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Background app that takes screenshots

Hi,

1) I would like to have a background application that runs without any visible windows.

2) I would like this app to take a screenshot once every 5 - 60 minutes, depending on user settings, and save it to a directory. A counter in a text file will determine unique names for each bitmap.

I know I've read something about background process apps before, but I don't know how to create one. I'm also guessing sending windows a command to take a screenshot (same as hitting Print Screen button and saving the result) is pretty simple, but have no idea how to do it.

Thanks!

JP

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Mike Tomlinson

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armoghan

Wow Idle_Mind did it all
just to add one more thing..

If you dont want to show it at all, not even in the taskbar, make it a Windows Service

gleznov

ASKER

Thank you both!

Jazzle

Any chance this could be compiled and posted somewhere online?
Would be very much appreciated.
J

OLisy

It works fine, but when I run it as Windows Service, I got interop GDI+ error when calling the save function. Any idea? Thanks :Ol

Error: System.Runtime.InteropServices.ExternalException: A generic error occurred in GDI+.
at System.Drawing.Image.Save(String filename, ImageCodecInfo encoder, EncoderParameters encoderParams)
at System.Drawing.Image.Save(String filename, ImageFormat format)
at System.Drawing.Image.Save(String filename)
at ScreenShots.Service.takeScreenShot()

OLisy

The System Service started saving ScreenShots, when I used strong name, registered it in GAC and set file system writing rights to the System Service user.

But all ScreenShots are black. It didn't change when I tried to save it in JPG format. Still black. Any idea? Thanks :Ol

armoghan

if you are taking pictures of a running Movie in media player,
It cannot be screen shoted. As it is written directly into memory.

Even print screen cannot take it

OLisy

All right, but still I don't understand why the above described screenshoting solution works as WinForm Application, but not as System Service. Even when the System Service run under user, which is equal to logged on user.

Barnacules

Print Screen in Vista+ will show screen shot output of Media Player provided it is not DRM content. Also the reason you get a black screen when taking a screen shot from a service is because the service runs in Session 0 which is the secure desktop so you are not going to get a picture of what is going on with the active logged on session. Your best bet for what you are doing is to create a standalone application and set the showintasktray attribute of your form to false and hige the window (.hide()). Good luck!