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Most console
applications display messages while they run. These
messages can be useful to the user or to the
developers. When that application is run as a service,
the console is hidden. However, you may capture
the output to a file. This is very easy if you know
something about redirections.
In Windows
(and other operating systems) it is possible to
redirect the input and output of an application
to files. This is done by using the operators: '<'
and '>'. So, if you want to capture
the output of myapp.exe to a file named myapp.out,
you must use the command: myapp.exe >myapp.out
at the command prompt or in a batch (.BAT)
file.
With PVFLauncher,
you can do the same thing. First, create a .BAT
file that will start your application as shown above.
Then, make PVFLauncher start this batch file.
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If you try
to run an application that comes with a graphical
interface (or some sort of interaction with the
user desktop), you will see that they don't start.
This happens because normally, services aren't
supposed to show any windows, icons or message boxes.
However, you can get past this problem if you modify
the rights of the PVFLauncher service.
On Windows
2000/XP, you must go to Control Panel/Administrative
Tools/ Services. Here you must find the PVFLauncher
service and double click on it. In the window that
appears, select the "Log On" tab. Here,
check the box "Allow the service to interact
with desktop". Now click the "OK"
button and close all other windows. After doing
this, restart your computer and your problem is
fixed.
Unfortunately,
at this time there is no automated procedure to
make those changes. In the future, there will probably
be an option available, but until then, you must
make the change manually or write a program to do
it for you (if you write such a program, please
send its source to me and I will integrate it in
PVFLauncher).
Warning: If you
allow the service to interact with the desktop,
you will see all application windows, systray icons
and message boxes. If this becomes a problem, simply
uncheck the "Allow service to interact with
desktop" checkbox (see above).
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