MsgBox does not come to foreground

[Heike]

There is an application that calls an EXE that I developped in VB.NET
This EXE opens a word application:

objWordInstance = GetObject(, "Word.Application")

If objWordInstance Is Nothing Then
    objWordInstance = CreateObject("Word.Application")
End If

After that I try to show a MessageBox but it is always hidden behind my word application. Any idea what to do?

[ProgrammerJon]

That happends alot in my apps too, but I couldn't fiqure it out.

[MrGTI]

Try this: objWordInstance.Visible = False

It might be the solution you're looking for.

[Heike]

Thanks, but I found another solution:
Now I use the optional parameter owner (type IWin32Window) to specify the application/window the messagebox belongs to.

[Linda_SA]

Hi Heike

How do you find the IWin32Window value to send as parameter. I have got the same problem, with with Visio. Visio has a WindowHandle32 property, an integer. What do I send through as parameter to make the form / messagebox modal to Visio.

Thanks in advance,

Linda

[Heike]

Hi Linda,

first I built a new class

Public Class ActiveWindow
    Implements IWin32Window
 
    Private Declare Function GetForegroundWindow Lib "user32.dll" () As Integer
 
    Private Sub New()
    End Sub
 
    Private Shared _window As ActiveWindow = New ActiveWindow()
 
    'Properties
    Public Shared ReadOnly Property Active() As IWin32Window
        Get
            Return _window
        End Get
    End Property
 
    Public ReadOnly Property Handle() As IntPtr Implements System.Windows.Forms.IWin32Window.Handle
        Get
            Return New System.IntPtr(GetForegroundWindow())
        End Get
    End Property
End Class

Then I wrote the following sub

Public Function ShowMessageBox(ByVal strMessage As String, Optional ByVal strTitle As String = "", _
Optional ByVal objButtons As MessageBoxButtons = MessageBoxButtons.OK, _
Optional ByVal objIcon As MessageBoxIcon = MessageBoxIcon.Exclamation, _
Optional ByVal objDefaultButton As MessageBoxDefaultButton = MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button1) As DialogResult
 
    Dim udtActiveWindow As ActiveWindow
    Dim drReturn As DialogResult
 
    Try
        drReturn = MessageBox.Show(udtActiveWindow.Active, strMessage, strTitle, objButtons, objIcon, objDefaultButton)
    Catch
        ErrorMessage(Err.GetException.TargetSite.GetCurrentMethod.ReflectedType.Name, Err.GetException.TargetSite.GetCurrentMethod.Name)
    End Try
 
    Return drReturn
End Function

Hope that helps.

[Linda_SA]

Hi Heike,

Thanks for the code, it cleared up a lot. The problem I have now, is that I can't minimize Visio while the modal form / message box is open. Do you have the same problem? That bothers a bit, because I would like my form to act the same way as Visio's modal forms.

If you have any suggestions or ideas, please ...

Linda

[Heike]

Linda,

indeed I do have the same problem or at least I would call it effect. But in my application I do find it senseful because if a message box is open, there is something the user must be informed of and I don't want him/her to do anything until the message was being read.

Unfortunately I have no idea. I would have thought that there might be an optional parameter or something like that to switch between modal and not modal but I can't find anything. Sorry....
But if you find something, please could you tell me?! (Maybe one day I need it, too)

Heike

[Linda_SA]

Hi Heike,

Thanks for the reply. I will let you know if I find anything that will solve this. Once again, thanks for your help and good luck with your app.

Linda