Showing multiple messages in Python console

Question

If I use ctypes to show message box in python console (without Tkinter), I'm not able to show two boxes at a time. I've to close the first box, then only second box will appear.

What change should I made here? or is there any other library to serve this purpose?

def display_box(text):
    return ctypes.windll.user32.MessageBoxW(0, text, "title", 0)

display_box("first box")
display_box("second box")

MessageBox displays a modal dialog, meaning that the user should deal with it before anything else (including displaying another). Why do you need this behavior? Your question seems an XY Problem. — CristiFati
– CristiFati, Commented Aug 25, 2023 at 7:06
I needed this to display some results in an automation program. I want the boxes to be open until the program finishes. It should not wait for the user input. — Salah
– Salah, Commented Aug 25, 2023 at 7:20
Then probably the best way would be to log them (on screen, file, ...), so that they don't go away once user closes the box. Also, check [SO]: C function called from Python via ctypes returns incorrect value (@CristiFati's answer) for a common pitfall when working with CTypes (calling functions). — CristiFati
– CristiFati, Commented Aug 25, 2023 at 7:37
I'm already logging the data to file. But as per the requirement, this feature is needed. — Salah
– Salah, Commented Aug 25, 2023 at 7:42

ableitung · Accepted Answer · 2023-08-25 05:40:59Z

2

You'll have to run your function asynchronously.

import ctypes
import threading

def display_box(text):
    return ctypes.windll.user32.MessageBoxW(0, text, "title", 0)

t1 = threading.Thread(target=display_box, args=("first box",))
t2 = threading.Thread(target=display_box, args=("second box",))

t1.start()
t2.start()

t1.join()
t2.join()

Returns layered on top of each other. To change that modify your X and Y variables in the messagebox function.

answered Aug 25, 2023 at 5:40

ableitung

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5 Comments

Salah Over a year ago

I suppose using thread will affect the program performance. any other method?

CristiFati Over a year ago

Check [SO]: C function called from Python via ctypes returns incorrect value (@CristiFati's answer) for a common pitfall when working with CTypes (calling functions).

ableitung Over a year ago

@Salah Not when using ctypes. You're actually making a call to the Win32 API, which is mostly synchronous as a whole, and definitely synchronous when making a modal window. (more info). Tk does the same thing when making multiple windows, but it uses multiprocessing instead which is SLOWER than threading when using ctypes (see this)

Salah Over a year ago

Can we do this without threading or multiprocessing? I just need some information window which should be present on the screen always.

ableitung Over a year ago

@Salah Calling win32 isn't particularly CPU heavy so the threading approach should have a minimal to unnoticeable performance penalty. If you don't care about the order in which the boxes are shown you can remove the join for an extra speed boost.

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