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How to Make Windows Service Using C# 2008

I have an task to run a Stored procedure after every 30 minutes.
My first choice is to create a job on Sql server. But I also have to write a log file along with the stored procedure.

Now, my choice will be Windows service. Creating a windows service is a very easy task but how to deply......

let me explain how to work with windows service.

Creating a program that can run in the background of the operating system has any benefits, this is very important as the program can run without a graphic user interface. Complex service that are to run are longer time, and without the need the user to login the system. Windows services are harder to develop, debug, and test. But if you software are to run in server that require to start up automatically with the server is turn on, Windows service is your choice.

Creating your skeleton project in Visual Studio 2008

To create a Windows Service project in Visual Studio 2008, you must select from the Visual C# Windows Projects. Give your Windows Service a name, and then select OK







As a result Visual Studio 2008 creates you an empty solution with a Windows Service project as a default to the development.







Switch to code view, to start developing.







As you can see that Visual Studio 2008 has simplify the layout and initialization of the code for Windows Service development. Now let’s start by creating the PingJob() method;

public partial class Service1 : ServiceBase
{
public Service1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}

protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
{
System.Threading.ThreadStart job = new System.Threading.ThreadStart(PingJob);

System.Threading.Thread thread = new System.Threading.Thread(job);

thread.Start();
}

protected override void OnStop()
{
Environment.Exit(-1);
}

static void PingJob()
{
while (true)
{
try
{
string fname = "c:\\a.txt";
FileInfo file1 = new FileInfo(fname);
StreamWriter sw = File.AppendText("c:\\a.txt");
sw.WriteLine("This is a demo for appending text content to a file");
// Writing a string directly to the file
sw.WriteLine(DateTime.Now); // Writing content read from the textbox in the form
sw.Close();
//System.Net.IPHostEntry objIPHE = System.Net.Dns.GetHostEntry("www.google.com");
System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(2000); // wait 15 seconds
}
catch (Exception ex)
{

EventLog.WriteEntry("PingTest Service", ex.Message, EventLogEntryType.Warning);

}

}

}
}

Do a Build Solution (Ctrl+Shift+B) to make sure that all your codes don’t have any bugs.


Creating an Installer for you Windows Service

From you solution select File>Add>New Project… from menu








Then from Add New Project, select Other Project Types, and choose Setup Project








Then Visual Studio 2008 will prepare a setup shell for you configure the set require of Solution, and now let add our Windows Service to our installer. From the Application Folder right-click, select Add>Project Output.








From the Add Project Output Group windows select the Primary output and make sure that your Windows Service Project is select has the project, then select OK.








From the Setup properties configure your properties of your installer;







Switch to code mode to start configure the behavior of your windows service application, doing this by selecting ProjectInstaller.Designer.cs.







Modify the service installer as you require, as for me I usually modify account the service will run as, the service startup type, and the service name that will appear in Windows Service MMC.

private
void InitializeComponent()

{


this.serviceProcessInstaller1 = new System.ServiceProcess.ServiceProcessInstaller();


this.serviceInstaller1 = new System.ServiceProcess.ServiceInstaller();


//


// serviceProcessInstaller1


//


this.serviceProcessInstaller1.Account = System.ServiceProcess.ServiceAccount.LocalSystem;


//this.serviceProcessInstaller1.Password = null;


//this.serviceProcessInstaller1.Username = null;


this.serviceProcessInstaller1.AfterInstall += new System.Configuration.Install.InstallEventHandler(this.serviceProcessInstaller1_AfterInstall);


//


// serviceInstaller1


//


this.serviceInstaller1.ServiceName = “PingTestService”;


this.serviceInstaller1.StartType = System.ServiceProcess.ServiceStartMode.Automatic;


// ProjectInstaller


//


this.Installers.AddRange(new System.Configuration.Install.Installer[] {


this.serviceProcessInstaller1,


this.serviceInstaller1});

}
















Do a Build Solution to test that does your solution contains any bugs, let’s hope the best. Then Build the Installer from the Setup project by right-click on the Setup project, and choose build the project. Therefore you can see that there is Install/Uninstall option if you complete building the installer, and that you right-click again.

Now go to command prompt:-

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727>installutil C:\WinService\WindowsService1\bin\Debug\WindowsService1.exe


Download Code from this location
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19 comments:

Shakti Singh Dulawat said...

Thanks for such a wonderful article, please provide a code download link.

An IT Solution said...

Hi Shakti,

I had already provided a link to download code. Please check at the end of post.

Thanks,
Narender Singh

Shakti Singh Dulawat said...

Ys got it narender... thanks

naresh gorana said...

This article is mostly covered all thing for windows service. This is good one.

Manuel A. Jiménez Gómez said...

Hi, thanks for the article, its well explained, it helped me clear some doubts i had about windows services.

Keep up the good work!

Anonymous said...

Hello,

Can i have your code. I have done the Service1.cs without any issue. I have a doubt how you add ProjectInstaller.cs?

Thanks
Sundar

Anonymous said...

To Add the ProjectInstaller.cs right click on the
Service1.cs[Design] pane and choose "Add Installer"
I was having the same problem

Thanks to the author for this article

Ahmad Pirani said...

Great article. You have put it nicely step by step.

Just needs some correction as mentioned by an annonymous on Oct 19th. Also, a little brushing of grammer and sentences.

Great job in putting together all your experiences for others to benifite out of it.

Himanshu said...

Respected Sir

I want to Create a windows service to convert a .Wmv file to .Avi,.Mpeg format.I had created the windows service but unable to use ffmpeg for conversion.
Kindly Help me

Reply Awaited

An IT Solution said...

Hi,

Can you please let me know what exactly is the error you are facing while using FFmpeg.exe file while converting from one to another format

Anonymous said...

You copied this post verbatim from others.

An IT Solution said...

Yes, you are right I had copied some of the contents from other sites, but the presentation style is different. I always try to elaborate the things in simple manner.

So, keep the things simple...

Sandeep Tawaniya said...

hello dear,

when i am going to install this exe file using installutil command it gives a error that is :

access to the path 'C:\windows\microsoft.net\framework\v2.0.50727\installutil.installlog' is denied.


than how can install this serive in my pc. i am using windows vista in operating system..

please help my email is sandeep.tawaniya@gmail.com

An IT Solution said...

I think you need to check the windows and anti virus fire walls may they are creating some problem.

Try to off widows and anti virus firewalls off..

Anonymous said...

I am running Visual Studio 2008 prof. edition.

I have followed each step explicitly. I add the set up project. I right click on the application folder get to Add Project output group.

Here is where I run into my problem, I never see Project.Installer.cs as shown in the screen shots. What step does it come from? What am I missing?

Anonymous said...

I am not sure why he left that part out, but I found something about this here...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/816169

And this tells you how to finalize the overall addition of a setup project to your solution

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I always thought, that Windows is built only on C language. Now, I understand, that I was wrong then. I am grateful to you for this information.

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