forum.vdsworld.com

[Hortalonus]

It would be invaluable to have the option of creating programs that run as a Windows service. There are many programs that will run nearly any kind of program including batch files as Windows services. VDS programmers everywhere would rejoice at a giant step forward in the development of VDS like that... at least I would.

Even a DLL that could do it would be awesome!
Anyone...?

[FreezingFire]

I totally agree with you. I cannot remember how long I have
been wanting this capability in VDS.

[Garrett]

Running a VDS made program as a service on Windows 95 through ME
is already possible. Just add key and value to your program in the
registry at:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

Reboot and your program is now running as a service. It will start
before you even login.

Now for NT it is a different story. You can't and never will get a VDS
made program to run as a true native service on NT. This is because
NT requires that the program be multi-threading, and VDS made
programs are not, and most likely will never be. But!! MS realized
that such languages as VB (Which wasn't multi-threading either and
I'm not sure is multi-threading yet) were not multi-threading. So the
dropped in a little program in the NT resource kit called "SRVANY.EXE".

This program works as an go between program between NT and your
program and allows non multi-threading programs to run as a NT
service.

You will need "INSTSRV.EXE" to install "SRVANY.EXE" and setup your
program as a service. Basically, "SRVANY.EXE" becomes the service
for your program.

I don't know the details of actually installing and setting up this on NT,
so you're kind of on your own.

Ohhhh, one other thing. If the program you want to run as a service
requires the use of a TASKICON, be sure you wait to add that until
after the desktop has loaded, or you may not have your icon showing
in the tray if you try to load it before the desktop and the system tray
are available. You might also want to use NOTITLE if you don't want
your window showing in the taskbar. I'm not sure if adding your
programs to the service will hide title bars.

-Garrett

[FreezingFire]

Garrett, do you think that VDS 5 will have services capabilities?