how can i get all the available messages on a MSMQ Queue

Question

Whats the best way to get all the messages currently on a queue to process?

We have a queue with a large number of very small messages, what I would like to do is read all the current messages off and then send them through a thread pool for processing.

I can't seem to find any good resource which will show me how i can create a simple method to return an IEnnumerable for example

Thanks

Answer 1

Although I agree with Nick that the queue's purpose is more for FIFO style processing, and ArsenMkrt's solution will work, another option involves using a MessageEnumerator and piling the messages into your IEnumerable.

var msgEnumerator = queue.GetMessageEnumerator2();
var messages = new List<System.Messaging.Message>();
while (msgEnumerator.MoveNext(new TimeSpan(0, 0, 1)))
{
    var msg = queue.ReceiveById(msgEnumerator.Current.Id, new TimeSpan(0, 0, 1));
    messages.Add(msg);
}

Answer 2

For simple stuff...

public void DoIt()
    {

        bool continueToSeekForMessages = true;

        while (continueToSeekForMessages)
        {
            try
            {
                var messageQueue = new System.Messaging.MessageQueue(@"FormatName:Direct=OS:MyComputerNameHere\Private$\MyPrivateQueueNameHere");
                var message = messageQueue.Receive(new TimeSpan(0, 0, 3));
                message.Formatter = new System.Messaging.XmlMessageFormatter(new String[] { "System.String,mscorlib" });
                var messageBody = message.Body;

            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                continueToSeekForMessages = false;
            }
        }
    }

.

Also, could use peek instead of taking the message off the queue.

Also, could use GetMessageEnumerator2