How to Run BatchPhoto Monitor as a Windows Service with AlwaysUp

BatchPhoto is a photo productivity toolkit. Its powerful Monitor component can watch a folder for arriving images and automatically apply transformations to create new photos. However Monitor only starts after someone logs in, which is where AlwaysUp can help.

To install BatchPhoto Monitor as a Windows Service with AlwaysUp:

1. If you have not already done so, download, install and setup BatchPhoto. Configure your folder watch and other automatic actions with the Monitor component and ensure that everything works as expected.

2. Download and install AlwaysUp, if necessary.

3. Start AlwaysUp.

4. Select Application > Add to open the Add Application window:

   

5. On the General tab:

   • In the Application field, enter the full path to the BatchPhoto Monitor executable, Monitor.exe. If you installed BatchPhoto Monitor in the default location, this will be:

     C:\Program Files (x86)\BatchPhoto\Monitor.exe

     On an older 32-bit system, it will be:

     C:\Program Files\BatchPhoto\Monitor.exe

   • In the Name field, enter the name that you will call the application in AlwaysUp. We have specified BatchPhoto Monitor but you can specify another name if you like.

   

6. Click over to the Logon tab and enter the username and password of the account in which you installed and use BatchPhoto. Monitor must run in this account so that it can find its settings.

   

7. Switch to the Startup tab. Check both the Stop all copies of the application running on this computer and Also whenever the application is restarted boxes, to ensure that only a single copy of Monitor.exe is active at any time.

   

8. We're done configuring BatchPhoto as a service, so click the Save button to record your settings. In a couple of seconds, an application called BatchPhoto Monitor will show up in the AlwaysUp window. It is not yet running though and the state will be Stopped.

   

9. Now that BatchPhoto Monitor is setup to start automatically when your computer boots, you no longer need it to start when you log on. To deactivate that option:

   1. Start BatchPhoto

   2. Select Edit > Settings to open the Settings window

   3. On the General tab, uncheck Launch BatchPhoto Monitor at startup (Enterprise).

   4. And while we're here, please uncheck the following boxes as well:

      • Show profiles window at startup
      • Show wizard window at startup
      • Check for new versions at startup

      We don't want any silly prompts to interrupt BatchPhoto as it runs invisibly in the background.

      

   5. Click OK to save your changes.

   6. Exit BatchPhoto.

10. To start BatchPhoto Monitor from AlwaysUp, choose Application > Start "BatchPhoto Monitor". The status will change to Running:

    

    Note that you won't see the BatchPhoto window or tray icon on your desktop. The software will be running in the background, on the isolated Session 0.

    If you wish to start BatchPhoto Monitor on your desktop "like normal", select Application > Start "BatchPhoto Monitor" in this session. The familiar task tray icon will show up in a few seconds.

11. That's it! Next time your computer boots, BatchPhoto Monitor will start up immediately, in Session 0, without anyone needing to log on. Please restart your PC now and test that BatchPhoto Monitor works as expected after Windows comes back to life.

    And please feel free to edit BatchPhoto Monitor in AlwaysUp to check out the many other settings that may be appropriate for your environment. For example, send email alerts if it stops, boost BatchPhoto Monitor's priority, and more.

Download & Import the BatchPhoto Monitor Settings File

For your convenience, we have provided an AlwaysUp Settings File with all the settings recommended in this guide.

To use the file:

1. Download BatchPhoto-Monitor_alwaysup.xml to your computer. Please make a note of where you save it.

2. In AlwaysUp, select Application > Import from the menu.

3. Choose the file you downloaded in step 1.

4. Make the following adjustments in the Add Application window:

   • On the Logon tab, delete the placeholder values and enter the username and password of the Windows account where you installed and run BatchPhoto:

     

5. Click Save to record your new BatchPhoto Monitor service.

BatchPhoto Monitor not working properly as a Windows Service?

• Consult the AlwaysUp Troubleshooter — our online tool that can help you resolve the most common problems encountered when running an application as a windows service.

• From AlwaysUp, select Application > Report Activity > Today to bring up an HTML report detailing the interaction between AlwaysUp and BatchPhoto Monitor. The AlwaysUp Event Log Messages page explains the messages that may appear.

• Browse the AlwaysUp FAQ for answers to commonly asked questions and troubleshooting tips.

• Contact us and we will be happy to help!