MessageQueue Class (System.Messaging)

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Microsoft Visual Studio 2005/.NET Framework 2.0

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.NET Framework Class Library

MessageQueue Class

Provides access to a queue on a Message Queuing server.

Namespace: System.Messaging
Assembly: System.Messaging (in system.messaging.dll)

Syntax

Visual Basic (Declaration)

Public Class MessageQueue
    Inherits Component
    Implements IEnumerable

Visual Basic (Usage)

Dim instance As MessageQueue

public class MessageQueue : Component, IEnumerable

C++

public ref class MessageQueue : public Component, IEnumerable

public class MessageQueue extends Component implements IEnumerable

JScript

public class MessageQueue extends Component implements IEnumerable

Remarks

The Message Queuing technology allows applications running at different times to communicate across heterogeneous networks and systems that might be temporarily offline. Applications send, receive, or peek (read without removing) messages from queues. Message Queuing is an optional component of Windows 2000 and Windows NT, and must be installed separately.

The MessageQueue class is a wrapper around Message Queuing. There are multiple versions of Message Queuing, and using the MessageQueue class can result in slightly different behavior, depending on the operating system you are using. For information about specific features of each version of Message Queuing, see the topic "What's New in Message Queuing" in the Platform SDK in MSDN.

The MessageQueue class provides a reference to a Message Queuing queue. You can specify a path in the MessageQueue constructor to connect to an existing resource, or you can create a new queue on the server. Before you can call Send(Object), Peek, or Receive, you must associate the new instance of the MessageQueue class with an existing queue. At that point, you can manipulate the queue properties such as Category and Label.

MessageQueue supports two types of message retrieval: synchronous and asynchronous. The synchronous methods, Peek and Receive, cause the process thread to wait a specified time interval for a new message to arrive in the queue. The asynchronous methods, BeginPeek and BeginReceive, allow the main application tasks to continue in a separate thread until a message arrives in the queue. These methods work by using callback objects and state objects to communicate information between threads.

When you create a new instance of the MessageQueue class, you are not creating a new Message Queuing queue. Instead, you can use the Create(String), Delete, and Purge methods to manage queues on the server.

Unlike Purge, Create(String) and Delete are static members, so you can call them without creating a new instance of the MessageQueue class.

You can set the MessageQueue object's Path property with one of three names: the friendly name, the FormatName, or the Label. The friendly name, which is defined by the queue's MachineName and QueueName properties, is MachineName\QueueName for a public queue, and MachineName\Private$\QueueName for a private queue. The FormatName property allows offline access to message queues. Lastly, you can use the queue's Label property to set the queue's Path.

For a list of initial property values for an instance of MessageQueue, see the MessageQueue constructor.

Example

The following code example creates new MessageQueue objects using various path name syntax types. In each case, it sends a message to the queue whose path is defined in the constructor.

Visual Basic

Imports System
Imports System.Messaging

Public Class MyNewQueue


        
        ' Provides an entry point into the application.
        '         
        ' This example demonstrates several ways to set
        ' a queue's path.
        

        Public Shared Sub Main()

            ' Create a new instance of the class.
            Dim myNewQueue As New MyNewQueue()

            myNewQueue.SendPublic()
            myNewQueue.SendPrivate()
            myNewQueue.SendByLabel()
            myNewQueue.SendByFormatName()
            myNewQueue.MonitorComputerJournal()
            myNewQueue.MonitorQueueJournal()
            myNewQueue.MonitorDeadLetter()
            myNewQueue.MonitorTransactionalDeadLetter()

            Return

        End Sub 'Main


        ' References public queues.
        Public Sub SendPublic()

            Dim myQueue As New MessageQueue(".\myQueue")
            myQueue.Send("Public queue by path name.")

            Return

        End Sub 'SendPublic


        ' References private queues.
        Public Sub SendPrivate()

            Dim myQueue As New MessageQueue(".\Private$\myQueue")
            myQueue.Send("Private queue by path name.")

            Return

        End Sub 'SendPrivate


        ' References queues by label.
        Public Sub SendByLabel()

            Dim myQueue As New MessageQueue("Label:TheLabel")
            myQueue.Send("Queue by label.")

            Return

        End Sub 'SendByLabel


        ' References queues by format name.
        Public Sub SendByFormatName()

            Dim myQueue As New _
                MessageQueue("FormatName:Public=" + _
                    "5A5F7535-AE9A-41d4-935C-845C2AFF7112")
            myQueue.Send("Queue by format name.")

            Return

        End Sub 'SendByFormatName


        ' References computer journal queues.
        Public Sub MonitorComputerJournal()

            Dim computerJournal As New MessageQueue(".\Journal$")

            While True

                Dim journalMessage As Message = _
                    computerJournal.Receive()

                ' Process the journal message.

            End While

            Return
        End Sub 'MonitorComputerJournal


        ' References queue journal queues.
        Public Sub MonitorQueueJournal()

            Dim queueJournal As New _
                            MessageQueue(".\myQueue\Journal$")

            While True

                Dim journalMessage As Message = _
                    queueJournal.Receive()

                ' Process the journal message.

            End While

            Return
        End Sub 'MonitorQueueJournal


        ' References dead-letter queues.
        Public Sub MonitorDeadLetter()
            Dim deadLetter As New MessageQueue(".\DeadLetter$")

            While True

                Dim deadMessage As Message = deadLetter.Receive()

                ' Process the dead-letter message.

            End While

            Return

        End Sub 'MonitorDeadLetter


        ' References transactional dead-letter queues.
        Public Sub MonitorTransactionalDeadLetter()

            Dim TxDeadLetter As New MessageQueue(".\XactDeadLetter$")

            While True

                Dim txDeadLetterMessage As Message = _
                    TxDeadLetter.Receive()

                ' Process the transactional dead-letter message.

            End While

            Return

        End Sub 'MonitorTransactionalDeadLetter

End Class 'MyNewQueue

using System;
using System.Messaging;

namespace MyProject
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Provides a container class for the example.
    /// </summary>
    public class MyNewQueue
    {

        /***************************************************/
        // Provides an entry point into the application.
        //         
        // This example demonstrates several ways to set
        // a queue's path.
        /***************************************************/

        public static void Main()
        {
            // Create a new instance of the class.
            MyNewQueue myNewQueue = new MyNewQueue();

            myNewQueue.SendPublic();
            myNewQueue.SendPrivate();
            myNewQueue.SendByLabel();
            myNewQueue.SendByFormatName();
            myNewQueue.MonitorComputerJournal();
            myNewQueue.MonitorQueueJournal();
            myNewQueue.MonitorDeadLetter();
            myNewQueue.MonitorTransactionalDeadLetter();

            return;
        }
        
        // References public queues.
        public void SendPublic()
        {
            MessageQueue myQueue = new MessageQueue(".\\myQueue");
            myQueue.Send("Public queue by path name.");

            return;
        }

        // References private queues.
        public void SendPrivate()
        {
            MessageQueue myQueue = new 
                MessageQueue(".\\Private$\\myQueue");
            myQueue.Send("Private queue by path name.");

            return;
        }

        // References queues by label.
        public void SendByLabel()
        {
            MessageQueue myQueue = new MessageQueue("Label:TheLabel");
            myQueue.Send("Queue by label.");

            return;
        }

        // References queues by format name.
        public void SendByFormatName()
        {
            MessageQueue myQueue = new 
                MessageQueue("FormatName:Public=5A5F7535-AE9A-41d4" + 
                "-935C-845C2AFF7112");
            myQueue.Send("Queue by format name.");

            return;
        }

        // References computer journal queues.
        public void MonitorComputerJournal()
        {
            MessageQueue computerJournal = new 
                MessageQueue(".\\Journal$");
            while(true)
            {
                Message journalMessage = computerJournal.Receive();
                // Process the journal message.
            }
        }

        // References queue journal queues.
        public void MonitorQueueJournal()
        {
            MessageQueue queueJournal = new 
                MessageQueue(".\\myQueue\\Journal$");
            while(true)
            {
                Message journalMessage = queueJournal.Receive();
                // Process the journal message.
            }
        }
        
        // References dead-letter queues.
        public void MonitorDeadLetter()
        {
            MessageQueue deadLetter = new 
                MessageQueue(".\\DeadLetter$");
            while(true)
            {
                Message deadMessage = deadLetter.Receive();
                // Process the dead-letter message.
            }
        }

        // References transactional dead-letter queues.
        public void MonitorTransactionalDeadLetter()
        {
            MessageQueue TxDeadLetter = new 
                MessageQueue(".\\XactDeadLetter$");
            while(true)
            {
                Message txDeadLetter = TxDeadLetter.Receive();
                // Process the transactional dead-letter message.
            }
        }

    }
}

C++

#using <system.dll>
#using <system.messaging.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Messaging;
ref class MyNewQueue
{
public:

   // References public queues.
   void SendPublic()
   {
      MessageQueue^ myQueue = gcnew MessageQueue( ".\\myQueue" );
      myQueue->Send( "Public queue by path name." );
      return;
   }


   // References private queues.
   void SendPrivate()
   {
      MessageQueue^ myQueue = gcnew MessageQueue( ".\\Private$\\myQueue" );
      myQueue->Send( "Private queue by path name." );
      return;
   }


   // References queues by label.
   void SendByLabel()
   {
      MessageQueue^ myQueue = gcnew MessageQueue( "Label:TheLabel" );
      myQueue->Send( "Queue by label." );
      return;
   }


   // References queues by format name.
   void SendByFormatName()
   {
      MessageQueue^ myQueue = gcnew MessageQueue( "FormatName:Public=5A5F7535-AE9A-41d4 -935C-845C2AFF7112" );
      myQueue->Send( "Queue by format name." );
      return;
   }


   // References computer journal queues.
   void MonitorComputerJournal()
   {
      MessageQueue^ computerJournal = gcnew MessageQueue( ".\\Journal$" );
      while ( true )
      {
         Message^ journalMessage = computerJournal->Receive();
         
         // Process the journal message.
      }
   }


   // References queue journal queues.
   void MonitorQueueJournal()
   {
      MessageQueue^ queueJournal = gcnew MessageQueue( ".\\myQueue\\Journal$" );
      while ( true )
      {
         Message^ journalMessage = queueJournal->Receive();
         
         // Process the journal message.
      }
   }


   // References dead-letter queues.
   void MonitorDeadLetter()
   {
      MessageQueue^ deadLetter = gcnew MessageQueue( ".\\DeadLetter$" );
      while ( true )
      {
         Message^ deadMessage = deadLetter->Receive();
         
         // Process the dead-letter message.
      }
   }


   // References transactional dead-letter queues.
   void MonitorTransactionalDeadLetter()
   {
      MessageQueue^ TxDeadLetter = gcnew MessageQueue( ".\\XactDeadLetter$" );
      while ( true )
      {
         Message^ txDeadLetter = TxDeadLetter->Receive();
         
         // Process the transactional dead-letter message.
      }
   }

};


/**************************************************/
// Provides an entry point into the application.
//         
// This example demonstrates several ways to set
// a queue's path.
/**************************************************/
int main()
{
   
   // Create a new instance of the class.
   MyNewQueue^ myNewQueue = gcnew MyNewQueue;
   myNewQueue->SendPublic();
   myNewQueue->SendPrivate();
   myNewQueue->SendByLabel();
   myNewQueue->SendByFormatName();
   myNewQueue->MonitorComputerJournal();
   myNewQueue->MonitorQueueJournal();
   myNewQueue->MonitorDeadLetter();
   myNewQueue->MonitorTransactionalDeadLetter();
   return 0;
}

package MyProject;

import System.*;
import System.Messaging.*;

/// <summary>
/// Provides a container class for the example.
/// </summary>
public class MyNewQueue
{
    /***************************************************/
    // Provides an entry point into the application.
    //         
    // This example demonstrates several ways to set
    // a queue's path.
    /***************************************************/
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        // Create a new instance of the class.
        MyNewQueue myNewQueue = new MyNewQueue();

        myNewQueue.SendPublic();
        myNewQueue.SendPrivate();
        myNewQueue.SendByLabel();
        myNewQueue.SendByFormatName();
        myNewQueue.MonitorComputerJournal();
        myNewQueue.MonitorQueueJournal();
        myNewQueue.MonitorDeadLetter();
        myNewQueue.MonitorTransactionalDeadLetter();

        return;
    } //main

    // References public queues.
    public void SendPublic()
    {
        MessageQueue myQueue = new MessageQueue(".\\myQueue");
        myQueue.Send("Public queue by path name.");
        return;
    } //SendPublic

    // References private queues.
    public void SendPrivate()
    {
        MessageQueue myQueue = new MessageQueue(".\\Private$\\myQueue");
        myQueue.Send("Private queue by path name.");
        return;
    } //SendPrivate

    // References queues by label.
    public void SendByLabel()
    {
        MessageQueue myQueue = new MessageQueue("Label:TheLabel");
        myQueue.Send("Queue by label.");
        return;
    } //SendByLabel

    // References queues by format name.
    public void SendByFormatName()
    {
        MessageQueue myQueue =
            new MessageQueue("FormatName:Public=5A5F7535-AE9A-41d4"
            + "-935C-845C2AFF7112");
        myQueue.Send("Queue by format name.");
        return;
    } //SendByFormatName

    // References computer journal queues.
    public void MonitorComputerJournal()
    {
        MessageQueue computerJournal = new MessageQueue(".\\Journal$");
        while (true) {
            Message journalMessage = computerJournal.Receive();
            // Process the journal message.
        }
    } //MonitorComputerJournal

    // References queue journal queues.
    public void MonitorQueueJournal()
    {
        MessageQueue queueJournal = new MessageQueue(".\\myQueue\\Journal$");
        while (true) {
            Message journalMessage = queueJournal.Receive();
            // Process the journal message.
        }
    } //MonitorQueueJournal

    // References dead-letter queues.
    public void MonitorDeadLetter()
    {
        MessageQueue deadLetter = new MessageQueue(".\\DeadLetter$");
        while (true) {
            Message deadMessage = deadLetter.Receive();
            // Process the dead-letter message.
        }
    } //MonitorDeadLetter

    // References transactional dead-letter queues.
    public void MonitorTransactionalDeadLetter()
    {
        MessageQueue objTxDeadLetter = new MessageQueue(".\\XactDeadLetter$");
        while (true) {
            Message txDeadLetter = objTxDeadLetter.Receive();
            // Process the transactional dead-letter message.
        }
    } //MonitorTransactionalDeadLetter
} //MyNewQueue

The following code example sends a message to a queue, and receives a message from a queue, using an application-specific class called Order.

Visual Basic

Imports System
Imports System.Messaging

    ' This class represents an object the following example 
    ' sends to a queue and receives from a queue.
    Public Class Order
        Public orderId As Integer
        Public orderTime As DateTime
    End Class 'Order


   
    Public Class MyNewQueue


        '
        ' Provides an entry point into the application.
        '         
        ' This example sends and receives a message from
        ' a qeue.
        '

        Public Shared Sub Main()

            ' Create a new instance of the class.
            Dim myNewQueue As New MyNewQueue()

            ' Send a message to a queue.
            myNewQueue.SendMessage()

            ' Receive a message from a queue.
            myNewQueue.ReceiveMessage()

            Return

        End Sub 'Main


        '
        ' Sends an Order to a queue.
        '

        Public Sub SendMessage()

            ' Create a new order and set values.
            Dim sentOrder As New Order()
            sentOrder.orderId = 3
            sentOrder.orderTime = DateTime.Now

            ' Connect to a queue on the local computer.
            Dim myQueue As New MessageQueue(".\myQueue")

            ' Send the Order to the queue.
            myQueue.Send(sentOrder)

            Return

        End Sub 'SendMessage


        '
        ' Receives a message containing an Order.
        '

        Public Sub ReceiveMessage()

            ' Connect to the a queue on the local computer.
            Dim myQueue As New MessageQueue(".\myQueue")

            ' Set the formatter to indicate the body contains an Order.
            myQueue.Formatter = New XmlMessageFormatter(New Type() _
                {GetType(Order)})

            Try

                ' Receive and format the message. 
                Dim myMessage As Message = myQueue.Receive()
                Dim myOrder As Order = CType(myMessage.Body, Order)

                ' Display message information.
                Console.WriteLine(("Order ID: " + _
                    myOrder.orderId.ToString()))
                Console.WriteLine(("Sent: " + _
                    myOrder.orderTime.ToString()))

            Catch m As MessageQueueException
                ' Handle Message Queuing exceptions.

            Catch e As InvalidOperationException
                ' Handle invalid serialization format.
                Console.WriteLine(e.Message)


                ' Catch other exceptions as necessary.

            End Try

            Return

        End Sub 'ReceiveMessage

End Class 'MyNewQueue

using System;
using System.Messaging;

namespace MyProject
{

    // This class represents an object the following example 
    // sends to a queue and receives from a queue.
    public class Order
    {
        public int orderId;
        public DateTime orderTime;
    };    

    /// <summary>
    /// Provides a container class for the example.
    /// </summary>
    public class MyNewQueue
    {

        /***************************************************/
        // Provides an entry point into the application.
        //         
        // This example sends and receives a message from
        // a queue.
        /***************************************************/

        public static void Main()
        {
            // Create a new instance of the class.
            MyNewQueue myNewQueue = new MyNewQueue();

            // Send a message to a queue.
            myNewQueue.SendMessage();

            // Receive a message from a queue.
            myNewQueue.ReceiveMessage();

            return;
        }


        /***************************************************/
        // Sends an Order to a queue.
        /***************************************************/
        
        public void SendMessage()
        {
            
            // Create a new order and set values.
            Order sentOrder = new Order();
            sentOrder.orderId = 3;
            sentOrder.orderTime = DateTime.Now;

            // Connect to a queue on the local computer.
            MessageQueue myQueue = new MessageQueue(".\\myQueue");

            // Send the Order to the queue.
            myQueue.Send(sentOrder);

            return;
        }


        /***************************************************/
        // Receives a message containing an Order.
        /***************************************************/
        
        public  void ReceiveMessage()
        {
            // Connect to the a queue on the local computer.
            MessageQueue myQueue = new MessageQueue(".\\myQueue");

            // Set the formatter to indicate body contains an Order.
            myQueue.Formatter = new XmlMessageFormatter(new Type[]
                {typeof(MyProject.Order)});
            
            try
            {
                // Receive and format the message. 
                Message myMessage =    myQueue.Receive(); 
                Order myOrder = (Order)myMessage.Body;

                // Display message information.
                Console.WriteLine("Order ID: " + 
                    myOrder.orderId.ToString());
                Console.WriteLine("Sent: " + 
                    myOrder.orderTime.ToString());
            }
            
            catch (MessageQueueException)
            {
                // Handle Message Queuing exceptions.
            }

            // Handle invalid serialization format.
            catch (InvalidOperationException e)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(e.Message);
            }
            
            // Catch other exceptions as necessary.

            return;
        }
    }
}

C++

#using <system.dll>
#using <system.messaging.dll>

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Messaging;

// This class represents an object the following example 
// sends to a queue and receives from a queue.
ref class Order
{
public:
   int orderId;
   DateTime orderTime;
};


/// <summary>
/// Provides a container class for the example.
/// </summary>
ref class MyNewQueue
{
public:

   /**************************************************/
   // Sends an Order to a queue.
   /**************************************************/
   void SendMessage()
   {
      // Create a new order and set values.
      Order^ sentOrder = gcnew Order;
      sentOrder->orderId = 3;
      sentOrder->orderTime = DateTime::Now;

      // Connect to a queue on the local computer.
      MessageQueue^ myQueue = gcnew MessageQueue( ".\\myQueue" );

      // Send the Order to the queue.
      myQueue->Send( sentOrder );
      return;
   }

   /**************************************************/
   // Receives a message containing an Order.
   /**************************************************/
   void ReceiveMessage()
   {
      // Connect to the a queue on the local computer.
      MessageQueue^ myQueue = gcnew MessageQueue( ".\\myQueue" );

      // Set the formatter to indicate body contains an Order.
      array<Type^>^p = gcnew array<Type^>(1);
      p[ 0 ] = Order::typeid;
      myQueue->Formatter = gcnew XmlMessageFormatter( p );
      try
      {
         // Receive and format the message. 
         Message^ myMessage = myQueue->Receive();
         Order^ myOrder = static_cast<Order^>(myMessage->Body);

         // Display message information.
         Console::WriteLine( "Order ID: {0}", myOrder->orderId );
         Console::WriteLine( "Sent: {0}", myOrder->orderTime );
      }
      catch ( MessageQueueException^ ) 
      {
         // Handle Message Queuing exceptions.
      }
      // Handle invalid serialization format.
      catch ( InvalidOperationException^ e ) 
      {
         Console::WriteLine( e->Message );
      }

      // Catch other exceptions as necessary.
      return;
   }
};

/**************************************************/
// Provides an entry point into the application.
//         
// This example sends and receives a message from
// a queue.
/**************************************************/
int main()
{
   // Create a new instance of the class.
   MyNewQueue^ myNewQueue = gcnew MyNewQueue;

   // Send a message to a queue.
   myNewQueue->SendMessage();

   // Receive a message from a queue.
   myNewQueue->ReceiveMessage();
   return 0;
}

package MyProject;

import System.*;
import System.Messaging.*;

// This class represents an object the following example 
// sends to a queue and receives from a queue.
public class Order
{
    public int orderId;
    public DateTime orderTime;
} //Order

/// <summary>
/// Provides a container class for the example.
/// </summary>
public class MyNewQueue
{
    /***************************************************/
    // Provides an entry point into the application.
    //         
    // This example sends and receives a message from
    // a queue.
    /***************************************************/
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        // Create a new instance of the class.
        MyNewQueue myNewQueue = new MyNewQueue();
        // Send a message to a queue.
        myNewQueue.SendMessage();
        // Receive a message from a queue.
        myNewQueue.ReceiveMessage();

        return;
    } //main

    /***************************************************/
    // Sends an Order to a queue.
    /***************************************************/
    public void SendMessage()
    {
        // Create a new order and set values.
        Order sentOrder = new Order();
        sentOrder.orderId = 3;
        sentOrder.orderTime = DateTime.get_Now();
        // Connect to a queue on the local computer.
        MessageQueue myQueue = new MessageQueue(".\\myQueue");
        // Send the Order to the queue.
        myQueue.Send(sentOrder);

        return;
    } //SendMessage

    /***************************************************/
    // Receives a message containing an Order.
    /***************************************************/
    public void ReceiveMessage()
    {
        // Connect to the a queue on the local computer.
        MessageQueue myQueue = new MessageQueue(".\\myQueue");
        // Set the formatter to indicate body contains an Order.
        myQueue.set_Formatter(new XmlMessageFormatter(new Type[] 
            { MyProject.Order.class.ToType() }));
        try {
            // Receive and format the message. 
            Message myMessage = myQueue.Receive();
            Order myOrder = (Order)(myMessage.get_Body());
            // Display message information.
            Console.WriteLine("Order ID: "+((Int32)myOrder.orderId).ToString());
            Console.WriteLine("Sent: " + myOrder.orderTime.ToString());
        }
        catch (MessageQueueException exp) {
            // Handle Message Queuing exceptions.
        }
        // Handle invalid serialization format.
        catch (InvalidOperationException e) {
            Console.WriteLine(e.get_Message());
        }
        // Catch other exceptions as necessary.
        return;
    } //ReceiveMessage
} //MyNewQueue

Inheritance Hierarchy

System.Object
   System.MarshalByRefObject
     System.ComponentModel.Component
      System.Messaging.MessageQueue

Thread Safety

Only the following methods are safe for multithreaded operations: BeginPeek, BeginReceive, EndPeek, EndReceive, GetAllMessages, Peek, and Receive.

Platforms

Windows 98, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows CE, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Starter Edition

The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see System Requirements.

Version Information

.NET Framework

Supported in: 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Compact Framework

Supported in: 2.0

Reference

MessageQueue Members
System.Messaging Namespace
Message Class
DefaultPropertiesToSend Class
MessageQueueException
MessageQueue
Peek
Receive
BeginPeek
BeginReceive
Path
Label
FormatName
QueueName
MachineName