[RESOLVED] make your program blink(orange) in taskbar like msn messenger

[Zapper]

I'm just creating a chess program and connecting through tcp.

I want to alert the user, in a similar fashion to that of msn messenger when one receives a message. Making the program/conversation window's in the taskbar blink orange.

Anyone know how? thanks

[alex_read]

You can add in a FlashWindow API call to accomplish this. There maybe a .Net equivalent, but I'm not aware of one so far:

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...ht=flashwindow

[alex_read]

Updated after guesswork failed, this is a tried and tested version of the call in a .Net environment:

Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices

Public Class Form1
    <DllImport("user32.dll", EntryPoint:="FlashWindow")> _
    Public Shared Function FlashWindow(ByVal hwnd As Integer, ByVal bInvert As Integer) As Integer
    End Function

    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        With Timer1
            .Interval = 300
            .Enabled = True
            .Start()
        End With
    End Sub

    Private Sub Timer1_Tick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
        FlashWindow(Me.Handle, 1)
    End Sub
End Class

[Zapper]

ill try that now =)

[Zapper]

Hmm i think dllimport is C#. Sorry, i suck with any other languages apart from vb.net, and even with vb.net, im not very good.

[alex_read]

Hiya Zapper! Between posts I wrote a quick sample and changed the code above from a "try something like this which might work" to an actual tested solution coding example. DllImport isn't C# specific, but the original suggestion of the square brackets rather than the angle brackets was - apologies there!

Basically fire up a new VB Windows Application project. Add a timer control to the form, then use that code posted above and it'll work for you.

[alex_read]

Then if you need a beta tester, let me know! Not fantastic at chess at all but I play from time to time. Good luck with your project!

[Zapper]

lol haha yea! ty alot. almost finished with it, parts of the code may be tedious, but works!
just implied Enpassant, castle and promotion
Im almost finished my exams, only 2 easy ones left. but still kinda need to study for them.
Hope to verse u soon, =)

[alex_read]

No problem. Just shout again if you can't get that one above working, or please mark the thread title with the word [Resolved] at the start of it if all's ok and working again.