who knows a program that can monitor changes on screen

[robin77]

hi, i am looking for a program that can monitor a small portion of the screen and trigger an alarm when something changes.

...for example: a program takes a few hours to do it's job. when it's done a icon on the screen will change. when this happens i want a alarm (sound) to be triggered.
my first idea was to look for a program which monitors a userspecified area of the screen (in this case the area with the icon) and goes off once a change is detected in this area...

does anyone know a program that can do this or does someone have a better idea?

 

[not so gray matter]

You're much better off using an a task scheduler which is triggered by an event rather than a visual change. Most of the time, when a task ends a log is created or the program exits, or whatever and you can tell a task scheduler to execute a script when this happens.

 

[robin77]

thanks for your answer... but task scheduler is not an option in this case. the scenario that i used was an example. the only EVENT i have available IS the visual clue - there won't even be a notizable change in cpu usage.
but i'd be happy to use any kind of "dirty hack" if there is no clean solution available.... so do you have any idea how to trigger for example a task scheduler in a case like this? i was even thinking about creating screenshots of the area every 20seconds or so and compare the size.... but thought there's got to be a better solution ; )

 

[WindowsStar]

If this is an application that does something and then ends. You could monitor the application closing??? Without more information this could be a hard one to resolve.

Edit: Screen shots would be helpful, or what application you are using.

 

[robin77]

thank you for the answer...

no, it's not closing or anything.... actually it's doing NOTHING besides changing the icon. if there would be anything else i could monitor i would have mentioned it already.
well.... to be absolutely precise, it actually IS of course doing something... otherwise the icon would not change... but all this happens deep under the hood ; )

 

[Product FRED]

You can use a guard dog.

 

[robin77]

is this a joke or a piece of software i dont know? ; )

in case it's a software, do you have a link? i guess i won't get very far if i google "guard dog"

 

[Product FRED]

Joke :roflmao:

 

[WindowsStar]

Robin77 at this point I think the only way we will be able to help you is:

1) You tell us what the application is, name, etc.
2) What the application is doing, how it works, etc.
3) Screenshots of it in action.

Let us know.

 

[mlevy]

When the icon changes I'm assuming there's a change happening to the file itself, correct? If so, monitor that file for a change to the modified date (there has to be SOMETHING that can trigger off that) and sound your 'alarm'...

 

[raya2]

I also wanted a software like the one that you described, that can notify me when a specific screen area changed.
But I think , with mix of these 4 softwares you can reach that goal (maybe - you can try) :

1- As you mentioned you must use a software that capture screen every (for example 10 seconds)
you can use this shareware software or any other software that you know that can capture screen in predefined period of time :
Auto Screenshot Maker 2.0
Auto Screenshot Maker - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

2-Copy changed files
Copy changed files - FREE software.
This software copy any files that have any changing in their sizes (copy the screenshots)

3- Directory Monitor :
DevEnterprise.NET | Projects
This software monitor any folders and when a file in that folder changed , it execute any software

4- A software that when it launched , it can produce sound !!!
you can choose any games or software that can do this
for example winamp (it resumes the music where it left)

note : maybe this solution doesn't work but you can give it a try

 

[Thorsen]

Depending on what change is occuring. If it is the Icon file itself, you could have the program fire when the .ico file changes.
If the change is which .ico file the program is using, then maybe when the program shortcut is modified?

 

[robin77]

When the icon changes I'm assuming there's a change happening to the file itself, correct? If so, monitor that file for a change to the modified date (there has to be SOMETHING that can trigger off that) and sound your 'alarm'...

thanks... that was the hint i needed ; )
there is indeed a change in a file happening when the icon changes. i found a free program that monitors file changes... its called monidir2k.exe. i conifigured it so that a alarmsound is played once the file changes

thanks for all the contributions!

 

[mlevy]

Glad I could help.

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