C# program running in background

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theguy

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#193457 11-Mar-2016 17:46

Hello,

So I planed a program in C# which works as a prank the point of it is that whatever key the user types it will make a random sound and play it. That is all done however in Console Program, so now after some research I found out that I need to make it an empty windows forms program with Visual Studio then add some C# lines to make it hide from the taskbar. Could someone plz help me. I'm stuck, If you could plz explain where to put the lines of code and everything. Thank you in advance. Also if u have a different more efficient way than to make it hide from the taskbar go ahead and let me know that would be awesome.

slingynz

154 posts

Master Geek

#1511515 11-Mar-2016 18:03

Just create a service :)

roobarb

653 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1511520 11-Mar-2016 18:26

You may have trouble getting access to the desktop to install the keyboard hook.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5815424/global-keyboard-hook-from-windows-service

You could try linking the application with /SUBSYSTEM:WINDOWS instead of /SUBSYSTEM:CONSOLE

This is also an excellent example of why Tim Sweeney is wrong and we need UWP.

theguy

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1511947 12-Mar-2016 13:08

slingynz:

Just create a service :)

Tried that already but didn't go as planed

theguy

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1511948 12-Mar-2016 13:08

roobarb:

You may have trouble getting access to the desktop to install the keyboard hook.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5815424/global-keyboard-hook-from-windows-service

You could try linking the application with /SUBSYSTEM:WINDOWS instead of /SUBSYSTEM:CONSOLE

This is also an excellent example of why Tim Sweeney is wrong and we need UWP.

Will get back to you after trying it :D might work

theguy

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1514373 16-Mar-2016 12:46

Progress,

SO I have made it windows forms application and managed to hide it. Now I need to hook the program to the system to tell the program that the user have pressed a keyboard key and play a sound.

Anyone got any ideas plz?

Kind Regards.

theguy

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1514771 16-Mar-2016 22:34

Ok it is done here is the solution for you guys!

For making it run in the background even though it wasn't focused I used what is known as "keyboard interrupt" more on this link: "http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/14485/Low-level-Windows-API-hooks-from-C-to-stop-unwante"

Then at:
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}

added two lines to make it hidden which are as followed:
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
this.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized;
this.ShowInTaskbar = false;
}

P.S because it will run in the background just make sure u comment out the section which adds the drawing. Will make sense when you try it.

If you have any questions let me know! This program was made to prank a teacher at my school, and I did get the OK from another teacher and it is finally done. I'm uploading the video on my YouTube channel OptonTech, if you are interested, http://www.goo.gl/bBucnd. stay tuned!