A marketable software?

[dee-u]

I have weaved a small tool to 'monitor' a certain app of choice, once the target app is minimized then if you are going to maximize/restore it again then the tool will ask you a password before allowing to maximize/restore. It will also auto-show, auto-hide the app by a system-wide hot key.

In one way it is useful since if you want to leave your app then you could just minimize it and be certain that no one else could maximize/restore it aside from you.

Does such tool have a market value?

[RobDog888]

Perhaps but couldnt they just lock their workstation?

I could see it being useful if you are at work and your boss wants to see your browser on VB Forums

[dee-u]

Perhaps but couldnt they just lock their workstation?

I could see it being useful if you are at work and your boss wants to see your browser on VB Forums

Yes, and Outlook also... My boss actually wanted to make me such utility so that the client application of his CCTV would be 'locked' always...

[RobDog888]

Hmm, so a third party utility to lock individule programs. That actually sounds like it would have potential.

[dee-u]

Hmm, so a third party utility to lock individule programs. That actually sounds like it would have potential.

Yes, I have thought it may have a potential though I'll still wait for your comments...

[RobDog888]

I think it does. Actually if you check out Fazi's signature, he has a link to his "Market your software" thread.

[Shaggy Hiker]

It does sound useful for some people (not me at the moment, but some people). Might as well pursue it for a time. However, it sounds to me like one component in a larger suite. Therefore, the place you might try marketing it to is a company that sells a suite of Windows tools. Not sure who that would be, but there must be several out there.

[dee-u]

Thanks guys. I'll have to improve it more before marketing it though, I think it has some flaws for now.

[dee-u]

Could you suggest a proper name for the utility? Something that is marketable, for now I have named it 'SecureExe' but I find it cumbersome.

[DeanMc]

SecuriDesk

[dee-u]

SecuriDesk

Nice! Let them coming...

[Kasracer]

Doesn't make sense IMO. How are you "locking" these applications? I can guarantee you I could maximize one without knowning your password.

Windows is designed so that the logged in user can access all of their applications. It makes no sense, IMO, to be able to "lock" specific applications because you would just lock your desktop instead. That or the application should have a built in locking mechanism.

Any solution that hooks into the Win32 API to try and prevent specific applications from being maximized is... well, fighting a up-hill battle and I don't believe there is a way to 100% prevent this. There are other workarounds as well such as using Vista's screenshot ability to take an image of a minimized application.

However, regardless if you market this or not, if you made it for your boss on company time, then the tool most likely won't belong to you. I remember reading a story about a guy who worked on a large application after work hours but on a company machine. When it came to finally releasing it, the company found out and took the guy to court and won the rights to his application.

Could you suggest a proper name for the utility? Something that is marketable, for now I have named it 'SecureExe' but I find it cumbersome.

"Lockbox"

[dee-u]

Care to share methods of maximizing apps so I could test it further?

No need to worry about my boss, he is also my friend and he is rich enough not to be bothered if I sell it or not, and he is not a company but a doctor...

Thanks for the name suggestion!

[Kasracer]

Care to share methods of maximizing apps so I could test it further?

Task Manager: Switch To, bring to Front, Maximize, etc.
I don't really remember the others (I think there is a command prompt way too) but depending on the application, launching of specific file types or sending the executable commands via command line may cause the application to show itself.
Also, using the Task Manager or even Explorer as an Administrator (Run As -> Administrator in Vista) may behave differently.

Most of the other work arounds involve coding.

Since you're attempting to intercept and modify an OS' functionality, I don't think it'll ever be completely bullet proof.

[t0rk3y]

I think this utility is too small for it to be released as a stand-alone product, making this utility come with another product, like a anti-virus or parental control program would be more plausible, i would rather have one big utility that uses all of my programs than multiple smaller programs, take AusLogics Boost Speed for example. Has multiple products built inside of it.

Program sounds good, i would use it, keep it up.

[dee-u]

Task Manager: Switch To, bring to Front, Maximize, etc.

The target app is also hidden also when minimized so it shows only in the processes list therefore it cannot be maximized with task manager.

Pls. tell me the other options and I'll gladly look. I don't have Vista yet so I can't test with it for now...

[dee-u]

I think this utility is too small for it to be released as a stand-alone product, making this utility come with another product, like a anti-virus or parental control program would be more plausible, i would rather have one big utility that uses all of my programs than multiple smaller programs, take AusLogics Boost Speed for example. Has multiple products built inside of it.

Program sounds good, i would use it, keep it up.

If someone wants to buy the rights then I'll gladly sell it...

[dee-u]

Any idea how much should I value for such utility? I am also contemplating on making it donation-based though I am afraid I may not get any donation at all to continue improving it...

[RobDog888]

Compare against other similar software. ther emay be none but try to compare against something of similar size, complexity and value.

you can always adjust the price later but if you offer it for free to start with you may have a hard time charging for something that was free.

But then there is the premise that you give it away for free to saturate the market and then start charging once you have a good base.