Copyright: Message Box Designer, by Patrick McNeill


Contents
Message Box Designer

Version 1.1

By Patrick McNeill

Click somewhere for help...


txtText
Message Box Text

This is simply the text that appears in the message box.  It is recommended that you do put text in here, but it is not required.


txtTitle
Message Box Title

This is the text that appears in the title bar of the message box.  If you leave it blank, the application title will appear in the title bar.


grpButtons
The Buttons Group

This group of options is where you specify what set of buttons you want to appear in the message box.  The options are:

•	Ok only

•	Ok and Cancel

•	Abort, Retry, Ignore

•	Yes, No, Cancel

•	Yes and No

•	Retry and Cancel

The default is Ok only.


grpIcon
The Icon Group

There are 4 icons you can choose from to accompany the text in your message box.  You specify which one you want by clicking on the corresponding option box.  The choices are:

•	None

•	Critical

•	Question

•	Exclamation

•	Information

The icon is displayed to the right of the option.  The default is none.


grpDefBut
The Default Button Group

You specify which button you want to be default in this group.  You can choose from the first, second, or third button.  If you select a button that does not appear (ie button 3 on Ok only), the first button will be default.  The default is the first button.


grpFunc
The Type Group

This group is used to specify what type of message box you want.  There are two types - sub and function.  Like Visual Basic functions, the function returns a value.  In this case, it corresponds to the button that was clicked.  You should only use function if you are using multiple buttons and need to have an action occur according to which button was pressed.  The default is sub.


btnTest
The Test It! Button

The Test It! button will take all the parameters you give it and create a message box.  The message box will be displayed so you can see if it looks right.


HelpStuff
The Help File Options

In Visual Basic 4.0, you have the option to assign a context sensitive help file to a message box.  When you check the Help File box, an open dialog appears.  Select the help file that you want.  Now the Context text box is enabled.  Type the context number in the Context box.  You define context numbers in the Help Project File in the [MAP] section.  An example map section would be:

[MAP]

MyTopic    1000

Where MyTopic would be the context string and 1000 would be the context number.  Remember that you must have a context number if you define a help file.  The Message Box Designer will warn you if this happens.


chkSysModal
The System Modal Check Box

When this check box is set to true, the message box that is created will be system modal.  This means that something must be done with it before anything else can be done.  Remember that normally, system modal message boxes are used for major errors that effect the entire system.  If it is just an informative message or small error, dont use a system modal message box.


btnMake
The Make It! Button

This button is what produces the final product.  When you click on the Make It! button, the code for your message box is copied to the Windows clipboard.  This button also closes the Message Box Designer.  Next you simply need to go in to your code and paste the code in.


AboutAuthor
About the Author

Patrick McNeill is 16 years old and has been using Visual Basic for 2 years now.  This is actually his first released program, however he has created two others that should be released soon.  These are Spanglish and Phone Assistant.  Patrick will graduate from the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in 1997.

You can always get the current version of Message Box Designer at Patricks Home Page:

http://www.tjhsst.edu/people/pmcneill/

Also, it would be nice if youd send him some money for this small program, but hes not requiring it this time.  If you want to be really nice, just send a few dollars to him at:

Patrick McNeill

1647 York Mills Lane

Reston, VA 22094