http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/csharpsvclesson1.asp http://www.codeproject.com/dotnet/simplewindowsservice.asp I think these are ones...

Hi, I try to develop C# service application. One of the component used interacts to a GUI windows application. It's a small application but still has GUI. Clearly, to run my C# application as a service, unless this external exe can run also in service mode, it does not work. Is it impossible to install a GUI windows application to windows service? or is there a way to wrap it as a service component? Thanks for your advice. Best, Ken

DrCOM Monitor http://www.ddevel.com/DrCOM/DrCOMMonitor.asp I'm trying to externally control a target app that is built on COM. I have read http://www.codeproject.com/com/automatingwindowsapps.asp However, this technique looks way too comlicated in my case to realize what I'd like to do, and in fact, looking at the DrCOM folder at least, it seems simpler than the preject above. Using DrCOM, the whole COM analyzed by the tool is marked as 'Automated', and I actually could 'Invoke' the API function from DrCOM, such as 'Object.SendLogout()' which actually made the target app. behave that way. The target application received the message from the external tool, and was controled right way. Wonderful, I felt. What I'd like to do is to 'Invoke' the command of COM that is the server of the target application from the external application that I will code in C#. I posted on C# board, too. Any comment? Thank you very much in advance.:confused: Best, Ken

Yes, I understand that. WhatI'm wondering is how to interact to COM in the working thread not as a new instance. Maybe I could find something in articles you shown me here. Best, Ken

Thank you Mazy, This is still tweaking some Win32 level, I still don't know how to interact to COM. Oh well, I may be going to wait thier API reliease. Ken

Hi, My first post here... DrCOM Monitor tool http://www.ddevel.com/DrCOM/DrCOMMonitor.asp I found this somewhat useful. Let me tell you what I'm strugling now. I'm a system trader. I currently connect my C# application to a broker trading application which has API. However, since I found another good broker/trading platform, I'm considering to switch for it. The problem is this trading application of the broker does not have API. The target software is 100% COM based. All of the component is accessible. The whole software part is built on COM servers/dll. At first, I tried to study the COM classes which I can browse in VS.net2003 object browser, but it's way too complicated and needs a security key in proccess, so I gave up to build from zero. Instead, I had changed the approach to hooking COM while the existing target software is working normally. I found DrCOM and ran the target software, then I could 'INVOKE' a command such as Object.SendLogout(). The software actually had logged out from the server, and that is controled by the external tool. Wonderful, I felt. However, I still cannot figure out the detail between COM and the target application. DrCOM shows which Object/Class responses, but does not show which Ojbect/Class-method is called from the target app. Plus, I don't know how to build C# app invoking the object command/picking the object event. I have read these 2 extraordinary articles expecting they would help me http://www.codeproject.com/system/hooksys.asp http://www.codeproject.com/com/automatingwindowsapps.asp however, the both are on Win32 API and a little different from what I need. Well, I've been doing this for 2 weeks straight, but almost give up. Anyone can suggest me a better tool than DrCOM, or how I can create such invoking capability by C#, or any good resources? Thank you very much. Any comments are wecome :| Ken PS. I tried TracePlus software already.