How to run a .NET console application in the background

I have a console application written in C# that is scheduled to run every 15 minutes or so using the built-in Windows Task Scheduler.

Every ti开发者_高级运维me it runs, the black console box pops up for the duration of its execution and then closes. I am not writing anything to the console. Is there a way to make this run in the background?

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Project > Properties> Application tab > change Output type to "Windows application".

No more console window.

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Easy!

It seems hard to believe, but it works as a charm. I have used this for some setup projects, when you want to perform custom tasks with no signs of it.

• Create the project as a Windows application project (this is the hard part).

• Never make calls to any form. Just keep on in exactly as in your console application

  class Program
  {
      static void Main(string[] args)
      {
          // Just don't call Application.Run(new frmMain(args));
  
          // ... your code
      }
   }
  

This is because windows application projects are no really different than console, except because of the first form and references. It is totally hidden execution. Try it!

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You can use the Windows API to minimize the console box. Otherwise you can make it a Windows EXE file that does not actually load a form and call System.Windows.Forms.Application.Run().

Code to minimize the console:

[DllImport( "user32.dll" )]
public static extern bool ShowWindow(IntPtr hWnd, int nCmdShow);

public const int SW_SHOWMINIMIZED = 2;

IntPtr winHandle = System.Diagnostics.Process.GetCurrentProcess().MainWindowHandle;
ShowWindow(winHandle, SW_SHOWMINIMIZED);

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What about implementing the app into a windows service? You can set the interval to 15 mins and run the operation in the timer_tick.

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If you already have a Windows Console app created you can simply change the Output type of your app to Windows Application.

Under your project: Go to Properties > Application Select "Windows Application" as the Output type.

This would be the least impact and you can keep your Windows Task Scheduler running the same task.

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If it doesn't write anything to the console you could make it a service. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/9k985bc9%28VS.80%29.aspx

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It will only show up if it's scheduled to run as the same user that's currently logged in. Create another user on the machine with a ridiculously long password, set it to be an Administrator (only if needed) and schedule the task to run as that user.

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This is easy. Set the task to run under an account that is not your login account.