Running the Batch Processing Service on Log-In on Windows

The traditional way of running the batch processing service is by running the server as a Windows service or daemon. This means the service launches in the background as soon as the machine boots, and starts processing the queue even if nobody is logged in to the computer.

Using Service Launcher, it is possible to configure the batch processing service to launch as the currently logged-in user, when they log in. This means that your machine will only process jobs when the user is logged in.

Although this may seem impractical, it may be preferable for security reasons. Harmony services are run under the user usabatch, an user with administrator privileges. When using Service Launcher, the logged-in user does not need to have administrator privileges to run services.

Before configuring Service Launcher to run the batch processing service, the Windows service that launches it must be disabled, so as to avoid launching two instances of the batch processing service simultaneously.

How to disable the batch processing service on Windows

1. Open the Start menu and, in the Programs menu, select Harmony 16.0 Premium > Tools > Control Panel.
2. When prompted, allow Control Panel to make changes to your device.

3. In the Process Starter drop-down, select HarmonyStarter0-tbprocess -schedule.

   NOTEThe number after HarmonyStarter may be different, depending on how many Harmony services were installed before this one.
4. Click on Stop.

5. Click on Remove.

   From that point on, the batch processing service will no longer launch on boot.

6. Close the Control Panel.

How to configure the batch processing service to launch on user log-in

1. Make sure you are currently signed-in as the user who will run the service.

   NOTEThis user will need to be logged in for the service to be running. The user does not need to have administrator privileges.

2. Do one of the following:

   • If Service Launcher is not running, open the Start menu and, in the Programs list, select Harmony 16.0 Premium > Tools >  Service Launcher.
   • If Service Launcher is already running, click on its icon in the notification tray.

   The Service Launcher application launches.

3. In the Application parameters section of the Preferences tab, make sure that the Launch on login option is checked, so that services configured in Service Launcher automatically launch when you log in to your account.

4. Select the ToonBoom Process tab.
5. Make sure the Schedule option is checked.
6. Click on Launch to verify that the batch processing service launches successfully through Service Launcher.
7. Check the Launch when Service Launcher starts option.

8. In the top menu, select Server > Save All Settings.

   From now on, the batch processing service will launch through Service Launcher when you log in. You can test that your machine is ready to perform batch processing job by entering the following command in a terminal, replacing <host name> with the name of your machine.

   > Status -b -m <host name>