Running a script on windows2000 logoff/shutdown

[Jonathan Heath]

Hi all,

I have created an ASP script that enters data into an Access Database.

My problem is that I'd like this script to run when the computer is shutdown
or the user logs off.

I think this would be simple enough if the ASP didn't have any user input,
but it does.

How can I do it that the logoff/shutdown only continues after the ASP form
has been submitted?

Any other suggestions on getting around the problem if it isn't possible to
do it using the above method would also be appreciated.

Thanks

JH

[Ken Schaefer]

I don't really think this is feasible. For other thing, the system will be
capable of terminating the process that is running the script (eg
WScript.exe or InetInfo.exe) if the user doesn't enter anything (sometimes
you see the "program xyz is has not responded in a timely manner. Do you
want to terminate the program?" type prompts).

I assume that Windows itself provides APIs that you can hook into for doing
these things. You'd need to write an application or a service though.

Can you tell us what you are thinking of doing? Perhaps there is a different
way?

Cheers
Ken
"Jonathan Heath" <Jo*@nospam.thecityground.co.uk> wrote in message
news:_SN4c.1$K4.0@newsfe1-win...
: Hi all,
:
: I have created an ASP script that enters data into an Access Database.
:
: My problem is that I'd like this script to run when the computer is
shutdown
: or the user logs off.
:
: I think this would be simple enough if the ASP didn't have any user input,
: but it does.
:
: How can I do it that the logoff/shutdown only continues after the ASP form
: has been submitted?
:
: Any other suggestions on getting around the problem if it isn't possible
to
: do it using the above method would also be appreciated.
:
: Thanks
:
: JH
:
:
:

[Jonathan Heath]

I am trying to do our own server log. We have around 20 servers. When one
of our techs does something on a server I want them to be forced to fill in
a form saying what they have done on the server. By doing it on logoff or
shutdown it forces them into doing it so the log will be a true reflection
of what is happening. We need this information for various reasons.

I thought the best way to do it would be an ASP popup into an access
database on shutdown/logoff. Bearing in mind that my skills are web
programming as opposed to other programming.

Thanks
JH

I don't really think this is feasible. For other thing, the system will be
capable of terminating the process that is running the script (eg
WScript.exe or InetInfo.exe) if the user doesn't enter anything (sometimes
you see the "program xyz is has not responded in a timely manner. Do you
want to terminate the program?" type prompts).

I assume that Windows itself provides APIs that you can hook into for doing these things. You'd need to write an application or a service though.

Can you tell us what you are thinking of doing? Perhaps there is a different way?

Cheers
Ken
"Jonathan Heath" <Jo*@nospam.thecityground.co.uk> wrote in message
news:_SN4c.1$K4.0@newsfe1-win...
: Hi all,
:
: I have created an ASP script that enters data into an Access Database.
:
: My problem is that I'd like this script to run when the computer is
shutdown
: or the user logs off.
:
: I think this would be simple enough if the ASP didn't have any user input, : but it does.
:
: How can I do it that the logoff/shutdown only continues after the ASP form : has been submitted?
:
: Any other suggestions on getting around the problem if it isn't possible
to
: do it using the above method would also be appreciated.
:
: Thanks
:
: JH
:
:
:

[Ken Schaefer]

Hi,

If you're techs are admins on the server, there's no way, technically, of
forcing them to anything, since they are administrators, and they can
disable anything that you configure :-)

Additionally, an ASP page needs to be delivered via some kind of server
resource, and is presented in a browser (which runs in user-mode, and has no
particularly special attributes). The user can just close the browser
without filling in anything. Likewise, if the server is shutting down or the
user logging off, the browser will be automatically closed down as part
process (the only apps that aren't automatically closed down are those with
a dialogue box awaiting a user response, eg Word asking a user if they want
to save a document before closing).

Windows 2003 Server, and Windows XP Pro have a shut-down tracker that you
can configure for this purpose (details are logged to the Windows Event
log). Otherwise, I think you need to find a third party product, or start
researching how to write a service that can hook into whatever events
Windows generates when it's shutting down/logging off.

Cheers
Ken

"Jonathan Heath" <Jo*@nospam.thecityground.co.uk> wrote in message
news:NR*****************@newsfe5-gui.server.ntli.net...
: I am trying to do our own server log. We have around 20 servers. When
one
: of our techs does something on a server I want them to be forced to fill
in
: a form saying what they have done on the server. By doing it on logoff or
: shutdown it forces them into doing it so the log will be a true
reflection
: of what is happening. We need this information for various reasons.
:
: I thought the best way to do it would be an ASP popup into an access
: database on shutdown/logoff. Bearing in mind that my skills are web
: programming as opposed to other programming.
:
: Thanks
: JH
:
:
: > I don't really think this is feasible. For other thing, the system will
be
: > capable of terminating the process that is running the script (eg
: > WScript.exe or InetInfo.exe) if the user doesn't enter anything
(sometimes
: > you see the "program xyz is has not responded in a timely manner. Do you
: > want to terminate the program?" type prompts).
: >
: > I assume that Windows itself provides APIs that you can hook into for
: doing
: > these things. You'd need to write an application or a service though.
: >
: > Can you tell us what you are thinking of doing? Perhaps there is a
: different
: > way?
: >
: > Cheers
: > Ken
: >
: >
: > "Jonathan Heath" <Jo*@nospam.thecityground.co.uk> wrote in message
: > news:_SN4c.1$K4.0@newsfe1-win...
: > : Hi all,
: > :
: > : I have created an ASP script that enters data into an Access Database.
: > :
: > : My problem is that I'd like this script to run when the computer is
: > shutdown
: > : or the user logs off.
: > :
: > : I think this would be simple enough if the ASP didn't have any user
: input,
: > : but it does.
: > :
: > : How can I do it that the logoff/shutdown only continues after the ASP
: form
: > : has been submitted?
: > :
: > : Any other suggestions on getting around the problem if it isn't
possible
: > to
: > : do it using the above method would also be appreciated.
: > :
: > : Thanks
: > :
: > : JH
: > :
: > :
: > :
: >
: >
:
:

[Jonathan Heath]

Thanks for your reply

This is something senior management have requested, I don't think them
disabling it would be a good career move :-)

What I meant really was by putting it in their face on logoff/shutdown
they'll always have to fill it in...it eradicates them forgetting to fill it
in. I could have a link on the desktop, but they might well forget to run
it before logoff/shutdown.

Another idea would be to run a windows popup box (not asp) asking them if
they're sure they want to shutdown/logoff, but rewording it. So "Have you
filled in the server log" Yes/No. With Yes continuing shutdown/logoff and
No taking them back into Windows.

Would this be easy to do?

Cheers
JH
"Ken Schaefer" <ke*******@THISadOpenStatic.com> wrote in message
news:uO**************@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

Hi,

If you're techs are admins on the server, there's no way, technically, of
forcing them to anything, since they are administrators, and they can
disable anything that you configure :-)

Additionally, an ASP page needs to be delivered via some kind of server
resource, and is presented in a browser (which runs in user-mode, and has no particularly special attributes). The user can just close the browser
without filling in anything. Likewise, if the server is shutting down or the user logging off, the browser will be automatically closed down as part
process (the only apps that aren't automatically closed down are those with a dialogue box awaiting a user response, eg Word asking a user if they want to save a document before closing).

Windows 2003 Server, and Windows XP Pro have a shut-down tracker that you
can configure for this purpose (details are logged to the Windows Event
log). Otherwise, I think you need to find a third party product, or start
researching how to write a service that can hook into whatever events
Windows generates when it's shutting down/logging off.

Cheers
Ken

"Jonathan Heath" <Jo*@nospam.thecityground.co.uk> wrote in message
news:NR*****************@newsfe5-gui.server.ntli.net...
: I am trying to do our own server log. We have around 20 servers. When
one
: of our techs does something on a server I want them to be forced to fill
in
: a form saying what they have done on the server. By doing it on logoff or : shutdown it forces them into doing it so the log will be a true
reflection
: of what is happening. We need this information for various reasons.
:
: I thought the best way to do it would be an ASP popup into an access
: database on shutdown/logoff. Bearing in mind that my skills are web
: programming as opposed to other programming.
:
: Thanks
: JH
:
:
: > I don't really think this is feasible. For other thing, the system will be
: > capable of terminating the process that is running the script (eg
: > WScript.exe or InetInfo.exe) if the user doesn't enter anything
(sometimes
: > you see the "program xyz is has not responded in a timely manner. Do you : > want to terminate the program?" type prompts).
: >
: > I assume that Windows itself provides APIs that you can hook into for
: doing
: > these things. You'd need to write an application or a service though.
: >
: > Can you tell us what you are thinking of doing? Perhaps there is a
: different
: > way?
: >
: > Cheers
: > Ken
: >
: >
: > "Jonathan Heath" <Jo*@nospam.thecityground.co.uk> wrote in message
: > news:_SN4c.1$K4.0@newsfe1-win...
: > : Hi all,
: > :
: > : I have created an ASP script that enters data into an Access Database. : > :
: > : My problem is that I'd like this script to run when the computer is
: > shutdown
: > : or the user logs off.
: > :
: > : I think this would be simple enough if the ASP didn't have any user
: input,
: > : but it does.
: > :
: > : How can I do it that the logoff/shutdown only continues after the ASP : form
: > : has been submitted?
: > :
: > : Any other suggestions on getting around the problem if it isn't
possible
: > to
: > : do it using the above method would also be appreciated.
: > :
: > : Thanks
: > :
: > : JH
: > :
: > :
: > :
: >
: >
:
:

[nospamng_REMOVE]

Could you use something like AutoIT from www.hiddensoft.com to automate the
responses to the application? I use AutoIT for several tasks during shutdown...

On Sun, 14 Mar 2004 13:57:23 +1100, "Ken Schaefer"
<ke*******@THISadOpenStatic.com> wrote:

I don't really think this is feasible. For other thing, the system will be
capable of terminating the process that is running the script (eg
WScript.exe or InetInfo.exe) if the user doesn't enter anything (sometimes
you see the "program xyz is has not responded in a timely manner. Do you
want to terminate the program?" type prompts).

I assume that Windows itself provides APIs that you can hook into for doing
these things. You'd need to write an application or a service though.

Can you tell us what you are thinking of doing? Perhaps there is a different
way?

Cheers
Ken
"Jonathan Heath" <Jo*@nospam.thecityground.co.uk> wrote in message
news:_SN4c.1$K4.0@newsfe1-win...
: Hi all,
:
: I have created an ASP script that enters data into an Access Database.
:
: My problem is that I'd like this script to run when the computer is
shutdown
: or the user logs off.
:
: I think this would be simple enough if the ASP didn't have any user input,
: but it does.
:
: How can I do it that the logoff/shutdown only continues after the ASP form
: has been submitted?
:
: Any other suggestions on getting around the problem if it isn't possible
to
: do it using the above method would also be appreciated.
:
: Thanks
:
: JH
:
:
:

[Chris Hohmann]

"Jonathan Heath" <Jo*@nospam.thecityground.co.uk> wrote in message
news:diZ4c.676$nN6.281@newsfe1-win...

Thanks for your reply

This is something senior management have requested, I don't think them
disabling it would be a good career move :-)

What I meant really was by putting it in their face on logoff/shutdown
they'll always have to fill it in...it eradicates them forgetting to fill it in. I could have a link on the desktop, but they might well forget to run it before logoff/shutdown.

Another idea would be to run a windows popup box (not asp) asking them if they're sure they want to shutdown/logoff, but rewording it. So "Have you filled in the server log" Yes/No. With Yes continuing shutdown/logoff and No taking them back into Windows.

Would this be easy to do?

How about doing it at startup? I.e. "Why did you just shutdown the
system?"

[Jonathan Heath]

> How about doing it at startup? I.e. "Why did you just shutdown the

system?"

Not possible unfortunately. Our techs logon to the servers using remote
desktop. Theres no guarantee that when they reboot that they'll log back
onto the server afterwards. Also you could be presented with that question
when you've not even done anything.

Cheers
JH

[Ken Schaefer]

If you want something to be able to cancel the shutdown, you really need to
ask in one of the programming groups, to find out what APIs/events your
application needs to hook into. Otherwise the Windows shutdown process is
simply going to kill any process that's running (including, say, Windows
Script Host, which would be hosting the dialogue box).

Otherwise, start googling for 3rd party products. (or if the server is
Windows 2003, turn on the Shutdown tracker).

Cheers
Ken

"Jonathan Heath" <Jo*@nospam.thecityground.co.uk> wrote in message
news:diZ4c.676$nN6.281@newsfe1-win...
: Thanks for your reply
:
: This is something senior management have requested, I don't think them
: disabling it would be a good career move :-)
:
: What I meant really was by putting it in their face on logoff/shutdown
: they'll always have to fill it in...it eradicates them forgetting to fill
it
: in. I could have a link on the desktop, but they might well forget to run
: it before logoff/shutdown.
:
: Another idea would be to run a windows popup box (not asp) asking them if
: they're sure they want to shutdown/logoff, but rewording it. So "Have you
: filled in the server log" Yes/No. With Yes continuing shutdown/logoff and
: No taking them back into Windows.
:
: Would this be easy to do?
:
: Cheers
: JH
:
:
: "Ken Schaefer" <ke*******@THISadOpenStatic.com> wrote in message
: news:uO**************@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
: > Hi,
: >
: > If you're techs are admins on the server, there's no way, technically,
of
: > forcing them to anything, since they are administrators, and they can
: > disable anything that you configure :-)
: >
: > Additionally, an ASP page needs to be delivered via some kind of server
: > resource, and is presented in a browser (which runs in user-mode, and
has
: no
: > particularly special attributes). The user can just close the browser
: > without filling in anything. Likewise, if the server is shutting down or
: the
: > user logging off, the browser will be automatically closed down as part
: > process (the only apps that aren't automatically closed down are those
: with
: > a dialogue box awaiting a user response, eg Word asking a user if they
: want
: > to save a document before closing).
: >
: > Windows 2003 Server, and Windows XP Pro have a shut-down tracker that
you
: > can configure for this purpose (details are logged to the Windows Event
: > log). Otherwise, I think you need to find a third party product, or
start
: > researching how to write a service that can hook into whatever events
: > Windows generates when it's shutting down/logging off.
: >
: > Cheers
: > Ken
: >
: > "Jonathan Heath" <Jo*@nospam.thecityground.co.uk> wrote in message
: > news:NR*****************@newsfe5-gui.server.ntli.net...
: > : I am trying to do our own server log. We have around 20 servers.
When
: > one
: > : of our techs does something on a server I want them to be forced to
fill
: > in
: > : a form saying what they have done on the server. By doing it on
logoff
: or
: > : shutdown it forces them into doing it so the log will be a true
: > reflection
: > : of what is happening. We need this information for various reasons.
: > :
: > : I thought the best way to do it would be an ASP popup into an access
: > : database on shutdown/logoff. Bearing in mind that my skills are web
: > : programming as opposed to other programming.
: > :
: > : Thanks
: > : JH
: > :
: > :
: > : > I don't really think this is feasible. For other thing, the system
: will
: > be
: > : > capable of terminating the process that is running the script (eg
: > : > WScript.exe or InetInfo.exe) if the user doesn't enter anything
: > (sometimes
: > : > you see the "program xyz is has not responded in a timely manner. Do
: you
: > : > want to terminate the program?" type prompts).
: > : >
: > : > I assume that Windows itself provides APIs that you can hook into
for
: > : doing
: > : > these things. You'd need to write an application or a service
though.
: > : >
: > : > Can you tell us what you are thinking of doing? Perhaps there is a
: > : different
: > : > way?
: > : >
: > : > Cheers
: > : > Ken
: > : >
: > : >
: > : > "Jonathan Heath" <Jo*@nospam.thecityground.co.uk> wrote in message
: > : > news:_SN4c.1$K4.0@newsfe1-win...
: > : > : Hi all,
: > : > :
: > : > : I have created an ASP script that enters data into an Access
: Database.
: > : > :
: > : > : My problem is that I'd like this script to run when the computer
is
: > : > shutdown
: > : > : or the user logs off.
: > : > :
: > : > : I think this would be simple enough if the ASP didn't have any
user
: > : input,
: > : > : but it does.
: > : > :
: > : > : How can I do it that the logoff/shutdown only continues after the
: ASP
: > : form
: > : > : has been submitted?
: > : > :
: > : > : Any other suggestions on getting around the problem if it isn't
: > possible
: > : > to
: > : > : do it using the above method would also be appreciated.
: > : > :
: > : > : Thanks
: > : > :
: > : > : JH
: > : > :
: > : > :
: > : > :
: > : >
: > : >
: > :
: > :
: >
: >
:
: