MsgBox2 - customizable msgbox - 2020/07/31 AHK v1

[TheArkive]

AHK v2 version/discussion has been moved to this thread.

Thanks to @robodesign for LOTS of collaboration, testing, and feedback. This is definitely a joint project.
Thanks to @just me for making TaskDialog which gave me some ideas in a few places I got stuck.

I probably won't be doing too much to update this script, but I am maintaining the AHK v2 version. Please see the following posts by other users who have contributed updated versions of this code:

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User @robodesign has made another version of this library in this post.

User @warapic217 has made an updated version here.

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This class replaces, enhances, and combines the Msgbox and InputBox commands. Now you have a quick and simple solution to add as many custom buttons as you want to a Msgbox. Or you can configure this to have input controls, including any combination of an Edit box, DropDownList, ComboBox, CheckBox, or ListBox. Each of these controls can be populated and have a value pre-selected. This class actually halts the current function or thread to wait for input from the user as expected by a MsgBox / InputBox command.

After the user interacts with or closes the dialog, the following properties are populated:

Code: Select all

.list             row number selected in ListBox
.listText         text of row number selected in Listbox
.dropList         row number selected in DropDownList
.dropListText     text of row number selected in DropDownList
.combo            row number selected in ComboBox
.comboText        text of row number selected in ComboBox
.check            value of Checkbox (1 or 0 / true or false)
.button           text of the button clicked
.ClassNN          ClassNN of the button clicked

msgbox2 demo.png (8.51 KiB) Viewed 4812 times

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Changes:

2020/07/31:

• changes for AHK v2-a119
• moved v2 version to v2 forum

2020/05/19:

• completely rewritten as a class

• too many options to list, please read the help docs and comments!

• output is now only as an object with properties
  Output Properties: .list / .listText / .dropList / .dropListText / .combo / .comboText / .check / .button / .ClassNN

2020/05/04:

• thanks to @robodesign for input, suggestions, and code examples!

• added a DropDownList option list:item|item|item:default ... default = row number

• added a checkbox option check:Don't show again.

• refined code to get more consistent spacing, simplified options, help docs updated

• msgbox is now centered on parent hwnd if specified

2020/04/25:

• thanks to @robodesign for info about Critical and the fix

• created custom GetMsgDimensions() in place of GetTextPixelsInternal()

• fixed default button not getting focus

• fixed selectable text being overlapped by buttons in some cases

• added InputHook in place of While loop to wait for user input

2020/02/05:

• - added basic AHK color support for message color, and dialog background color

• - use "txtColor:cRed" / "txtColor:cFF0000" / "bgColor:Red" / "bgColor:FF0000"

• - specifying a blank value after the colon (:) uses the default system color

===========================================================================

Download on GitHub

[robodesign]

Can I set modal by hwnd? If yes, then I'll make use of it.

This looks very promising.

Best regards, Marius.

[TheArkive]

Can I set modal by hwnd? If yes, then I'll make use of it.

You mean specify "modal:HWND" as the parent to disable? Yes.

You can specify "modal:" to use the hwnd of the GUI that launched the thread, or you can use "modal:HWND", and specify your own window as the parent.

Note that if other timers are running in the background, those are NOT stopped or paused when the modal dialog comes up.

EDIT: I made some extensive help docs. Please read them carefully so you can understand all the features. Of course, if you have questions please ask!

EDIT2: I'm actually working on colors now!

[robodesign]

Okay, great. I'll try it tomorrow morning. Thank you for your work!

Best regards, Marius.

[TheArkive]

Okay, great. I'll try it tomorrow morning. Thank you for your work!

Best regards, Marius.

As another sidenote, without a GUI, MsgBox2() will pause the currently running thread / function just like a regular MsgBox function from AHK, which isn't technically "modal".

I'm just trying to say, it might be best to not specify "modal:" if it isn't needed (for anyone who tries using this library).

[robodesign]

Hello!

I have this call:

msgResult := MsgBox2("Are you sure you want to delete this image file ?`n`n" OutFileName "`n`n" OutDir "\", appTitle ": Confirmation", "icon:question,modal:" PVhwnd)

I get the error: Gui does not exist with given name. I feed a HWND of the Gui, not the Gui Label/Name. Can I use a hwnd? This is very important for me .

Owner/modal must be able to receive a hwnd.

The library is really good . I will probably use it if i can feed it hwnds.

Best regards, Marius.

[TheArkive]

Hello!

I have this call:

msgResult := MsgBox2("Are you sure you want to delete this image file ?`n`n" OutFileName "`n`n" OutDir "\", appTitle ": Confirmation", "icon:question,modal:" PVhwnd)

I get the error: Gui does not exist with given name. I feed a HWND of the Gui, not the Gui Label/Name. Can I use a hwnd? This is very important for me .

Owner/modal must be able to receive a hwnd.

The library is really good . I will probably use it if i can feed it hwnds.

Best regards, Marius.

Can you replicate the error in a short script so I can troubleshoot? Your syntax looks ok, but I need to see the context of how it is used.

[TheArkive]

I updated the example code in the OP. I made MainHwnd a Global var (shouldn't be required, must makes a demo easier), and I passed the hWnd to the options in Example #4. Still working fine for me ... Hope you can post your code so I can help...

[robodesign]

I'll test this tomorrow. Thank you.

The window is created within another thread. That's why I need to use a hwnd. By coincidence, the hwnd I pass is a global variable.

Best regards, Marius.

[TheArkive]

I'll test this tomorrow. Thank you.

The window is created within another thread. That's why I need to use a hwnd. By coincidence, the hwnd I pass is a global variable.

Best regards, Marius.

Oh, is it from another script entirely? Is the parent created by the same script that uses the MsgBox2() library?

Or are you trying to make the parent another window that comes from a different running script, or not even an AHK window?

The only reason I can think of that might explain why it's failing is, maybe, if you use Gui, MyGuiName:New. This would basically create the same window, but destroy the old one, then the hWnd would change, potentially causing this kind of problem.

Can you post your code so I can see how to possible make MsgBox2() work? Or i might need to update MsgBox2() to be more functional

[robodesign]

There are two threads created in AHK-H. They communicate between them. The first one created the window and in the other one I create the message box. So, I want to get it lock the window from the first thread.

I hope my explanation was clear enough.

The threads act as separate scripts, but AHK-H provides auxiliary functions that help with communication.

Best regards, Marius.

[TheArkive]

There are two threads created in AHK-H...

Ooooh, i see. I don't actually use AHK_H. I'm not sure what needs to be done to make my script compatible with AHK_H. I'm happy to try stuff, but I need a direction....

How would you use AHK_H Gui command to modify properties or visual look of a Gui window from one thread to another?

[robodesign]

You don't have such functions. The only functions you have are to get /set variables from the main thread, or from the child thread. And... To stop /start /kill thread. Or to call a specific function from the given thread. Nothing else.

You have to identify the +disabled GUI associated windows styles and set them by yourself to a specific hwnd / window.

Best regards, Marius.

[TheArkive]

@robodesign I'm actually trying to setup AutoHotkey v2 and/or AutoHotkey_H v2 now ... trying to figure it out.

[burque505]

@TheArkive, just ran across this, really nice work, thank you.
Regards,
burque505

[TheArkive]

@robodesign,

could you post some example code of using different threads? I'd like to take a crack at fixing this up to work.

[robodesign]

Yes.

I'll do so. Today.

Best regards, Marius.

[TheArkive]

@robodesign, thanks. I have AutoHotkey_H ... just not sure how to use it yet.

Edit: Are you using AhkThread, AhkExported, ExeThread, NewThread, or ThreadObj? I may be able to figure this out, i just need some context for how you use this code...

[robodesign]

I use: interfaceThread := ahkthread("#Include *i Lib\module-interface.ahk")

This creates a new script thread. That script includes the ahk file found on the hdd. I do not like to have in the main ahk file the whole script of the other thread, hence i use include.

Let me know if you progress. Are you on IRC or Discord? We can talk there, if you have further questions.

To call function from newly created thread use:
initGUI := interfaceThread.ahkFunction("BuildGUI")
or [if you do not want to wait]
initGUI := interfaceThread.ahkPostFunction("BuildGUI")

To get vars:
varName:= interfaceThread.ahkgetvar.varName

To assign vars:
interfaceThread.ahkassign("varName", varValue)




Best regards, Marius.

[TheArkive]

@robodesign
Ok thanks. I'll play around with this and try to find the error you experienced. Can I just create a simple GUI and run in another thread for testing? Should I use AHK_H v1 or v2?

Edit:. I'll look you up on discord or #ahk irc channel when I have questions