Need a popup alert window before a job

Rawtashk · 04-20-2009, 02:39 PM

Ok, here's what I need, and I was hoping someone could help me out or point me in the right direction.

Right now we're doing a massive rollout, uninstalling Groupwise and Installing Outlook 07. I have a job that runs perfectly, but I would like some sort of popup "windows alert" type of thing that says something to the effect of "We're installing Outlook on your computer and it will be automatically restarted in 5 minutes. Please save all your work right away, otherwise it will be lost."

I've had some complaints because people lost some of the stuff they were working on. I sent out MANY e-mails leading up to the install, and told people to LEAVE YOUR LAPTOP AT YOUR DESK, DOCKED, AND TURNED ON so that I could push out the job. Like users do, several of them ignored what I said and took their laptops home over the weekend...which means it kicked off first thing monday morning. I have about 500 more people to do, and I'd like to be able to give them ANOTHER warning before the restart is forced on them.

Thanks!

JeffreyJRiggs · 04-20-2009, 02:56 PM

how about just creating a vb script to popup a message....

you could even have it not continue until they click ok....

Rawtashk · 04-20-2009, 02:57 PM

Sounds like a plan...but I'm no good when it comes to VB (I know, it's sad). Can I get some help, or should I just google and find it that way?

englundg · 04-20-2009, 03:13 PM

Have you tried using the SWD task Programs setting "User can defer for: xx minutes" or have it run "Only when no user is logged on".

gompie1403 · 04-20-2009, 03:39 PM

have a look at miniNotify. Google to it or search on myitforum.com.

Brandon · 04-20-2009, 06:35 PM

Here is an example with no cancel button. The 180 is the automatic timeout.

Code:

'vbscript
set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell") 
WshShell.Popup"The imaging process is complete." & vbcrlf & vbcrlf & _
 "Remaining Steps:" & vbcrlf & vbcrlf & _
 "- Install Office and any additional division specific applications", 180, "Finished", 64

If you actually want them to acknowledge it use this (note no timeout):

Code:

'vbscript blah blah
Dim intClicked
set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell") 
intClicked = WshShell.Popup("Office is going to instal.", ,"READ THIS. . .", 49)
If intClicked = 2 Then
WScript.Quit(2) 
End If

Then capture code 2 in the DS job as a Failure with a message like "user cancelled installation"

Research the vbscripts on google. I think you have ample information to start your search.

apascucci · 04-21-2009, 04:10 AM

What we do sometimes,
We create an HTML file with logo and blinking red message.

I know it sounds sick in 2009...

You can start this page at the first line of your batch & kill it at the end.

rdvanorman · 04-27-2009, 10:01 PM

I needed something like this too so I used AUTOIT to create a message box with a specified timeout. AUTOIT is very easy to use and you may find it handy for other things. VBScript is a great tool but like you I'm not really very good at it though I'd like to be better... Just not enough time in a minute to learn all the technology screaming by.

IRRISysAd · 09-11-2009, 02:07 AM

We find AutoIT very useful. However, our problem is that the message alert pops up while the installation is starting.

What we need to do is to install first the application (IE8) and have the message show up after the installation.

Any help is appreciated.

rdvanorman · 09-11-2009, 07:37 AM

What type of install package is it? You can add the Start /Wait at the beginning so it doesn't release the job until finished or in the case of an Windows Installer package there's a application here, "OSetup", that doesn't release the job until it's complete. Then put your message in as the next task.