CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#clickonce
Stuart1044
Stuart1044

Reputation: 444

Launching Click Once Application - File Not Found

I have a basic service that will be used to run a ClickOnce application every x minutes, however when i run Process.Start() i am receiving an exception that the file cannot be found.

Code

        private void OnElapsedTime(object source, ElapsedEventArgs e)
    {
        WriteToFile("Timer ticked");
        CheckProcess(GetProcessName());
    }

    public void CheckProcess(string ProcessName)
    {

        WriteToFile(ProcessName);

        try
        {
            Process.Start(ProcessName);
            WriteToFile("It ran");
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            WriteToFile(ex.ToString());
        }

    }

    public string GetProcessName()
    {
        string ProcessName = string.Concat("%AppData%\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\", PublisherName, "\\", ProductName, ".appref-ms");
        return ProcessName;
    }

The error i receive is:

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PubName\ProdName.appref-ms
System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception (0x80004005): The system cannot find the file specified
   at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithShellExecuteEx(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
   at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()
   at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
   at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(String fileName)

If i run the ProcessName retrieved in explorer then the application launches successfully. Value of ProcessName is :

C:\Users\xxx\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PubName\ProdName.appref-ms

Is there something i am missing in order to start the file?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 485

Answers (1)

RezaNoei
RezaNoei

Reputation: 1479

Windows Services are the programs which will runs even before a user logged into it's Account. This is Windows Service purpose, and by this definition you haven't access to specific User Environment Variables (Like %AppData%) because you aren't in the User Session so your address will be translated to something Odd if you write it into a .txt you will see the result.

Windows Services (By your definitions) will run by LocalSystem, LocalService or NetworkService. Go to TaskManager->Services->Open Services and watch Log On As Column.

So you must use a general path which be access-able through your service.

Most terrifying solution is to force your Service to wait for a user login and impersonate his token.

I will Prefer to choose a better place.

There is a way to debug and see your Service bugs (In UserSession) in VisualStudio. Change your Program.cs to something like: 

static void Main()
{
#if DEBUG
        var MainService = new MainService();
        MainService.OnDebug();

#else

        ServiceBase[] ServicesToRun;
        ServicesToRun = new ServiceBase[]
        {
            new MainService()
        };
        ServiceBase.Run(ServicesToRun);
#endif
}

and Add OnDebug function to your Service: 

 public void OnDebug()
 {
    OnStart(null);
 }

if you debug your project in this way you will see that your service is working As Expected !!!

Upvotes: 1

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