Running a Windows Service in Console mode?

Question

I found some sample code posted at https://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.dotnet.languages.csharp/browse_thread/thread/4d45e9ea5471cba4/4519371a77ed4a74?hl=en&pli=1 for self installing a Windows Service. I am in C# on fx 4.0. Trying to figure out where I went off the rails...

My questions:

1. I created a Win Service project. In program.cs / main() I pretty much copied the code example. It appears most everything is working except launching a console window if I am in DEBUG mode (passing in - c of course). For some reason the console window never opens.
2. The other challenge I had was the call to StartUp() / ShutDown() in the console portion would not compile. I ended up have to initialize my service object and then call it.
3. I am getting the following error when the Console.ReadKey() method is called:

Cannot read keys when either application does not have a console or when console input has been redirected from a file. Try Console.Read.

My code and stuff:

An image of my project structure:

NOTE: I was duplicating the startup sequence in the TestHarness when in DEBUG mode. If/when I get this working I will be dropping that from the solution. The Library project is where the majority of my code lives.

PROGRAM.CS

using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Linq; using System.ServiceProcess; using System.Text; using System.ComponentModel; using System.Configuration.Install; using System.Collections; using RivWorks.FeedHandler.Service;  namespace RivWorks.FeedHandler {     static class Program     {         /// <summary>         /// The main entry point for the application.         /// </summary>         static int Main(string[] args)         {             bool install = false, uninstall = false, console = false, rethrow = false;              try             {                 foreach (string arg in args)                 {                     switch (arg)                     {                         case "-i":                         case "-install":                             install = true; break;                         case "-u":                         case "-uninstall":                             uninstall = true; break;                         case "-c":                         case "-console":                             console = true; break;                         default:                             Console.Error.WriteLine("Argument not expected: " + arg);                             break;                     }                 }                 if (uninstall)                 {                     Install(true, args);                 }                 if (install)                 {                     Install(false, args);                 }                 if (console)                 {                     Console.WriteLine("Starting...");                     FeedListener fl = new FeedListener();                     fl.StartUp();                     Console.WriteLine("System running; press any key to stop");                     Console.ReadKey(true);                     fl.ShutDown();                     Console.WriteLine("System stopped");                 }                 else if (!(install || uninstall))                 {                     rethrow = true; // so that windows sees error...                     ServiceBase[] services = { new Service.FeedListener() };                     ServiceBase.Run(services);                     rethrow = false;                 }                 return 0;             }             catch (Exception ex)             {                 if (rethrow) throw;                 Console.Error.WriteLine(ex.Message);                 return -1;             }         }         static void Install(bool undo, string[] args)         {             try             {                 Console.WriteLine(undo ? "uninstalling" : "installing");                 using (AssemblyInstaller inst = new AssemblyInstaller(typeof(Program).Assembly, args))                 {                     IDictionary state = new Hashtable();                     inst.UseNewContext = true;                     try                     {                         if (undo)                         {                             inst.Uninstall(state);                         }                         else                         {                             inst.Install(state);                             inst.Commit(state);                         }                     }                     catch                     {                         try                         {                             inst.Rollback(state);                         }                         catch { }                         throw;                     }                 }             }             catch (Exception ex)             {                 Console.Error.WriteLine(ex.Message);             }         }     }       [RunInstaller(true)]     public sealed class MyServiceInstallerProcess : ServiceProcessInstaller     {         public MyServiceInstallerProcess()         {             this.Account = ServiceAccount.NetworkService;         }     }      [RunInstaller(true)]     public sealed class MyServiceInstaller : ServiceInstaller     {         public MyServiceInstaller()         {             this.Description = "Provides a service to listen for, then import, feed files from various sources.";             this.DisplayName = "RIVWorks Feed Handler (.NET 4.0)";             this.ServiceName = "FeedListener";             this.StartType = System.ServiceProcess.ServiceStartMode.Automatic;         }     } } 

FEEDLISTENER.CS

using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.ComponentModel; using System.Data; using System.Diagnostics; using System.Linq; using System.ServiceProcess; using System.Text; using System.IO; using sysIO = System.IO; using RivWorks.FeedHandler; using System.Collections; using RivWorks.FeedHandler.Library; using System.Threading;  namespace RivWorks.FeedHandler.Service {     public partial class FeedListener : ServiceBase     {         #region Declarations         static private List<string> _keys = new List<string>();         static private System.Threading.Timer _clock = null;         static private FileSystemWatcher _watcher;         static private RivWorks.FeedHandler.Library.QueueHandler _qHandler = null;         static private bool _isDequeueing = false;         #endregion          #region Constructor         public FeedListener()         {             InitializeComponent();         }         #endregion          #region Internal Methods         internal void StartUp() {...}         internal void ShutDown() {...}         #endregion          #region Start/Stop         protected override void OnStart(string[] args)         {             StartUp();         }         protected override void OnStop()         {             ShutDown();         }         #endregion          #region Event Handlers         static void qHandler_QueuesGrew() {...}         static void qHandler_QueuesShrunk() {...}         static void qHandler_QueuesChanged() {...}         static void fileCreatedOrChanged(object sender, sysIO.FileSystemEventArgs e) {...}         #endregion          #region Private Methods         private static void Tick(object state) {...}         private static void WriteToEventLog(Exception ex, EventLogEntryType eventLogEntryType) {...}         private static void WriteToEventLog(string message, EventLogEntryType eventLogEntryType) {...}         #endregion     } } 

Answer 1

And I found my answer! My project properties were set to Windows App instead of Console App. DOH! (Project Properties > Application Tab > Output type:)

Answer 2

Also.. instead of using -console arg, you can identify its console by using Environment.UserInteractive, which will be false when running as service, but true when running the EXE directly.