Windows Application

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  • OuTCasT
    Contributor
    • Jan 2008
    • 374

    Windows Application

    Hi

    Instead of creating a windows service.
    Is it possible to create a windows application that runs in the windows taskbar and if it is possible for the application to have pop up notifications when something happens.

    What i basically want to do is whenever a new entry is written into the database, a popup appears telling you that there is activity.

    Then you can open the application and check whats going on.

    The application is already written and everything works 100%. I just need this functionality

    Kind Regards.
  • tlhintoq
    Recognized Expert Specialist
    • Mar 2008
    • 3532

    #2
    You could .Hide() and .Show() your application as needed.
    You could use a NotifyIcon in the tasktry, that has its own ContextMenu so you could select common features like "Show History", "Show Configuration" or whatever you need.

    Comment

    • Frinavale
      Recognized Expert Expert
      • Oct 2006
      • 9749

      #3
      In Windows 7 development they are encouraging you to not use the tasktry.
      They are encouraging you to use icons to communicate with the user instead.

      -Frinny

      Comment

      • tlhintoq
        Recognized Expert Specialist
        • Mar 2008
        • 3532

        #4
        Then again, towards the end of WinXP they started telling developers to not use the Registry. But I see that THEY haven't stopped using it themselves. If they can't reasonably make a change they are asking others to make then I'm not going to pressure myself into doing it.

        By "use icons to communicate with the user" do you mean the icon in the program button on the taskbar?

        Comment

        • Frinavale
          Recognized Expert Expert
          • Oct 2006
          • 9749

          #5
          It's still a good idea to avoid the registry. Especially now that there are several different registries (the "user registry" and the "global registry"....) It could get quite confusing to use it now-a-days.

          I don't know what they are called....the icons that appear on the taskbar yes...the opened program icons. They light up and "fill up" and do things (using WPF) to indicate "stuff" to the user.

          Comment

          • tlhintoq
            Recognized Expert Specialist
            • Mar 2008
            • 3532

            #6
            Taskbar | Properties
            [x] Use small icons

            If you do this, those icons are a lot less meaningful to give a status.

            hey light up and "fill up" and do things (using WPF)
            Are they still as useful if you are not developing in WPF ?

            Comment

            • Frinavale
              Recognized Expert Expert
              • Oct 2006
              • 9749

              #7
              I don't know.
              I just found out about this during the last .NET user group meeting I went to...it doubled as a Windows7 party. I haven't played with it at all (I'm still developing on an XP box) but I figured I should pass it on :)

              Comment

              • OuTCasT
                Contributor
                • Jan 2008
                • 374

                #8
                What the solution basically does is.
                When a new campaign is loaded onto the system, the user needs to be notified that there is a new campaign to be approved.

                Would it be best to create a service, drag a timer onto the design and set it to check the database for new campaigns every 1 hour.

                Could this be done ? and how would the service notify the user that he/she needs to go and approve a campaign.

                So i was thinking instead of a service just a little app that runs in the background.
                So i created a form and added the notifyIcon and the contextMenu.
                And when a new campaign comes in then the user can be notified with a popup ?

                Is this possible, pop up etc.

                Comment

                • tlhintoq
                  Recognized Expert Specialist
                  • Mar 2008
                  • 3532

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Outcast
                  So i was thinking instead of a service just a little app that runs in the background.
                  So i created a form and added the notifyIcon and the contextMenu.
                  And when a new campaign comes in then the user can be notified with a popup ?

                  Is this possible, pop up etc.
                  Seems reasonable and very straight forward.

                  Comment

                  • OuTCasT
                    Contributor
                    • Jan 2008
                    • 374

                    #10
                    ok i found a perfect example of a popup notifier.
                    Now just need to integrate that with my app that I have already created.

                    Check here

                    Thanks guys.

                    Comment

                    • tlhintoq
                      Recognized Expert Specialist
                      • Mar 2008
                      • 3532

                      #11
                      Cool. I was just figuring that you would make a new form, size it, then make the location the lower right corner of the screen, minus the width and height. 10 minutes tops - but not as 'nifty' or polished as the one you mentioned.

                      Comment

                      • OuTCasT
                        Contributor
                        • Jan 2008
                        • 374

                        #12
                        For some reason this project is not editable..
                        if i delete or change anything and debug it, the solution runs as it would normally. Even if i delete the main form from the project and then debug it, the main form still loads...

                        could i maybe give u link and u can check it out for me please.

                        Dunno whats wong here, confused.

                        Kind Regards.

                        Comment

                        • OuTCasT
                          Contributor
                          • Jan 2008
                          • 374

                          #13
                          Maybe cause its a demo project....

                          Comment

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