if (System.IO.File.Exists(inputData1))
                {
                    System.IO.StreamReader alertStream = new System.IO.StreamReader(inputData1);
                    alertCompare = alertStream.ReadToEnd();
                    alertStream.Close();
                    if (alertCompare == alertText)
                    {}
                    else
                    {
                        alertText = alertCompare;
                        AlertForm f2 = new AlertForm();
                        f2.alertRtfBox.Text = alertText;
                        f2.timeTextBox.Text = "Alert received on " + System.DateTime.Now;
                        f2.ShowDialog();
                        //this is where the code pauses until the user closes the f2 form.
                        System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("next");
                    }
                }