According to Windows Guidelines, when you want to get the user's attention, you can flash the program item in the task bar. There is an API call to do that, but I don't know what it is.

>is there any way to make the text flash WITHOUT using the timer
>
>alternatively is there any way to make the title bar flash OR change colours without using the TIMER
>
>my problem in using the timer is that it slows down the program.