jQuery UI modal dialog overlay fade out

Question

Is it possible to apply a fade out effect on the jQuery UI modal dialog box overlay? The issue is that the overlay div is destroyed when the modal dialog box is closed preventing any kind of animation. This is the code I have that would work if the overlay div was not destroyed on close.

$("#edit-dialog-box").dialog(
{
    autoOpen: false,
    modal: true,
    width: "30em",
    show: "fade",
    hide: "fade",
    open: function()
    {
        $(".ui-widget-overlay").hide().fadeIn();
    },
    close: function()
    {
        $(".ui-widget-overlay").fadeOut();
    }
});

Answer 1

Demo: http://jsfiddle.net/276Ft/2/

$('#dialog').dialog({
    autoOpen: true,
    modal: true,

    width: '100px',
    height: '100px',

    show: 'fade',
    hide: 'fade',

    open: function () {
        $('.ui-widget-overlay', this).hide().fadeIn();

        $('.ui-icon-closethick').bind('click.close', function () {
            $('.ui-widget-overlay').fadeOut(function () {
              $('.ui-icon-closethick').unbind('click.close');
              $('.ui-icon-closethick').trigger('click');
            });

            return false;
        });
    }
});

​

Answer 2

I advise not to bind the fadeOut of the overlay to the “closethick” close event.
This solution will work in all cases, for example if you use a “Cancel” button, or if the dialog closes itself after doing anything else due to other buttons:

$('#dialog').dialog({
    autoOpen: true,
    modal: true,

    width: '100px',
    height: '100px',

    show: 'fade',
    hide: 'fade',

    open: function () {
        $('.ui-widget-overlay', this).hide().fadeIn();
    },

    beforeClose: function(event, ui){
        // Wait for the overlay to be faded out to try to close it again
        if($('.ui-widget-overlay').is(":visible")){
            $('.ui-widget-overlay').fadeOut(function(){
                $('.ui-widget-overlay').hide();
                $('.ui-icon-closethick').trigger('click');
            });
            return false; // Avoid closing
        }
    }
});