How to create background process / tray application

fawzan mohamed

Hi,
I need to create an application which should search and capture some user specified files. this application should run as a background process or tray application. Do i have to write a windows service for this?
or how could i get this done??

Thanks a lot in advance.

9 Replies

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fawzan mohamed15y ago
Please need more explanation. all suggestions are welcome.
fawzan mohamed15y ago
This program is similar to Anti-virus programs. anti virus programs run as a tray application and it captures the virus whenever it arivs in our PC. this is the task which need to perform to capture some files. but not the viruses.
Anirudha Gohokar15y ago
U need to use Windows Forms for this purpose..
Register your app in Windows Registry so that ur app starts automatically whenever pc starts..
fawzan mohamed15y ago
For example user gives a file name call temp.xls to search in the entire OS using this system. then this system will search for that particular file and it will capture that file. once the file is being captured, the file the system will store that file in the users' account which is associated with a web application. if that file(temp.xls) is modified later, i want the system to capture that file automatically. this is why i need to have this program as a background process. therefore i need this system to run at all. whenever a user turns on the machine this system must start running. i mean in the start up. Hope you have a clear idea now.
fawzan mohamed15y ago
For example user gives a file name call temp.xls to search in the entire OS using this system. then this system will search for that particular file and it will capture that file. once the file is being captured, the file the system will store that file in the users' account which is associated with a web application. if that file(temp.xls) is modified later, i want the system to capture that file automatically. this is why i need to have this program as a background process. therefore i need this system to run at all. whenever a user turns on the machine this system must start running. i mean in the start up. Hope you have a clear idea now.
Anirudha Gohokar15y ago
You cant use Windows Service to do such taskssuch as showing a UI..It is merely used for logging purpose........
Try using Windows Forms by hiding nd showin it as nd when required...
Console App is also a good option..
Praneeth Kumar15y ago
The below verse picked from a website should give your answer :)

As a matter of fact Microsoft Windows services, formerly known as NT services enable you to create long-running executable applications that run in its own Windows session, which then has the ability to start automatically when the computer boots and also can be manually paused, stopped or even restarted.

This makes services ideal for use on a server or whenever you need long-running functionality that does not interfere with other users who are working on the same computer. You can also run services in the security context of a specific user account that is different from the logged-on user or the default computer account.

Windows services don't have any interface to the user, so it can not be debugged like any regular application, but it's debugged as a process. .NET has a very nice tool that enables processes debugging while it?s in the run status, by easily pressing Ctrl + Alt + P shortcut.
fawzan mohamed15y ago
For example user gives a file name call temp.xls to search in the entire OS using this system. then this system will search for that particular file and it will capture that file. once the file is being captured, the file the system will store that file in the users' account which is associated with a web application. if that file(temp.xls) is modified later, i want the system to capture that file automatically. this is why i need to have this program as a background process. therefore i need this system to run at all. whenever a user turns on the machine this system must start running. i mean in the start up. Hope you have a clear idea now.
Praneeth Kumar15y ago
The requirements is vague. But looking at the quick desc the answer is yes.

Again, if this task is a regular task or not? If it is not a regular task then you can shcedule the task by running an console app using scheduled task. This is better than running a windows service always.