Create an Inactive Message Box in Powershell

spiceuser-54vvg · 2022-05-13T18:29:53.000Z

Howdy Spiceheads!!

Utilizing PowerShell, I created a ps1 that PDQ can deploy out. However, when the script executes, the Message Box is Active (pressing spacebar = yes) and if our users don’t notice it, and they hit the spacebar, their PC will restart. Anyone know of some scripting that will allow a user that doesn’t notice the message box to continue to type without it making a selection? The PS Script is below. Please don’t make fun of it, this is my first working script. Yes it is Ugly, Yeah probably a lot of stuff that wasn’t needed, but it WORKS. With the one exception. Thanks in advance. Happy Friday.

$shell = New-Object -ComObject "Shell.Application"
$shell.minimizeall()

Add-Type -AssemblyName PresentationCore,PresentationFramework

$msgBody = "Your device requires a system reboot to update or upgrade system software! If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the IT Department at Extension 820."
$msgTitle = "A SYSTEM REBOOT IS REQUIRED"
$msgButton = 'YesNo'
$msgImage = 'Question'
$Result = [System.Windows.MessageBox]::Show($msgBody,$msgTitle,$msgButton,$msgImage)
Write-Host "The user chose: $Result [" ($result).value__ "]"
$condition = $Result
#if ($condition -eq 7)
#    {
#    Return
#    }
if ($condition -eq 6)
    {
    Restart-Computer
    }

exit

ich-ni-san · 2022-05-13T18:42:20.000Z

I’m not a programmer, but it seems the problem boils down to

the message box window has focus
the “Yes” button has focus (or is the default button)

So, can any of these be done?

Set the focus to the “No” button, so that it becomes the default
If it doesn’t have a “No” button, can you change the message box type to one that has a “Yes” and “No”
Move the focus elsewhere by opening a secondary message box that does nothing other than warn of the other message box and pending restart

I’m sure there are better ways and hopefully one of the experts will post something, but in the meantime, those are some possibilities to consider.

fatrix2000 · 2022-05-13T18:44:50.000Z

One of the parameters in the MessageBox is DefaultButton. You could set that to be a cancel so inadvertent clicks or keypresses have a soft landing.

Alternatively, you could set this to run after-hours with a forced restart and just warn everyone ahead of time that their desktops will restart later that evening (saving all open documents, of course)

More info ==> MessageBoxDefaultButton Enum (System.Windows.Forms) | Microsoft Learn

jessevas · 2022-05-13T19:32:49.000Z

Maybe make the script run as a job instead of an active script?

The Ginger Ninja

PowerShell: Getting Started - Jobs — The Ginger Ninja

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Neally · 2022-05-13T23:07:24.000Z

If you post code, please use the ‘Insert Code’ button. Please and thank you!

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING! Read if you're new to the PowerShell forum! Programming & Development

Hi, and welcome to the PowerShell forum! Don’t apologize for being a “noob” or “newbie” or “n00b.” There’s just no need – nobody will think you’re stupid, and the forums are all about asking questions. Just ask! Use a descriptive subject. Don't say "Need help" or "PowerShell Help", actually summarize what the problem is. It helps the rest of us keep track of which problem is which. Don’t post massive scripts. We’re all volunteers and we don’t have time to read all that, nor will we copy, past…

192033ab-bb8f-4032-88a5-8e2313af0344-codebutton_small.png

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PatrickFarrell · 2022-05-14T03:49:50.000Z

Great job working things out. Would never make fun of anyone trying to learn coding. As was suggested, you could change the default to no with the following. (You could put the No in a variable like $defaultanswer if you wanted and throw that in the command) No is the value of the button we are choosing as the default.

$Result = [System.Windows.MessageBox]::Show($msgBody,$msgTitle,$msgButton,$msgImage,"No")

spiceuser-54vvg · 2022-05-16T14:32:51.000Z

@ich-ni-san Thanks for your reply! Yes the message box has a yes and no button, however we are looking for both of these to be unfocused, we do not want them hitting space and inadvertently restarting their PC, However we also do not want them to inadvertently hit no and dismiss the reboot all together. My CIO does not want multiple messages as he feels the users will become aggravated by multiple boxes, or worse start alerting that they have a “virus” that keeps popping up multiple boxes.

spiceuser-54vvg · 2022-05-16T14:35:02.000Z

@fatrix2000 Thank you for your reply, the organization is in the health care industry, and most devices are on and in use 24/7, hence the unwillingness to force a restart.

fatrix2000 · 2022-05-16T14:37:48.000Z

MathewJ:

Fatrix2000 Thank you for your reply, the organization is in the health care industry, and most devices are on and in use 24/7, hence the unwillingness to force a restart.

Ah, I can understand that one. Were you able to make use of the defaultButton parameter?

spiceuser-54vvg · 2022-05-16T14:40:55.000Z

@jessevas Thanks for your reply, I will look into the jobs idea, thanks!

spiceuser-54vvg · 2022-05-16T14:42:20.000Z

@alexw , apologies for that, I have edited the original post and inserted the code instead of pasting it in.

spiceuser-54vvg · 2022-05-16T14:45:43.000Z

@fatrix2000 We have not yet been able to make use of a default button. @pfarrell Has provided some insight with his code snippet, and I will look into that further today as well as @jessevas comment on running as a job.

spiceuser-54vvg · 2022-05-17T14:50:48.000Z

OK Powershell Gurus, time for an update! I have written the below code, which does every thing it needed to, However, the new box is now sizable, which apparently is bad, and now I have been asked to find a way to incorporate our logo…

So here is the current code.

# Minimize all objects and applications on the screen

$shell = New-Object -ComObject "Shell.Application"
$shell.minimizeall()

# Load the .NET Framework classes

Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing

# Build out your custom message box
# .Text is your Message Title
# .Size is your Box size measured in pixels (Width, Height)

$form = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Form
$form.Text = 'Your Device Requires a System Reboot'
$form.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(400,200)
$form.StartPosition = 'CenterScreen'

# Create your Yes button
# .Location is your starting point (Pixels from Left, Pixels from Top)
# .Size is your button size (Width, Height)
# .Text is your Button Text

$yesButton = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$yesButton.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(67,120)
$yesButton.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(100,23)
$yesButton.Text = 'Restart Now'
$yesButton.DialogResult = [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::Yes
$form.AcceptButton = $yesButton
$form.Controls.Add($yesButton)

# Create your No button
# .Location is your starting point (Pixels from Left, Pixels from Top)
# .Size is your button size (Width, Height)
# .Text is your Button Text

$noButton = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$noButton.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(233,120)
$noButton.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(100,23)
$noButton.Text = 'Restart Later'
$noButton.DialogResult = [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::No
$form.CancelButton = $noButton
$form.Controls.Add($noButton)

# Create your "Help" button (I will be hiding this button behind the others)
# .Location is your starting point (Pixels from Left, Pixels from Top)
# .Size is your button size (Width, Height)
# .Text is your Button Text

$helpButton = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$helpButton.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(250,125)
$helpButton.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(1,1)
$helpButton.Text = 'Click Elsewhere'
$helpButton.DialogResult = [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::None
$form.HelpButton = $helpButton
$form.Controls.Add($helpButton)

# Create your message body label.
# .Location is your starting point based on the bottom left of the title block
# .Size is the size of your text block for the message body
# .Text is your message's body!

$label = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label
$label.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(10,20)
$label.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(280,50)
$label.Text = 'Your device requires a system reboot to update or upgrade system software! If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the IT Department at Extension 820.'
$form.Controls.Add($label)

# Ensure that the Message box is TopMost (always on top of other apps)

$form.Topmost = $true

# Ensure the keyboard focus starts on the useless button

$form.Add_Shown({$helpButton.Select()})
$result = $form.ShowDialog()

# Assign what the "Yes" and "No" Buttons do

if ($result -eq [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::Yes) {
    Restart-Computer
} elseif ($result -eq [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::No) {
    Return
}

And I have found this as a way to insert images:

$Source = "C:\Users\tjones\Pictures\minion.jpg"
$Image = New-Object System.Windows.Controls.Image
$Image.Source = $Source
$Image.Height = [System.Drawing.Image]::FromFile($Source).Height / 2
$Image.Width = [System.Drawing.Image]::FromFile($Source).Width / 2
 
New-WPFMessageBox -Content $Image -Title "Minions Rock!" -TitleBackground LightSeaGreen -TitleTextForeground Black

Does anyone know if these two can be combined to create a single box that has our logo, as well as all the other previous requirements? Also can anyone figure out where this resizable box is getting its parameters, and whether or not those can be changed to make it a set size?

jimlong3 · 2022-05-18T13:59:01.000Z

I set our co. logo as a background thus:

$Form.BackgroundImage = [system.drawing.image]::FromFile("C:\Wallpaper.jpg")  # GPO'd onto every PC in AD
$Form.BackgroundImageLayout = "Stretch"
# None, Tile, Center, Stretch, Zoom

$Form.Width = $Form.BackgroundImage.Width / 3
$Form.Height = $Form.BackgroundImage.Height / 3
$Form.Size = $Form.MinimumSize = New-Object System.Drawing.Size($Form.Width,$Form.Height)

… and if you don’t want the spacebar to trigger your ‘Ok’ button:

$Form.AcceptButton = $CANCELButton

If, by “resizable box” you mean the Form, this may help:

# Form Specs
$Form = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Form
$Form.Text = "Restart Quickbooks on $($QBServer)"
$Form.StartPosition = "CenterScreen"
$Form.KeyPreview = $True
$Form.FormBorderStyle = 5
<#
$Form.FormBorderStyle = 2
None 		0 	No border.
FixedSingle 	1 	A fixed, single-line border.
Fixed3D 	2 	A fixed, three-dimensional border.
FixedDialog 	3 	A thick, fixed dialog-style border.
Sizable 	4 	A resizable border.
FixedToolWindow 5 	A tool window border that is not resizable. A tool window does not appear in the taskbar or in the window that appears when the user presses ALT+TAB. Although forms that specify FixedToolWindow typically are not shown in the taskbar, you must also ensure that the ShowInTaskbar property is set to false, since its default value is true.
SizableToolWindow 6 	A resizable tool window border. A tool window does not appear in the taskbar or in the window that appears when the user presses ALT+TAB.
#>

…and instead of this:

if ($result -eq [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::Yes) {
    Restart-Computer
} elseif ($result -eq [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::No) {
    Return
}

I execute thus:

$Form.Add_KeyDown({If ($_.KeyCode -eq "Enter"){& $QBbutton_click}})
$Form.Add_KeyDown({If ($_.KeyCode -eq "Escape"){& $CANCELButton_click}})
#[...]
<#
	Define Buttons
#>
# Definitions (x,y)
$ButtonY = 25  # Button Height
$ButtonLine = 55
$IDLabelLoc = @(190,12)
$InfoWarnLoc = @(70,235)
$InfoWarnSiz = @(480,75)
$ReturnStatusLoc = @(250,($ButtonLine + 40))
$ReturnStatusSiz = @(150,$ButtonY)
$QBButtonLoc = @(190,$ButtonLine)
$QBButtonSiz = @(75,$ButtonY)
$SvrButtonLoc = @(320,$ButtonLine)
$SvrButtonSiz = @(130,$ButtonY)
$CANCELButtonLoc = @(260,($ButtonLine + 40))
$CANCELButtonSiz = @(75,$ButtonY)

## Draw and place them
# RESTART Services button
$QBbutton = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$QBbutton.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size($QBButtonLoc)
$QBbutton.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size($QBButtonSiz)
$QBbutton.Text = "Restart QB"
$Form.Controls.Add($QBbutton)

# RESTART Server button
$SvrButton = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$SvrButton.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size($SvrButtonLoc)
$SvrButton.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size($SvrButtonSiz)
$SvrButton.Text = "Restart $($QBServer)"
$Form.Controls.Add($SvrButton)

# CANCEL button
$CANCELButton = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$CANCELButton.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Size($CANCELButtonLoc)
$CANCELButton.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size($CANCELButtonSiz)
$CANCELButton.Text = "Cancel"
$Form.Controls.Add($CANCELButton)
 
## Define their actions
$QBbutton_click = {
	$StatusBar.Text = "$ScriptName -- Restarting QuickBooks services on $($QBServer)"
#  First the DB Manager
	Get-Service "QuickBooks*" -ComputerName $QBServer | Restart-Service @WhatIf
#  Then the CF Monitor
	Get-Service "QBCF*" -ComputerName $QBServer | Restart-Service @WhatIf
#  Inform the Script User
	Write-Output "QuickBooks services on $($QBServer) restarted by $($ScriptUser) from $($ScriptComputer) on $(Get-Date -format 'F')" | Out-File ".\$ScriptName.log" -Append
	$returnStatus.BackColor = "Green"
	$returnStatus.Text = "Restarting QuickBooks, Please wait 5 minutes..."
	$returnStatus.Visible = $True

#  Show progress
	Do {
		$StatusBar.Text = "Status: $((Get-Service "QuickBooks*" -ComputerName $QBServer).Status)"
	} Until (((Get-Service "QuickBooks*" -ComputerName $QBServer).Status -eq "Running"))
	Start-Sleep -Seconds 3
	$Form.Close()
}  # End QBbutton_click inline function
$QBButton.Add_Click($QBbutton_click)  #This only works *after* the function added has been defined.

$SvrButton_click = {
	$StatusBar.Text = "$ScriptName -- Restarting $($QBServer)"
#  Restart the Server
	Restart-Computer $QBServer @WhatIf
#  Inform the Script User
	Write-Output "QuickBooks server $($QBServer) restarted by $($ScriptUser) from $($ScriptComputer) on $(Get-Date -format 'F')" | Out-File ".\$ScriptName.log" -Append
	$returnStatus.BackColor = "Green"
	$returnStatus.Text = "Restarting $($QBServer), Please wait 5 minutes..."
	$returnStatus.Visible = $True
#  Show progress
	Do {
		$StatusBar.Text = "$($QBServer) Running Status: $(Test-Connection $QBServer -Count 1 -Quiet)"
	} Until (Test-Connection $QBServer -Count 1 -Quiet)
	Start-Sleep -Seconds 3
	$Form.Close()
}  # End Svrbutton_click inline function
$SvrButton.Add_Click($SvrButton_click)  #This only works *after* the function added has been defined.

$CANCELbutton_click = {
	$InfoText.BackColor = "Transparent"
	$InfoText.Text = ""
	$StatusBar.Text = "Aborting..."
	$returnStatus.BackColor = "Yellow"
	$returnStatus.Text = "Abort!  Abort!  Abort!"
	$returnStatus.Visible = $True
	Start-Sleep -Seconds 1
	$StatusBar.Text = "Done"
	$Form.Close()
}  # End CANCELbutton_click inline function
$CANCELButton.Add_Click($CANCELbutton_click)  #This only works *after* the function added has been defined.

One other little trick, that " @WhatIf " business. I set that based on argument thus:

# -Scared triggers WhatIf instead of execution
	[Switch]$Scared = $False
)  # End Parameter Block
#[...]
$Cutoff = (Get-Date).AddSeconds(30).Second
If ($Scared){$WhatIf = @{WhatIf = $True}} Else {$WhatIf = @{WhatIf = $False}}

HTH…

spiceuser-54vvg · 2022-05-20T16:15:18.000Z

@jimlong3 , Wow, just wow. You sir are definitely way more advanced with PowerShell than I am sir. That is some impressive coding there. Thanks for your input.

spiceuser-54vvg · 2022-05-20T17:02:24.000Z

Thank you all again for your help in this, whether you know it or not, or if you can even see it, you all helped in your own way, each idea sparked a thought process that allowed me to eventually arrive at the below code (the 64baseimage string was removed as this post would be way to long with it). It meets all the boxes that were asked by the organization, and “IT WORKS”! Yes, it is ugly, it is bloated with commented out portions (so i can use them in future codes), It is overthought and probably has a much slimmer and effective way to be written, but IT WORKS. I feel so good about getting it done, and again want to thank @ich-ni-san , @fatrix2000 , @jessevas , @alexw , @pfarrell , and @jimlong3 . You all were great.

# Minimize all objects and applications on the screen

$shell = New-Object -ComObject "Shell.Application"
$shell.minimizeall()

# Load the .NET Framework classes

Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing

# Build out your custom message box
# .Text is your Message Title
# .Size is your Box size measured in pixels (Width, Height)

$form = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Form
$form.Text = 'Your Device Requires a System Reboot'
$form.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(600,400)
$form.StartPosition = 'CenterScreen'
$form.FormBorderStyle = 'FixedSingle'
$form.MaximizeBox = $false
$form.MinimizeBox = $false

# Add an image to the form using Base64
$base64ImageString = "Convert your image at https://www.base64-image.de/ and then insert the string here"
$imageBytes = [Convert]::FromBase64String($base64ImageString)
$ms = New-Object IO.MemoryStream($imageBytes, 0, $imageBytes.Length)
$ms.Write($imageBytes, 0, $imageBytes.Length);
$Form.BackgroundImage = [System.Drawing.Image]::FromStream($ms, $true)

# Add the SCH logo to the message box background

#$Form.BackgroundImage = [system.drawing.image]::FromStream($ms, $true)
$Form.BackgroundImageLayout = "Stretch"
$Form.Width = $Form.BackgroundImage.Width
$Form.Height = $Form.BackgroundImage.Height
$Form.Size = $Form.MinimumSize = New-Object System.Drawing.Size($Form.Width,$Form.Height)

# Create your Yes button
# .Location is your starting point (Pixels from Left, Pixels from Top)
# .Size is your button size (Width, Height)
# .Text is your Button Text

$yesButton = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$yesButton.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(134,300)
$yesButton.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(100,23)
$yesButton.Text = 'Restart Now'
$yesButton.DialogResult = [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::Yes
$form.AcceptButton = $yesButton
$form.Controls.Add($yesButton)

# Create your No button
# .Location is your starting point (Pixels from Left, Pixels from Top)
# .Size is your button size (Width, Height)
# .Text is your Button Text

$noButton = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$noButton.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(368,300)
$noButton.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(100,23)
$noButton.Text = 'Restart Later'
$noButton.DialogResult = [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::No
$form.CancelButton = $noButton
$form.Controls.Add($noButton)

# Create your "Help" button (I will be hiding this button behind the others)
# .Location is your starting point (Pixels from Left, Pixels from Top)
# .Size is your button size (Width, Height)
# .Text is your Button Text

$helpButton = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button
$helpButton.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(370,305)
$helpButton.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(1,1)
$helpButton.Text = 'Click Elsewhere'
$helpButton.DialogResult = [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::None
$form.HelpButton = $helpButton
$form.Controls.Add($helpButton)

# Create your message body label. (I have commented this out as the background PC has our message body)
# .Location is your starting point based on the bottom left of the title block
# .Size is the size of your text block for the message body
# .Text is your message's body!

# $label = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label
# $label.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(10,20)
# $label.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(280,50)
# $label.Text = 'Your device requires a system reboot to update or upgrade system software! If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the IT Department at Extension 820.'
# $form.Controls.Add($label)

# Ensure that the Message box is TopMost (always on top of other apps)

$form.Topmost = $true

# Ensure the keyboard focus starts on the useless button

$form.Add_Shown({$helpButton.Select()})
$result = $form.ShowDialog()

# Assign what the "Yes" and "No" Buttons do

if ($result -eq [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::Yes) {
    Restart-Computer
} elseif ($result -eq [System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult]::No) {
    Return
}

jimlong3 · 2022-05-24T10:31:31.000Z

You made the ‘Help’ button be the Form Default?? Brilliant!! I’m stealing that!

Congratulations on your achievement!! Nice work!