Re: Writing a Windows service

Hi,

This can be a Windows Service. However (IMO), it need not be. I could
simply be a program that is started via inclusion in the Startup folder.

The real issue here is HID. Some HID magstripe readers install a keyboard
HID driver that places keystrokes into the windows message stream, and these
are VERY hard to use as you propose, whether you use a service or a standard
application. However, there is one HID magstripe reader (MagTek models
21040101 or 21040101 ) see
http://www.magtek.com/products/card_readers/mini/usb/standard_configurations.asp
that are easy to use from VB6 -- or from a service. If you choose a
service, I stronly suggest that you consider VB .NET). I have a Windows
Service example on my website that could be modified to work with the MagTek
reader that I mention above, rather easily (I also have both an ActiveX
control for this MagTek reader, and native code that could be used with it).

***

--
Richard Grier, MVP
Hard & Software
Author of Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications, Fourth
Edition,
ISBN 1-890422-28-2 (391 pages, includes CD-ROM). July 2004, Revised March
2006.
See www.hardandsoftware.net for details and contact information.


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