore.Focus() : Exit Select
End Select
Case MessageBoxButtons.OK
Select Case WinDefault
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button1
CmdOk.Select()
CmdOk.Focus() : Exit Select
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button2
CmdOk.Select()
CmdOk.Focus() : Exit Select
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button3
CmdOk.Select()
CmdOk.Focus() : Exit Select
End Select
Case MessageBoxButtons.OKCancel
Select Case WinDefault
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button1
CmdOk.Select()
CmdOk.Focus() : Exit Select
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button2
CmdCancel.Select()
CmdCancel.Focus() : Exit Select
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button3
CmdCancel.Select()
CmdCancel.Focus() : Exit Select
End Select
Case MessageBoxButtons.RetryCancel
Select Case WinDefault
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button1
CmdRetry.Select()
CmdRetry.Focus() : Exit Select
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button2
CmdCancel.Select()
CmdCancel.Focus() : Exit Select
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button3
CmdCancel.Select()
CmdCancel.Focus() : Exit Select
End Select
Case MessageBoxButtons.YesNo
Select Case WinDefault
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button1
CmdYes.Select()
CmdYes.Focus() : Exit Select
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button2
CmdNo.Select()
CmdNo.Focus() : Exit Select
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button3
CmdNo.Select()
CmdNo.Focus() : Exit Select
End Select
Case MessageBoxButtons.YesNoCancel
Select Case WinDefault
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button1
CmdYes.Select()
CmdYes.Focus() : Exit Select
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button2
CmdNo.Select()
CmdNo.Focus() : Exit Select
Case MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button3
CmdCancel.Select()
CmdCancel.Focus() : Exit Select
End Select
End Select
WinMsg.Refresh()
WinMsg.ShowDialog()
Return WinMake
End Function
Measure String
This function helps to size the message box according to the font size:
Private Shared Function StringSize(ByVal WinMsgText As String, _
ByVal WinWdth As Integer, _
ByVal WinFnt As Font) As Size
Dim GRA As Graphics = WinMsg.CreateGraphics()
Dim SZF As SizeF = GRA.MeasureString(WinMsgText, WinFnt, WinWdth)
GRA.Dispose()
Dim SZ As New Size(DirectCast(Convert.ToInt16(SZF.Width + 100), Int16), _
DirectCast(Convert.ToInt16(SZF.Height), Int16))
Return SZ
End Function
The Painting Part of the Message Box
Private Shared Sub WinMsg_Paint(ByVal sender As Object, _
ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles WinMsg.Paint
Dim MGraphics As Graphics = e.Graphics
Dim MPen As New Pen(Color.FromArgb(96, 155, 173), 1)
Dim Area As New Rectangle(0, 0, WinMsg.Width - 1, WinMsg.Height - 1)
Dim LGradient As New LinearGradientBrush(Area, Color.FromArgb(166, 197, 227), _
Color.FromArgb(245, 251, 251), _
LinearGradientMode.BackwardDiagonal)
With MGraphics
.CompositingMode = CompositingMode.SourceOver
.CompositingQuality = CompositingQuality.HighQuality
.InterpolationMode = InterpolationMode.HighQualityBicubic
.PixelOffsetMode = PixelOffsetMode.HighSpeed
.FillRectangle(LGradient, Area)
.DrawRectangle(MPen, Area)
End With
LGradient.Dispose()
MPen.Dispose()
End Sub
Private Shared Sub LblHeader_Paint(ByVal sender As Object, _
ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles LblHeader.Paint
Dim MGraphics As Graphics = e.Graphics
Dim MPen As New Pen(Color.FromArgb(96, 155, 173), 1)
Dim Area As New Rectangle(0, 0, LblHeader.Width - 1, LblHeader.Height - 1)
Dim LGradient As New LinearGradientBrush(Area, Color.FromArgb(166, 197, 227), _
Color.FromArgb(245, 251, 251), _
LinearGradientMode.BackwardDiagonal)
With MGraphics
.CompositingMode = CompositingMode.SourceOver
.CompositingQuality = CompositingQuality.HighQuality
.InterpolationMode = InterpolationMode.HighQualityBicubic
.PixelOffsetMode = PixelOffsetMode.HighSpeed
.FillRectangle(LGradient, Area)
.DrawRectangle(MPen, Area)
End With
Dim DrawBrush As New SolidBrush(Color.Black)
Dim DrawPoint As New PointF(2.0F, 4.0F)
With e.Graphics
.CompositingMode = CompositingMode.SourceOver
.CompositingQuality = CompositingQuality.HighQuality
.TextRenderingHint = Drawing.Text.TextRenderingHint.AntiAliasGridFit
.DrawString(HeaderText.ToString(), WinFnt, DrawBrush, DrawPoint)
End With
LGradient.Dispose()
MPen.Dispose()
End Sub
