MsgBox

A program to display a text-mode message box.

Description

MsgBox is to be used within a batch file to allow the user to respond with a choice. In a typical usage:

The batch file executes the MsgBox program to present the user with a Windows-style message box, in text-mode.
The user selects one of the buttons
MsgBox returns a return code.
The batch file branches appropriately given the return code.

Requirements

MS-DOS 5.0 or above
Runs in Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT

Features

Mouse support. Use the mouse to move the window around, or to click on the buttons.
Automatic time-delayed default button selection. Default button selections can be automatically made without user interaction.
Returns standard errorlevel return code. Allows easy batch files with user interaction.

Usage

MSGBOX [-asndtbf] [title] [text] [button1 [button2 [button3]]]

Example

MSGBOX "Error" "Disk Drive Door is Open" "OK"
MSGBOX -nsz -t1 -d2 -barf "Error" "Not ready reading drive A"

About

Bring up the About Box in the program to see copyright notice.

MSGBOX displays a message box. The contents of the message box are passed in through the command line. The selected button is returned as a return code.

Return codes for standard buttons (specified by "-b") are:
1:OK, 2:Cancel, 3:Help, 4:Yes, 5:No, 6:Abort, 7:Retry, 8:Ignore, 9:Fail.
Return codes for user-defined buttons start from 100.

MSGBOX is meant to be used within a batch file. For example, the following batch file code fragment displays a message box and does the appropriate actions. Note that "\n" start a new line.

MSGBOX -byn "Install" "Do you want to\ncontinue?"
if errorlevel 5 goto labelno
if errorlevel 4 goto labelyes

MSGBOX "Install" "Go ahead?" "&Of course" "&Hell no"
if errorlevel 101 goto labelno
if errorlevel 100 goto labelyes

Version 1.03 January 25, 1995. Written by Kingston Choy

Screen shots

The following screen shot was created using the following line:

MSGBOX -nsz -t1 -d2 -barf "Error" "Not ready reading drive A"

Install

Uncompress the MSGBOX.ZIP file using PKUNZIP or WinZIP into MSGBOX.EXE, 48,945 bytes. Copy file into a utilities directory, like bin\, where all utility programs are stored.

Download

MSGBOX.ZIP 23,653 bytes