Using MsgBox without pausing the application

Question

I need to display a message to the user. When I do this using MsgBox, the program stops until the user clicks the box away. I\'d like to know if there\'s a way

Answer 1

Create a Form instead. I created a small form that only has a text box that says "Working, Please Wait". When needed I open the form, as a pop-up (docmd openform "form name"), usually just before starting some operation that is going to take some time to complete. When the work completes I close the form (docmd close acform "form name"). This does not stop the program but does provide a "Message" to the user.

Answer 2

Sounds like you're not expecting any user input from the MsgBox. In this case, depending on your application, the StatusBar may be an adequate substitute.

In Excel this is easy:

Application.StatusBar = "Please be patient..."
Application.StatusBar = iDone & " of " & iTotal & " items done."

To clear the StatusBar when done:

Application.StatusBar = False

In Access, the syntax is a tiny bit more convoluted:

Temp = SysCmd(acSysCmdSetStatus, "Hey, look at me!") ' Puts out your message
Temp = SysCmd(acSysCmdClearStatus) ' Clears StatusBar

Answer 3

As far as I've ever been able to discover, the answer is you can't. The work-around is a custom form that serves as a dialog box.

See http://www.mvps.org/access/forms/frm0046.htm (not precisely your question, but applicable).

Answer 4

MsgBox is modal (meaning the window comes up and halts execution of code until it is cleared). As other posters/commenters have mentioned - your alternative is to write your own version of a popup that is not modal. Not really worth the effort unless you really need it that way.

Answer 5

I believe you first need to evaluate if you really need a msgbox to pops-up and keep you code running.

The msgbox functionality (as already stated) is modal and you cannot 'bypass' it. However, you can create a form (similar to the msgbox), set this form as 'not Modal' and call the code to show this form. The code workflow goes on. Tested and works in Excel.

Update: My Access has lost a reference, I won't be able to test it now. Hope it works in Access as well.

Rgds

Answer 6

You can use WScript's Popup method. Here's the full details including sample code: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/x83z1d9f%28v=vs.85%29.aspx