Write Windows services in Visual Basic

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Create a Windows service in Visual Basic using the easy to use Service Host. Instead of having to deal with the complexities of Windows services and the services C interface, all you need do to create a Visual Basic Windows service is develop an ActiveX DLL, implement the supplied IService interface, and register your service with the Service Host. You define the service’s name and description. Your service receives control whenever the service is started, stopped, and optionally, paused or continued. The Service Host offers Visual Basic developers a fast and simple way to create Windows services.

Features

• Part of the ComponentSpace ActiveX Suite

• Implement a Windows service as an ActiveX DLL

• Specify the service’s name and description

• Receive control on start, stop, pause, continue, control and shutdown

• Handy tools for debugging and registering your service are included

• Coded in C++ for speed and size

• No runtime library dependencies

• Comprehensive Windows style documentation

• Visual Basic example source code

• Includes 12 months free email support and minor release upgrades

• Royalty free runtime

• Source code and source code escrow available

Creating a Service in Visual Basic

To create a Windows service, create a Visual Basic ActiveX DLL project and add a reference to the supplied Service Interface type library. Add a class that implements the IService interface. This interface consists of one property, Pausable, and six methods. The Pausable property should return true if your service supports pause and continue operations. Your service receives control for the standard Windows service calls: OnStart, OnStop, OnPause, OnContinue, OnControl and OnShutdown. A simple test harness is included to make it easy for you to debug your service from within Visual Basic.

The supplied ServiceHost executable hosts your service. It implements the Windows service C interface and translates this to the ActiveX IService interface. ServiceHost may host as many services as you like.

Registering your Service with the Service Host

You may also use ServiceHost to register your service with the Service Host. Alternatively, instructions are provided if you wish to do this from your own installation program.

Starting, Stopping and Managing Windows Services

If you want to manage Windows services rather then writing a service, refer to the Service Manager ActiveX Control.