Having Program launch on computer start up

[ontsjc]

Hello folks,

I'm designing an application that will sit on a job site in the middle of the california desert in a shipping container with internet access (no kidding). This app will be used by another company to enter data that will then be emailed automatically through cdosys back to the office. The issue is that since we can't control physical access to the computer and don't know who will be using it, we want to control access, so if we can have the application launch on computer start up and effectivly block access to all other functions (i.e., internet), then shutdown the computer when the app shutdown routine is called, that would be ideal. I would also like the moon, stars, etc... I'm currently using VFP8. Thanks for your help.

 

[DSummZZZ]

It will be powered by a perpetual motion generator too, no?
Sounds interesting though.

The only way I know of off hand is to replace 'Explorer.exe' with an app of your own making.

But, try perusing the search in this forum. I recall someone using a similar scenario on kiosks.


-Dave Summers-

Even more Fox stuff at:

http://www.davesummers.net/foxprolinks.htm

 

[Mike Lewis]

Ontsjc,

You said you wanted to disable access to "to all other functions (i.e., internet)". Which is it? All other functions, or just the internet?

If the latter, you may be able to do it via a software firewall such as Zone Alarms. You would give your own program access to the internet, and deny all other programs. Of course that would only work if the firewall's user interface could be hidden from the user.

If you mean you want to deny access to all other programs, that would be harder. Off-hand, I can't think of any foolproof way of doing it. I suppose you could make your application run full-screen (covering the taskbar area), and trap access to keystrokes such as Alt+Tab and Ctrl+Esc, but it wouldn't keep out a knowledgeable user who was determined to subvert the system.

Mike


__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My Visual FoxPro site: www.ml-consult.co.uk

 

[GriffMG]

Hmmm - they do it on automated tills at Sainsbury.

Must be possible.

Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

 

[Mike Lewis]

Griff,

they do it on automated tills at Sainsbury.

You're right, they do.

Perhaps they have a modified version of the OS, or at least the shell. With Windows 3.x, it was relatively easy to assign any program as the windows shell -- just an INI file setting, if I remember right. It allowed the specified program to take over the entire user interface and hide all other visible parts of Windows. I wonder if that's still possible.

Mike

__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My Visual FoxPro site: www.ml-consult.co.uk

 

[thatguy]

I once had to limit user access to everything on a workstation except one program for everyone but the administrator..

hello, Group Policy Editor!

You can limit/remove access to the hard drive, CD- and floppy drives, network, control panel, taskbar properties, etc etc etc.. Plus, you can revoke read/execute access to the group policy settings for users that shouldn't have limited accounts.

Look into locking down a public computer with group policy on google. There are bunches of posts out there of how to do it.

HTH
-- frank~

PS.- Don't forget to password-protect the CMOS too.

 

[ontsjc]

Thanks for the ideas. I'll follow up on some of the leads and in case anyone is interested I'll post back what I find.