Looking for win32 notification options

[true911m]

Hi all,

I'm new here on the perl side (spent some time playing with python awhile back).

I started using perl as an administrative tool just a couple months ago on my work LAN because I'm using some open source packages (WPKG and Unattended) that are both written in perl, and I need to make some basic alterations. In the meantime I've discovered tons of piecemeal tasks that are so much easier than trying to wrangle the CMD processor to get the jobs done.

What I'm searching for right now is a flexible notification technique. When WPKG installs or changes software (at machine startup), it runs the installs "silently" with no user interaction, because my users cancel things all the time. However, it also makes the machine sluggish while it's running, and to be fair I'd like to notify the user when it's running and when it's finished so they know when not to fight it.

So far I've discovered the Win32::MsgBox and similar functions in Win32::GUI and Tk, but they don't meet all my criteria:

- the notification should be clearable by the user (button or click), but not _require_ that the user clear it. I'd like to be able to close the "Install has started" window under program control as well, and replace it with an "Install is now finished" notification.

- I'd prefer that the technique not require additional perl modules (I'm using the current ActiveState install for Windows [how do you get that version number, anyway?]) and I'd like to avoid rolling out a bunch of new lib files just to get this functionality this early in the game; let's see what all these existing tools can do first.

- unlike that last statement, I'm not averse to rolling out a lightweight executable to get the job done and calling it, if someone has a "favorite tool" that really fits the bill; I'm an old hand at that side of the administration at this point.

- not required, but really ideal, would be a mechanism to manipulate the notification balloons instead of the box in the middle of the screen. More elegant, the user can ignore it if they're on a roll, but gets the message out.

Finally, I hope I'm within guidelines here... I'm definitely wanting a native perl technique to try here, but open to alternate solutions.

Thanks for your input!

[ecocode]

Hi,

You should take a look at http://search.cpan.org/~mattn/Growl-.../Growl/GNTP.pm

It is a client for the GNTP (Growl) which does exist for Windows or Mac (and I think Linux too)

There's a link on the page to the Growl for Windows application.

Hope this helps

[true911m]

Thanks, I've been playing with this. Looking at growl had me stumble across Snarl, which is similar in concept, more oriented to Win32 and not GNTP-targeted.

Both of these look great onscreen and get just what I want, but they're both user-centric (no lockdown or admin control so messages appear the way I need them), and each has an additional perl module as well, although some less-robust command line options are available as well.

This did give me a chance to play with ppm a bit - wow, what a great tool - but it's still a multiple-step rollout to get either of these in place on workstations.

I may go with one of these, but I'll be trying whatever options I find in the next few weeks, so anyone please chime in if you have other suggestions.