Thread: Utility to change behavior of ATX power button (e.g.: launch an app)

Based on my research, it is easier to deal with intercepting/cancelling a shutdown sequence in Windows. SO at this point, I am pretty much convinced that the best approach is to set up Windows Power options to SHUT DOWN when the Opus sends a power button 'press', intercept the shutdown sequence (easy), run your script, and then send a hibernation command (easy)

Thoughts?

Originally Posted by justintime

Based on my research, it is easier to deal with intercepting/cancelling a shutdown sequence in Windows. SO at this point, I am pretty much convinced that the best approach is to set up Windows Power options to SHUT DOWN when the Opus sends a power button 'press', intercept the shutdown sequence (easy), run your script, and then send a hibernation command (easy)

Thoughts?

Yes that would be a way you could do it. If you wanted I could build something to do this pretty easily. Let me know exactly what you want (including any gui or setup) if you want me to make it. Would you mind if it was based on .NET or would you prefer not? I can do either way but .NET is easiest.

Hey, thanks for offering man.

I did find a utility that performs the exact task I was looking for, it is this utility called ActiveExit XP. It does a whole lot more than what I need it to, and unfortunatley at a pretty heft price: $30, and almost 3 MB of RAM. (ouch!)

Here is a screenshot of the configuration piece that allows you to run a command upon hibernation. I tested this today, and it will halt the hibernation sequence until the program that you configure to run has closed (even if it takes 1 hour to complete). So it works well.

I would love to see something like this for less $$ (preferably freeware of course), but most importantly something that doesn't eat up all that memory -- certainly don't need all the extra features!

Anyhow, something is out there, and it works. Not really sure we need to waste your (or anyone's) time in re-inventing the wheel. If you are really interested in coding it though, I am more than happy to provide some basic software specifications and requirements. (at least what I envision!)

Thanks!

Originally Posted by xBrady

Yes that would be a way you could do it. If you wanted I could build something to do this pretty easily. Let me know exactly what you want (including any gui or setup) if you want me to make it. Would you mind if it was based on .NET or would you prefer not? I can do either way but .NET is easiest.

Ya, if you want something I'll throw it together. Hopefully I can get around to it before your trial expires
Let me know if you want it to just run in the background or if you want a system tray icon. Also let me know what other setup stuff you want.

OK, I'll keep it simple. Here are the requirements/specifications that I came up with according to my very specific need (but also very influenced by what I believe everyone else would need for a CarPC setup)

-Application launches at startup (user can put it in Startup items)
-User configures app to execute an application upon intercepting any given 'event'. Configuration is performed once, and saved in ini file.
-Events that can be 'intercepted' are one or more of the following: Shutdown, Restart, Hibernate, Standby.
-User can select an action for every event. If user wants the same action for every event, then he simply ties the same action to each one.
-When an event is detected, the app will intercept it, cancel the event, and execute the corresponding action instead (typically,launch an application or execute a script, or whatever user configured). What's important is that after the script finishes executing, the app should NOT continue with the original event (i.e., it should not perform the shutdown or the hibernate etc. This was already cancelled). It is up to the user to handle this in the script. So if user really does want to continue with a hibernation after his script executed, he simply adds his own shutdown command at the end of the script. This gives the greatest amount of flexibility.
-Option to minimize upon launch.

That's really all we need. I can put together a mockup of what I envision this to look like tonight if you want me to.

Hey Xbrady. Any word on this? Did you ever find time to put something together?

Edit, here is a conceptual design. Even found a name for it!
Any takers?

Interceptor:

OK, last try.... Xbrady, you there?

Anyone else willing to code this if Xbrady doesn't?

First, I would suggest adding a check box for the option of resuming the original event. This still gives you the option of doing it in code if you wanted to.

Second, depending on my free time, I might take a crack at doing it. It would be in VC++ 6 since I don't have a copy of .NET and prefer not to have a copy. (Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm an old school programmer. I cut my programming teeth on QuickBasic.)

Noldona:

OK, so you agree this would be tremendously useful when used in conjunction with an Opus?

Thanks for at least giving it a try. Doesn't sound too complicated. (I used to program a long time ago, but never for Windows / x386)