How to create background process / tray application

Question

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.

Anirudha Gohokar · Answer

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..

fawzan mohamed · Answer

Please need more explanation. all suggestions are welcome.

fawzan mohamed · Answer

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 Gohokar · Answer

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 mohamed · Answer

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 mohamed · Answer

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 Kumar · Answer

The below verse picked from a website should give your answer :) As a matter of fact Microsoft Windows service s, formerly known as NT service s 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 service s 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 service s in the security context of a specific user account that is different from the logged-on user or the default computer account. Windows service s 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 mohamed · Answer

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 Kumar · Answer

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.

How to create background process / tray application

Answers (9)