Don't Allow

Here is the problem -
We use a "DOS" application database and when someone has it opened and minimize it - they sometimes forget they already have it opened and open another copy of it. The big problem is that if they do that then the database has a very good tendousy to get corupted.

Here is what I would like to do -
Create a program that runs in the background (as a service perhaps) and monitors open windows. If you open a window and it sees that you already have one with that name opened it will interupt the opening of the window, show a message, then close the "new" one you are trying to open and take you to the one you already had opened to begin with.

What I did -
Created an exe program that they use instead of running the batch program associated with the dos application, and it looks at all current opened window title bars - if not found it will run the batch file to open the dos app then exit (itself) - if found it will display a message box saying "Application already running" and exit without opening another copy of it. This all worked great untill a few people found out they can open a "DOS" window and run the batch file from there.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated as I am getting very tired of repairing this application do to peoples to ignorance and/or "I don't care" attitudes.

In your exe why don't you monitor window titles to make sure they don't open a command prompt window? Same idea, if they open a command prompt window, give them a message and close it.

That's what I would do, besides tearing a strip off the users who are bypassing protocol.

That is a very good idea - So darn simple I am kicking myself for not thinking of it. Thanks :)