History:

>Because the process can be seen in the task list the job started successfully >and the process was also started successfully using another user credentials.
>However, you might be still out of luck if your process attempts to access
>certain network resources that cannot be accessed from a service the same way >they are accessed from a regular application.

>Check you process uses only UNC file names ( like "\\server\share\dir\file")
>for network files and doesn't refer to network files using drive mapping.

>If you process writes to log files search in those logs for error messages.

>If you start a graphical program make sure it doesn't display any message >boxes or dialogs. Do not attempt to send keystrokes when starting it from a >service.

>: I have a job set up to run an executable as the current user and it works
>: fine. The problem with this is that if someone accidentally closes the
>: 24x7 program from the systray, the job stops running. So, I set it up to
>: run as a particular user and then set 24x7 to run as a service. This way,
>: there doesn't even have to be a user logged on to the server. However,
>: when the job runs like this, it doesn't work the way it is supposed to. I
>: checked the process table and I see the program running, but nothing is
>: happening.

>: The documentation says the user specified to run the program as must have
>: "Log on as Batch User" rights and I checked this and found this
>: to be true of my user. Now I am stumped.

>: Any suggestions?

Ok, I've changed the job to use the UNC filenames and I am getting the same results. The program starts (I see it the task managher screen) but it is doing nothing. How do I determine that the program is not running?: the program processes and removes files in a particular directory and sends a mail message each to about 10 addresses. The files remain in the directory and mail is not being sent out when I run this job in this way.

Any suggestions?

Does your program writes to a log file or to a database table or to a screen? If yes, check the output to find out where the program perfoming the expected functions.

If it is a console application you can redirect screen output to a file using standard >> command line redirection

If it is a graphical program check it is not linked to static or dynamic libraries on the network.

Also check it does not use environment variables that are not available to the user whose acount is used for the service.

If it is a graphical program check it does no rely on such "graphical" methods as "get/find active window", "send keystroke", etc...

Please note that a gaphical program is not the one that displays graphical elements but the one that is designed and compiled as an application running in Windows GUI sysbsystem, for example all VB applications are always graphical programs.

: History: Ok, I've changed the job to use the UNC filenames and I am getting
: the same results. The program starts (I see it the task managher screen)
: but it is doing nothing. How do I determine that the program is not
: running?: the program processes and removes files in a particular
: directory and sends a mail message each to about 10 addresses. The files
: remain in the directory and mail is not being sent out when I run this job
: in this way.

: Any suggestions?

Guess what? It is a VB program!

The program essentially takes a text file, processes the contents, writes a resultant text file and records to 2 database tables, sends mail and then exits. It does no interactive processing at all.

I realise where this is going (that we need to be sure what is happening in the program) and I have spoken with the developer and we are going to try to pepper the code with trace statements to see what more information we can discern. In the meantime, can you shed any more light?

Thanks,
Camille

: Does your program writes to a log file or to a database table or to a screen?
: If yes, check the output to find out where the program perfoming the
: expected functions.

: If it is a console application you can redirect screen output to a file using
: standard >> command line redirection

: If it is a graphical program check it is not linked to static or dynamic
: libraries on the network.

: Also check it does not use environment variables that are not available to
: the user whose acount is used for the service.

: If it is a graphical program check it does no rely on such
: "graphical" methods as "get/find active window",
: "send keystroke", etc...

: Please note that a gaphical program is not the one that displays graphical
: elements but the one that is designed and compiled as an application
: running in Windows GUI sysbsystem, for example all VB applications are
: always graphical programs.

Just a guess, your program attempts to make a database connection when it starts and if the connection fails the program displays an error message box.

Please tell me how it connects to a database and I will tell you where it may fail.

: Guess what? It is a VB program!

: The program essentially takes a text file, processes the contents, writes a
: resultant text file and records to 2 database tables, sends mail and then
: exits. It does no interactive processing at all.

: I realise where this is going (that we need to be sure what is happening in
: the program) and I have spoken with the developer and we are going to try
: to pepper the code with trace statements to see what more information we
: can discern. In the meantime, can you shed any more light?

: Thanks,
: Camille