Introduction to MSMQ

---
title: Introduction to MSMQ
subtitle: MSMQ is used when data needs to be communicated between different applications
author: dotnetlearners
date: March 20, 2019
source: http://dotnetlearners.com/msmq
notoc: false
---

## Intro

Microsoft Message Queuing ([MSMQ]) technology will be used when data need to be
communicate between different application(or same application) at different
times.

**There are different types of Message Queues**:

- Public Queue
- Private Queue
- System Queue

## Configure MSMQ

Go to the **Control Panel** -> **Programs and Features** -> select **Windows features**, turn **on**/**off**.

![Windows Features > **Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ) Server**](assets/introduction_to_msmq/install.png)

To check whether **MSMQ** is installed or not... right-click on **My Computer**
and select Manage. Expand Services and **Applications** -> **Message Queuing**.

![Computer Management > **Message Queuing**](assets/introduction_to_msmq/msmq.png)

## Create Message Queue

- Right click on **My Computer** and select manage.
- Expand **Services** and **Applications** -> **Message Queuing** -> **Private Queues**.
- Right click on **Private Queues** -> **New** -> **Private Queue**

![Computer Management > Message Queuing > New > **Private Queue**](assets/introduction_to_msmq/Createmessagequeue1.png)

Enter the **name the Queue**, select **Transactional**, then click **OK**.

![New Private Queue > **Queue Name**](assets/introduction_to_msmq/Createmessagequeue2.png)

## Insert Message in Message Queue

The following sample code will give you an idea that, how to insert messages in
Message Queue.

1. Add a reference to the `System.Messaging` assembly
2. Add the `using System.Messaging;` statement.

```cs
private void InsertMessageinQueue()
{
    try
    {
        string messageQueueName = @"FormatName:DIRECT=TCP:192.168.1.3\\Private$\\pvtmsmq";
        System.Messaging.MessageQueue messageQueue = new System.Messaging.Message(messageQueueName);

        MessageQueue.Send("SampleMessage", System.Messaging.MessageQueueTransactionType.Single);

        MessageQueue.Close();
    }
    catch
    {
        throw;
    }
}
```

## Retrieve Message from Message Queue

The following sample code will give you an idea that, how to read messages from
Message Queue.

1. Add a reference to the `System.Messaging` assembly
2. Add the `using System.Messaging;` statement.

```cs
private string RetriveMessageFromQueue()
{
    try
    {
        string messageQueueName = @"FormatName:DIRECT=TCP:192.168.1.3\\Private$\\pvtmsmq";
        string messageQueueValue = string.Empty;

        System.Messaging.MessageQueue messageQueue = new System.Messaging.MessageQueue(messageQueueName);

        System.Type[] messageTypes = new System.Type[1];
        messageTypes[0] = messageQueueValue.GetType();
        messageQueue.Formatter = new System.Messaging.XmlMessageFormatter(messageTypes);

        messageQueueValue = messageQueue.Receive(new TimeSpan(0, 0, 5), System.Messaging.MessageQueueTransactionType.Single).Body.ToString();

        return messageQueueValue;
    }
    catch
    {
        throw;
    }
}
```

## Message Queue Notes

If you want to access the message queue with in the system then you can declare the MSMQ as:

```cs
System.Messaging.MessageQueue messageQueue = new System.Messaging.MessageQueue(
    @".\Private$\pvtmsmq");
```

If you want to access the message queue with in LAN system then you have to declare the MSMQ as:

```cs
System.Messaging.MessageQueue messageQueue = new System.Messaging.MessageQueue(
    @"FormatName:DIRECT=TCP:192.168.1.3\\Private$\\pvtmsmq");
```

[MSMQ]: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms711472(v=vs.85).aspx