Form hides behind the other form after ShowDialog()

Question

I have used a customized Messagebox in my application that inherits from the Form class. It works fine when I use it on my main form. But when I use its Show() function on a form that is itself popped up from the main form, the Messagebox hides under the second form and the program therefore becomes unavailable.

Even when I use its BringToFront() function before ShowDialog() it still goes back. This is the Show() function of this customized Messagebox. I can share more of its code if necessary:

public static DialogResult Show(string message, string title)
{
    _msgBox = new MsgBox();
    _msgBox._lblMessage.Text = message;
    _msgBox._lblTitle.Text = title;
    _msgBox.Size = MsgBox.MessageSize(message);

    MsgBox.InitButtons(Buttons.OK);
    //_msgBox.BringToFront();
    _msgBox.ShowDialog();
    return _buttonResult;
}

MsgBox is the name of the class itself:

class MsgBox : Form

You can pass the owner form to the showdialog – Ahmad Nov 14 '14 at 15:26 — Ahmad, Nov 14 '14 at 15:26

score 5 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:12

Try to pass the Owner value for your internal message box class

public static DialogResult Show(string message, string title, Form owner = null)
{
    _msgBox = new MsgBox();
    _msgBox._lblMessage.Text = message;
    _msgBox._lblTitle.Text = title;
    _msgBox.Size = MsgBox.MessageSize(message);

    MsgBox.InitButtons(Buttons.OK);
    if(owner != null)
        _msgBox.ShowDialog(owner);
    else
        _msgBox.ShowDialog();
    return _buttonResult;
}

Using a default parameter you could change the code only where is needed.

After a little research I have found this question and its answers that explains a bit this behavior

I don't know exactly your context, you could try to use a default parameter and change only where it is needed. Updating the answer — Steve, Nov 14 '14 at 15:55

Form hides behind the other form after ShowDialog()

1 Answers1