front panel for windows service

[GabbyG]

Hi
I need something that is maybe not available but let's try.....
I have a distributed application where on some server machines a "data collection program" runs. Usually on these PCs (Windows server 2003) no user interface is needed, just sometimes it would be helpful to see the inner states etc.
Currently windows runs that LV-application from autostart. But this is not really desirable mainly for security reasons. The user running the application must have access to a SQL database for example.
So the best solution would be to run it as a windows service.
I already found the tutorial about instsvr and svrany and I have a little service running.

But all my trials with VI-Server or remote panel did not bring back the front panel.
Does anyone of you know a solution for this?

Thanks in advance 
Gabi

[Topper_Harley]

Hello Gabi,

according to the Wikipedia arcticle on Windows Service it is possible for a Windows service to have a user interface. The arcticel tells us that there is a checkbox in the service's properties that must be checked to allow the service to communicate with the desktop. The checkbox is called  "Allow service to interact with desktop". Have you tried this yet?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_service

Regards, Topp

[GabbyG]

Thank you Topp for that hint.
I might have to work like that in the end. Two drawbacks exist although. (At least like I understand it).

1. The Exe is now started with the other service, but act's like a normal application. That is it appears in the task manager list with the applications where everybody can see it. And in the taskbar. That and that the frontpanel is now open by default can be handled programatically in the VI and the App.ini.  but..

2. That tick box works only with the local system account, where I wanted to start it with a higher priority user as the initiator.

So we'll see what the outcome is

Thanks again
Gabi