Question

Run a C# .NET Compact Framework Application in Background

Asked by: retinax

Hi,

I am writing a SMS/Contact backup application, it need to run in the background (may be with an icon in the notification area)? What can I do to achieve it? Say FormBackup need to stay in memory, with a timer, that checks for new SMS etc and does the backup. How can I prevent user from clicking the X button to close it, and only Hide the form.

Thanks

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Asked On
2008-09-30 at 00:00:41ID23773863
Topics

.Net Compact Framework

,

C# Programming Language

Participating Experts
2
Points
400
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: angus_young_acdcPosted on 2008-09-30 at 02:46:00ID: 22603783

In your Form_Load put the following:

            this.ControlBox = false; // Hides the minimize, X etc at the top of your form
            this.Hide();             // Will hide the form

 

by: retinaxPosted on 2008-09-30 at 03:15:41ID: 22603898

Ok cool, thanks.

Any idea on the Notification area icon thing?

 

by: dbrckoviPosted on 2008-10-01 at 05:58:18ID: 22613698

Create NotifyIcon and ContextMenuStrip controls on the form.
Set setNotifyIcon's ContextMenuStrip property to your context menu.
Set NotifyIcon's Icon property to icon of your choice and set it's Visible property to true.
Create a 'Show form' menu in your context menu strip and fill it with this code:


        private void showFormToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            this.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal;
            this.Visible = true;
        }

                                              
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by: retinaxPosted on 2008-10-01 at 08:05:08ID: 22615125

Thanks, are those controls available only in WM6 professional sdk not standard edition??

 

by: dbrckoviPosted on 2008-10-01 at 09:11:43ID: 22615959

I'm sorry for wrong information. I didn't see you were programming in Compact framework.
However you can download notifyicon example for Compact Framework from this page:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=5a8384c0-34a5-47d1-bb50-e5e261288ae3&displaylang=en

Unfortunately I didn't manage to make it show the icon in Pocket PC emulator, but maybe it will work on other version of OS's or on a real device.

You can use it in your project by importing NotifyIcon.cs file, adding reference to Microsoft.WindowsCE.Forms, and using code in code snippet.

I hope this helps.

        private NotifyIcon notifyIcon;
        
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
 
            notifyIcon = new NotifyIcon();
            notifyIcon.Click += new EventHandler(notifyIcon_Click);
        }
 
        private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            IntPtr hIcon = LoadIcon(GetModuleHandle(null), "notify.ico");
            notifyIcon.Add(hIcon);
            this.Hide();
        }
 
        private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            notifyIcon.Remove();
        }
 
        [DllImport("coredll.dll")]
        internal static extern IntPtr LoadIcon(IntPtr hInst, string IconName);
 
        [DllImport("coredll.dll")]
        internal static extern IntPtr GetModuleHandle(String lpModuleName);
 
        private void notifyIcon_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Icon Clicked!");
        }

                                              
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