Using Service Master
ServiceInstaller

ServiceInstaller is a utility that easily installs/removes executable programs (and pure Java applications) as registered NT services. Using ServiceInstaller is safe and easy. Simply fill in the form, and press the Install button to add a service, or press the Remove button to remove a service previously installed with ServiceInstaller.

Service Name

Enter the name of the service as it will be listed in the Registry.

Display Name

Enter a user-friendly name for the service. This is the name that will be displayed in the Control Panel's Services applet.

Startup

Select either Automatic or Manual (on demand) startup type. An Automatic startup type will attempt to start the service after the computer boots. Manual services are typically started from the Control Panel's Services applet.

Dependencies

A service might depend on other services that should be started first. Enter the names of one or more services upon which this service is dependent. Supply the registry name, not the display name, and separate each name with a semicolon.

Executable

Enter or select the fully qualified filename of the executable program that is to run as a service. This must be an executable file. Batch files are not permitted. If you want to run a Java application as a service, select the Java.exe or Jre.exe file.

Arguments

Enter the command line arguments in this field, exactly as they would be entered if the executable were being run from the command line. For Java applications, enter any special arguments for the JVM (such as the -D switches, classpath settings, etc.) followed by the package-qualified name of the application's Main class, followed by application arguments, if any. (These are entered exactly as if the Java application were being run from the command line.)

ServiceInstaller's parser will now handle embedded spaces within arguments if the argument is set off with double quotes. For example, an argument string might be entered as shown below:

-cp "c:\Program Files\myJava\myjava.jar" MyMain

The above parses to

1. "-cp"

2. "c:\Program Files\myJava\myjava.jar"

3. "MyMain"

Working Directory

Enter or choose the working directory for your new service. This is useful if your application normally runs from a specific directory where it locates property files, outputs log files, etc. If left blank, the service will run from the Winnt\system32 directory (by default).

Release Notes and Limitations

1. After installing a service, it must be started using the Control Panel's Services applet, or by restarting the computer.

About ServiceInstaller

ServiceInstaller is a free utility developed by Bill Giel for KC Multimedia and Design Group. Visit the KCMDG website at www.kcmultimedia.com to obtain the latest version of ServiceInstaller. Bill Giel can be reached via email at bgiel@kcmultimedia.com

Copyright © 2000 by Bill Giel / KCMDG. All rights reserved.