Scheduling Windows Service

I have a Windows Service that I need to run every hour but I want it done programmatically, not via Windows Scheduler. Perhaps using a Timer or something.

Can someone tell me the best way I can accomplish that? I will need some code examples too

LVL 35

YZlatAsked: 2012-04-04

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LVL 23

wdosanjosCommented: 2012-04-04

The following code sample using Timer should meet your needs:

namespace MyApp
{
    public partial class MyAppService : ServiceBase
    {
        private System.Timers.Timer _timer = new System.Timers.Timer();

        public MyAppService()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
        {
            // Service Started
            
            _timer.Elapsed += new ElapsedEventHandler(Timer_Elapsed);
            
            _timer.Interval = 1000;  // Executes the first run after 1 sec

            _timer.Enabled = true;
        }

        protected override void OnStop()
        {
            _timer.Enabled = false;

            // Service Stopped
        }

        protected void Timer_Elapsed(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e)
        {
            _timer.Enabled = false;

            ServiceTask();

            _timer.Interval = 60 * 60 * 1000; // 60 mins (60 * 60 * 1000 millisecs)
                                              // Ideally this should come from a configuration file
            _timer.Enabled = true;
        }

        private void ServiceTask()
        {
            try
            {
                // <<<<< Add your service processing code here >>>>>
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                // Log exception
            }
        }
    }
}

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LVL 35

YZlatAuthor Commented: 2012-04-05

Exactly what I needed! Thank you

LVL 23

wdosanjosCommented: 2012-04-05

I'm glad I could help.

BTW, a quick note about the code. Because on line #32 & #38 the timer is Disabled/Enabled the next process run is 1 hour after the last execution completed. To run the process once every hour the code needs to be a little different as shown below:

namespace MyApp
{
    public partial class MyAppService : ServiceBase
    {
        private const double INTERVAL =  60 * 60 * 1000; // 60 mins (60 * 60 * 1000 millisecs); Ideally this should come from a configuration file

        private System.Timers.Timer _timer = new System.Timers.Timer();

        public MyAppService()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
        {
            // Service Started
            
            _timer.Elapsed += new ElapsedEventHandler(Timer_Elapsed);
            
            _timer.Interval = 1000;  // Executes the first run after 1 sec

            _timer.Enabled = true;
        }

        protected override void OnStop()
        {
            _timer.Enabled = false;

            // Service Stopped
        }

        protected void Timer_Elapsed(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e)
        {
            if (_timer.Interval != INTERVAL)
                _timer.Interval = INTERVAL; // Reset the timer interval to the regular value

            ServiceTask();
        }

        private void ServiceTask()
        {
            try
            {
                // <<<<< Add your service processing code here >>>>>
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                // Log exception
            }
        }
    }
}

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LVL 35

YZlatAuthor Commented: 2012-04-05

Thank you for the clarification.

Could you also help me with this question:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Programming/Languages/C_Sharp/Q_27664066.html