.net windows service

[NG]

Hi All
I made a windows service in C#. Now I have a situation where I need to
invoke an exe with some UI. Assuming that the computer running this service
will always be logged in, can anyone please provide me a sample code to
invoke an exe from windows service in .net.
I tried a few methods that I found on the net but they seem to invoke
something in the background which actually does not work.
Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards,
Nitesh Gupta

[KJ]

You already tried the Process class? Perhaps you merely need to change
the ServiceControll er.ServiceType to 256 (InteractivePro cess)?

[NG]

Thanks for the reply KJ.
Yes, I used Process class..

I did this::
System.Diagnost ics.Process p = new System.Diagnost ics.Process();

p.StartInfo.Fil eName="notepad. exe"; // I have a different program to be run

bool x=p.Start();
Could you please give me a sample code snippet for the
ServiceControll er.ServiceType that you mentioned. A little guideline/hint
might also help me to get me started on the right path. I am not sure where
to set that property you mentioned.

Thanks,
Nitesh
"KJ" <n_**********@m ail.com> wrote in message
news:11******** **************@ f14g2000cwb.goo glegroups.com.. .

You already tried the Process class? Perhaps you merely need to change
the ServiceControll er.ServiceType to 256 (InteractivePro cess)?

[NG]

I am able to achieve this if I check the option "Allow service to interact
with desktop" in service properties from MMC. Not sure how to set this
option programmaticall y.

[Truong Hong Thi]

You can set it at installation time. MSI allow you to set it.
To set by .NET source code, you will need to use WMI (System.Managem ent
namespace), or invoke Windows API.

Note that ServiceControll er.ServiceType is readonly. And the
System.Configur ation.Install.I nstaller you add for your service (which
can be used with installutil.exe ) does not support this property.

Thi

[Mehdi]

On Thu, 1 Dec 2005 15:10:27 +0530, NG wrote:

I am able to achieve this if I check the option "Allow service to interact
with desktop" in service properties from MMC. Not sure how to set this
option programmaticall y.

Be carefull when starting a UI application from a Windows Service. Unless
your Windows Service is running under a limited Windows Account (which is
not the case by default), starting a UI appplication from the service means
giving Administrator rights to potentially anybody using the machine (even
if the users are logged in a limited Windows account).

[Willy Denoyette [MVP]]

"NG" <xgniteshATyaho oDOTcom> wrote in message
news:eW******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP12.phx.gbl...

I am able to achieve this if I check the option "Allow service to interact
with desktop" in service properties from MMC. Not sure how to set this
option programmaticall y.

Use this option only for debugging, Windows Services should otherwise never
interact with the logged-on user.
Note that "Interact with desktop" services will not work in Vista.

Willy.

[KJ]

Hi Nitesh, I do have code to do this. Actually, as I remember it is
either a win32 call or a registry change call. I will post it tonight
(12/1/05)

[KJ]

Nitesh,

As promised, here is the code.

This code is written in the ServiceInstalle r class (subclass of
System.Configur ation.Install.I nstaller), and the method to make it
interactive is called in the constructor. Hope this helps.

public EnactmentServic eInstaller()
{
// This call is required by the Designer.
InitializeCompo nent();
try {
if
(bool.Parse(Con figurationSetti ngs.AppSettings["InteractiveMod eInstall"].ToString()))
{
SetInteractiveB ool();
}
} catch (Exception exp) {
Trace.WriteLine (exp);
}
}

private void SetInteractiveB ool() {
// Here is where we set the bit on the value in the registry.
// Grab the subkey to our service
RegistryKey ckey = Registry.LocalM achine.OpenSubK ey(
@"SYSTEM\Curren tControlSet\Ser vices\" +
StringEnums.Ena ctmentWinServic eName, true);
// Good to always do error checking!
if(ckey != null) {
// Ok now lets make sure the "Type" value is there,
//and then do our bitwise operation on it.
if(ckey.GetValu e("Type") != null) {
ckey.SetValue(" Type", ((int)ckey.GetV alue("Type") | 256));
}
}
}

[NG]

Thanks to all of you for your valued suggestions. Thanks KJ for the code
sample. It helps me to proceed in the right direction.
Best regards,
Nitesh