What does error "A namespace cannot directly contain members such as fields or methods" mean?

Question

I added following code to my C# windows form application to show a message box when i click the closing button.. But it gives me following error..

Error CS0116 A namespace cannot directly contain members such as fields or methods ebay source C:\Users\Supun\Documents\Visual Studio 2015\Projects\ebay source\ebay source\Form1.cs 107 Active

this is the code i used..

private void Form1_FormClosing(object sender, FormClosingEventArgs e)
{
    DialogResult dialog = dialog = MessageBox.Show(
      "Do you really want to close the program?", 
      "SomeTitle", 
       MessageBoxButtons.YesNo);

    if (dialog == DialogResult.No)
    {
        e.Cancel = true;
    }
}

What do I need to do to fix it please?

Can you share your full class code with namespace, it seems like you are declaring some variables directly under namespace and not under class — Arun Kumar, Sep 13 '18 at 09:52
"A namespace cannot directly contain members such as fields or methods"...it's a fairly clear message. You cannot put a field (property) or a method directly in a namespace. They must be inside a class. Check where you've placed the method and move it to the appropriate place (I imagine it belongs inside your form's class). — ADyson, Sep 13 '18 at 09:56
PS. You know you could [google this exact error message](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=A+namespace+cannot+directly+contain+members+such+as+fields+or+methods&oq=A+namespace+cannot+directly+contain+members+such+as+fields+or+methods&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.255j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) and get lots of previous hits telling you how to resolve it without having to ask the same kind of question again. — ADyson, Sep 13 '18 at 09:57
I suggest you read https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/language-reference/compiler-messages/cs0116 and https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/programming-guide/inside-a-program/general-structure-of-a-csharp-program if you're unclear about how to structure a C# program. — ADyson, Sep 13 '18 at 09:59

score 12 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 13 '18 at 09:55

12

I would imagine you've declared that function outside of a class?

Like

namespace Something
{
    private void Method()
    {
    }
}

Instead of

namespace Something
{
    class MyClass
    {
        private void Method()
        {
        }
    }
}

answered Sep 13 '18 at 09:55

cgt_mky

196
1
2
7

i fix it .but message never come when click the close button – Ebay Boosting Sep 13 '18 at 10:17
OMG! Biggest "DOH!" moment in, like years! +1 for ameliorating my stupidity – James Wiseman Aug 10 '20 at 14:09

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 13 '18 at 10:06

Check your function is like below. I think some variable or function are directly under the namespace. Keep them inside the class.

namespace ConsoleApp1
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
           InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
             DialogResult dialog = dialog = MessageBox.Show("Do you really want to close the program?", "SomeTitle", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo);
             if (dialog == DialogResult.No)
             {
                 e.Cancel = true;
             }
        }
    }
}

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 13 '18 at 11:35

0

Don't write dialog twice, use the following simple code and you will be fine.

private void Form1_FormClosing(object sender, FormClosingEventArgs e)
{

if (MessageBox.Show("Do you really want to exit??, "Exit", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo)== DialogResult.No)
 {
    e.Cancel = true;
 }
}

answered Sep 13 '18 at 11:35

Babar Khalid

1
2

Welcome to `Stack Overflow`. The real cause of the error is as described in the accepted answer and some other responses and comments. Please read those responses and comments as it will help you understand the reasons, as well. I used to make the similar mistakes. – nam Jul 25 '19 at 15:10

What does error "A namespace cannot directly contain members such as fields or methods" mean?

3 Answers3

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