How to learn monitor off status with code

[algea]

I am trying to make a program that calculates the system active time amount. This program would calculate the total amount of system active time and idle time. From power options monitor turn off display status. How can we learn if the monitor is on or off with code. If there is a program that can show the window active time amount so that I will not create a program from beginning
Thanks in advance

[Edgemeal]

How can we learn if the monitor is on or off with code.

EDIT: Think I misread that question, I was thinking of "off" as sleep mode, I don't turn off my displays.

I could be totally wrong but, I think to detect that you'll need to get the users display sleep setting and then subtract that from their current idle time.

The following is a google/copy&paste effort using that idea, and is working as expected on my single monitor Win7 desktop.

Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Public Class Form1
    ' start timer to show seconds until display goes to sleep.
    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Timer1.Interval = 1000
        Timer1.Start()
    End Sub

    Private Sub Timer1_Tick(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
        ' get user idle time in seconds
        Dim idleTime = GetSecondsIdle()
        If idleTime > 0 Then
            ' get power policy
            Dim gpp As New GLOBAL_POWER_POLICY()
            Dim pp As New POWER_POLICY()
            Dim result As Boolean = Power_NativeMethods.GetCurrentPowerPolicies(gpp, pp)
            If result Then
                ' testing on Win7 desktop w/single monitor set to sleep in 5 mins.
                Dim monitorIdleSleepSeconds = pp.user.VideoTimeoutAc ' display sleep setting is returned in seconds?
                ' subtract current user idle time from monitor idle time setting.
                Me.Text = "Monitor sleeps in " & (monitorIdleSleepSeconds - idleTime).ToString & " seconds."
            Else
                Timer1.Stop()               
                MessageBox.Show("Get POWER_POLICY failed! :(")
            End If
        Else
            Me.Text = Me.Name
        End If
    End Sub

#Region "API - Get user idle time"
    <StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)> _
    Structure LASTINPUTINFO
        <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.U4)> Public cbSize As Integer
        <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.U4)> Public dwTime As Integer
    End Structure

    <DllImport("user32.dll")> _
    Shared Function GetLastInputInfo(ByRef plii As LASTINPUTINFO) As Boolean
    End Function

    ' Gets user idle time in secs.
    Function GetSecondsIdle() As Integer
        Dim oPLII As LASTINPUTINFO
        oPLII.cbSize = Marshal.SizeOf(oPLII)
        GetLastInputInfo(oPLII)
        'Return idle time in secs.
        Return (Environment.TickCount - oPLII.dwTime) \ 1000
    End Function
#End Region

End Class

' original source , http://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/26372366/How-do-I-get-set-the-Power-Scheme-in-C.html
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Module Module1
    Friend Class Power_NativeMethods
        <DllImport("powrprof.dll", SetLastError:=True)> _
        Friend Shared Function GetCurrentPowerPolicies(ByRef pGlobalPowerPolicy As GLOBAL_POWER_POLICY, ByRef pPowerPolicy As POWER_POLICY) As <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)> Boolean
        End Function
    End Class

    <StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, Pack:=1)> _
    Structure GLOBAL_POWER_POLICY
        Public UserPolicy As GLOBAL_USER_POWER_POLICY
        Public MachinePolicy As GLOBAL_MACHINE_POWER_POLICY
    End Structure

    <Flags()> _
    Enum GlobalPowerPolicyFlags As UInteger
        EnableSysTrayBatteryMeter = &H1
        EnableMultiBatteryDisplay = &H2
        EnablePasswordAtLogon = &H4
        EnableWakeOnRing = &H8
        EnableVideoDimDisplay = &H10
    End Enum

    <StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, Pack:=1)> _
    Structure GLOBAL_USER_POWER_POLICY
        Public Const NUM_DISCHARGE_POLICIES As Integer = 4
        Public Revision As UInteger
        Public PowerButtonAc As POWER_ACTION_POLICY
        Public PowerButtonDc As POWER_ACTION_POLICY
        Public SleepButtonAc As POWER_ACTION_POLICY
        Public SleepButtonDc As POWER_ACTION_POLICY
        Public LidCloseAc As POWER_ACTION_POLICY
        Public LidCloseDc As POWER_ACTION_POLICY
        <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValArray, SizeConst:=NUM_DISCHARGE_POLICIES)> _
        Public DischargePolicy As SYSTEM_POWER_LEVEL()
        Public GlobalFlags As GlobalPowerPolicyFlags
    End Structure

    <StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, Pack:=1)> _
    Structure GLOBAL_MACHINE_POWER_POLICY
        Public Revision As UInteger
        Public LidOpenWakeAc As SYSTEM_POWER_STATE
        Public LidOpenWakeDc As SYSTEM_POWER_STATE
        Public BroadcastCapacityResolution As UInteger
    End Structure

    <StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, Pack:=1)> _
    Structure SYSTEM_POWER_LEVEL
        Public Enable As Boolean
        <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValArray, SizeConst:=3)> _
        Public Spare As Byte()
        Public BatteryLevel As UInteger
        Public PowerPolicy As POWER_ACTION_POLICY
        Public MinSystemState As SYSTEM_POWER_STATE
    End Structure

    Enum SYSTEM_POWER_STATE
        PowerSystemUnspecified = 0
        PowerSystemWorking = 1
        PowerSystemSleeping1 = 2
        PowerSystemSleeping2 = 3
        PowerSystemSleeping3 = 4
        PowerSystemHibernate = 5
        PowerSystemShutdown = 6
        PowerSystemMaximum = 7
    End Enum

    Enum POWER_ACTION As UInteger
        PowerActionNone = 0
        ' No system power action. 
        PowerActionReserved
        ' Reserved; do not use. 
        PowerActionSleep
        ' Sleep. 
        PowerActionHibernate
        ' Hibernate. 
        PowerActionShutdown
        ' Shutdown. 
        PowerActionShutdownReset
        ' Shutdown and reset. 
        PowerActionShutdownOff
        ' Shutdown and power off. 
        PowerActionWarmEject
        ' Warm eject.
    End Enum

    <Flags()> _
    Enum PowerActionFlags As UInteger
        POWER_ACTION_QUERY_ALLOWED = &H1
        ' Broadcasts a PBT_APMQUERYSUSPEND event to each application to request permission to suspend operation.
        POWER_ACTION_UI_ALLOWED = &H2
        ' Applications can prompt the user for directions on how to prepare for suspension. Sets bit 0 in the Flags parameter passed in the lParam parameter of WM_POWERBROADCAST.
        POWER_ACTION_OVERRIDE_APPS = &H4
        ' Ignores applications that do not respond to the PBT_APMQUERYSUSPEND event broadcast in the WM_POWERBROADCAST message.
        POWER_ACTION_LIGHTEST_FIRST = &H10000000
        ' Uses the first lightest available sleep state.
        POWER_ACTION_LOCK_CONSOLE = &H20000000
        ' Requires entry of the system password upon resume from one of the system standby states.
        POWER_ACTION_DISABLE_WAKES = &H40000000
        ' Disables all wake events.
        POWER_ACTION_CRITICAL = &H80000000UI
        ' Forces a critical suspension.
    End Enum

    <Flags()> _
    Enum PowerActionEventCode As UInteger
        POWER_LEVEL_USER_NOTIFY_TEXT = &H1
        ' User notified using the UI. 
        POWER_LEVEL_USER_NOTIFY_SOUND = &H2
        ' User notified using sound. 
        POWER_LEVEL_USER_NOTIFY_EXEC = &H4
        ' Specifies a program to be executed. 
        POWER_USER_NOTIFY_BUTTON = &H8
        ' Indicates that the power action is in response to a user power button press. 
        POWER_USER_NOTIFY_SHUTDOWN = &H10
        ' Indicates a power action of shutdown/off.
        POWER_FORCE_TRIGGER_RESET = &H80000000UI
        ' Clears a user power button press. 
    End Enum

    <StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, Pack:=1)> _
    Structure POWER_ACTION_POLICY
        Public Action As POWER_ACTION
        Public Flags As PowerActionFlags
        Public EventCode As PowerActionEventCode
    End Structure

    Structure POWER_POLICY
        Public user As USER_POWER_POLICY
        Public mach As MACHINE_POWER_POLICY
    End Structure

    Structure MACHINE_POWER_POLICY
        Private Revision As UInteger
        Private MinSleepAc As SYSTEM_POWER_STATE
        Private MinSleepDc As SYSTEM_POWER_STATE
        Private ReducedLatencySleepAc As SYSTEM_POWER_STATE
        Private ReducedLatencySleepDc As SYSTEM_POWER_STATE
        Private DozeTimeoutAc As UInteger
        Private DozeTimeoutDc As UInteger
        Private DozeS4TimeoutAc As UInteger
        Private DozeS4TimeoutDc As UInteger
        Private MinThrottleAc As Byte
        Private MinThrottleDc As Byte
        <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValArray, SizeConst:=2)> _
        Private pad1 As Byte()
        Private OverThrottledAc As POWER_ACTION_POLICY
        Private OverThrottledDc As POWER_ACTION_POLICY
    End Structure

    <StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet:=CharSet.Auto)> _
    Structure USER_POWER_POLICY
        Public Revision As UInteger
        Public IdleAc As POWER_ACTION_POLICY
        Public IdleDc As POWER_ACTION_POLICY
        Public IdleTimeoutAc As UInteger
        Public IdleTimeoutDc As UInteger
        Public IdleSensitivityAc As Byte
        Public IdleSensitivityDc As Byte
        Public ThrottlePolicyAc As Byte
        Public ThrottlePolicyDc As Byte
        Public MaxSleepAc As SYSTEM_POWER_STATE
        Public MaxSleepDc As SYSTEM_POWER_STATE
        <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValArray, SizeConst:=2)> _
        Public Reserved As UInteger()
        Public VideoTimeoutAc As UInteger
        Public VideoTimeoutDc As UInteger
        Public SpindownTimeoutAc As UInteger
        Public SpindownTimeoutDc As UInteger
        <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.I1)> _
        Public OptimizeForPowerAc As Boolean
        <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.I1)> _
        Public OptimizeForPowerDc As Boolean
        Public FanThrottleToleranceAc As Byte
        Public FanThrottleToleranceDc As Byte
        Public ForcedThrottleAc As Byte
        Public ForcedThrottleDc As Byte
    End Structure

End Module

[algea]

Sorry I could not run your code. But l have found an API for what I’m about to do. Here is the code:

Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Public Class Form1
    <StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)>
    Structure LASTINPUTINFO
        <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.U4)>
        Public cbSize As Integer
        <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.U4)>
        Public dwTime As Integer
    End Structure
    <DllImport("user32.dll")>
    Shared Function GetLastInputInfo(ByRef plii As LASTINPUTINFO) As Boolean
    End Function

    Dim idletime As Integer
    Dim lastInputInf As New LASTINPUTINFO()
    Public Function GetLastInputTime() As Integer
        idletime = 0
        lastInputInf.cbSize = Marshal.SizeOf(lastInputInf)
        lastInputInf.dwTime = 0

        If GetLastInputInfo(lastInputInf) Then
            idletime = Environment.TickCount - lastInputInf.dwTime
        End If

        If idletime > 0 Then
            Return idletime / 1000
        Else : Return 0
        End If
    End Function

    Private sumofidletime As TimeSpan = New TimeSpan(0)
    Private LastLastIdletime As Integer = 0
    Private Sub Timer1_Tick(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
        Dim it As Integer = GetLastInputTime()
        If LastLastIdletime > it Then
            Label1.Text = "IDLE STATE CHANGED!"
            sumofidletime = sumofidletime.Add(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(LastLastIdletime))
            Label2.Text = "Sum of idle time: " & sumofidletime.ToString
        Else
            Label1.Text = GetLastInputTime()
        End If
        LastLastIdletime = it
    End Sub

    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        Timer1.Interval = 1000
        Timer1.Enabled = True
    End Sub
End Class