How to customize a "MsgBox" control in Visual Basic

Question

Is there a way to customize the MsgBox control in Visual Basic?

I use it quite often to alert users. However it never pops up on the screen; it just appears along the bottom task bar. It also always has a heading similar to "App_data_xxx". Can I improve this in any way?

My searches aren't throwing up much help.

For example:

' Queries user number and password against the database and returns user
Dim matchingusers = From u In db.Users
                    Where username = u.Email And password = u.Password
                    Select u

' Checks if a valid user was returned
If matchingusers.Count = 0 Then
    MsgBox("Invalid user entered, try again")
Else
    SelectedDeveloper = 0
    ' Set the logged in user for use in the project
    GlobalVariables.LoggedInUser = matchingusers.First

Solution 1

You can use the MessageBox function and its many variables. Here's an example of what it can do:

 MessageBox.Show("The Displayed text in the messagebox", _
         "the text displayed in the title bar", MessageBoxButtons.YesNoCancel, _
             MessageBoxIcon.Error, MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button2)

Or you can still use MsgBox and use its variables, though it gives you fewer options. Here's an example:

MsgBox("message text", MsgBoxStyle.Information, "title bar text")

Solution 2

You are using a reference to the MessageBox class without specifying the Method you want to call. You cannot create an instance of MessageBox and therefore cannot pass a string as parameter to try and create one.

Use MessageBox.Show(string messageText) to display the MessageBox with the desired message.

As for your question, you should create your own MessageBox class. With this solution, you get all the options you want and can customize it completely. The call will be a little different :

//C#
var myCustomMessageBox = new CustomMessageBox();
myCustomMessageBox.ShowDialog();

//Vb
Dim myCustomMessageBox As New CustomMessageBox()
myCustomMessageBox.ShowDialog()

The ShowDialog() will be used to create the effect of a messagebox.

Comments

[Sam]

For full customization just make a separate form, then make it visible when ever you want to alert the user...

[user1703401]

MsgBox is the olden function, MessageBox is the newer one with more options. But even MsgBox has a Title argument, hard to not discover that. You are probably using it inappropriately if you feel a need to customize it. Its in-your-face reporting is pretty grating to a user, only use it sparingly and only for grave problems. Or you run the risk of the user routinely dismissing the box without reading it, missing the important ones. Lots of lesser evils available in a GUI class library.

[dbasnett]

If you are using vb .net use MessageBox. If that doesn't have what you want make your own form.

[Matt Wilko]

Can you post the code you are using to show it

[Gavin]

i have edited post to include some code. When I try to use MessageBox I get "Cannot resolve Symbol MessageBox"

[SysDragon]

Call it Messagebox.Show(). Check here the MSDN Documentation.