Run/Restart/Close Programs Automatically with PTFB Pro's Program Monitor Macros

Program Monitor Macros (or "ProgMons") run periodic checks on the programs running on your computer. If a program isn't running that should be, a ProgMon can launch it. If an undesirable program keeps running, it can shut it down each time it appears. And if an important program keeps hanging, it can restart it periodically or whenever it slips into the "not responding" state.

Typical Uses

• Keep Programs Running

• An office computer has a utility that should be kept running throughout the day, and sometimes colleagues accidentally quit the utility
• There's a program you'd like to keep running, but sometimes it crashes out without any warning or error

• Prevent Programs from Running

• There's software on your PC that checks for updates (e.g. for the Java runtime). It's OK for them to run when the computer first starts up, but you don't want them running all day because they just consume memory and other resources for no good reason. Stopping them by hand is a pain!

• Restart Programs

• There's a critical program on your system that has known memory leaks. It needs to be restarted on a regular basis to free up resources.
• Another critical program occasionally hangs or goes into the 'not responding' state. It needs to be restarted quickly when this happens - even during the night when there's no one on the premises.

How to do it ...

Here's how to record a Program Monitor Macro:

1. Open up PTFB Pro's main window by clicking on its tray icon
   
   
   
   
2. Click the right-hand side of the Macro button on PTFB's screen and choose "New ProgMon Macro".
   
   
   
   
3. A Wizard will take you through the necessary steps to create your ProgMon Macro.
   
   
   
   
4. That's all there is to it!
   
   To put PTFB Pro to work, click "Start Watching", or press the close box in the top-right corner. PTFB Pro will minimize to the system tray and quietly monitor your programs.