Windows Service in C#

Introduction

This article is about Windows Services in the .Net Framework. We learn how to make and use a Windows Service in our C#.Net Framework applications.

Procedure to create a Windows Service

1. Open a new windows project in Visual Studio.



2. Right-click on the Windows Service screen and select "Add installer".

Two installers are added and displayed in the Windows Service design view.

Installers.JPG
3. Go to the service installer property and set the following properties:

1. Description
2. Display Name
3. Service Name
4. Start Type

4. Go to the service process installer property and set the account property to "Local System".



5. Now drag a tool of evenLog1 from the tool box into the service designer and write the following code:

public Service1()
{
    InitializeComponent();
    if (!System.Diagnostics.EventLog.SourceExists("MySource"))
    System.Diagnostics.EventLog.CreateEventSource("MySource", "MyNewLog");
    this.eventLog1.Source = "MySource";
    this.eventLog1.Log = "MyNewLog";

}

On Start function

protected override void OnStart(string[] args)

{

    this.eventLog1.WriteEntry("Windows service start at: " +

    DateTime.Now.TimeOfDay);

}

On Stop function

protected override void OnStop()

{

    this.eventLog1.WriteEntry("Windows service stop at: " +

    DateTime.Now.TimeOfDay);

}

6. Add a setup project to install our service on the system.




7. Add project output to the setup project. Right-click on the setup project and select "Add" -> "Project output".



8. Right-click on the setup project and select "View" -> "Custom action".



9. Right-click on the custom action that opens in the new window and add a custom action.



10. Select an application folder and add primary output from the Windows Service and then click "Ok".



The project output is added successfully.



11. Rebuild these two projects (Windows Service & setup) and now right-click on setup, select "Install". The Windows Service is installed on your system successfully.



For the first time, you need to start the service manually or you may restart your system.

System Services Screen



You can check whether your service is working or not, just view the system event viewer from the Control Panel (Administrative tools).



On start even log



On stop event log