[python-win32] Windows "idle" time & killing a process

[Tim Golden]

Randy Syring wrote:
> I use synergy to connect the keyboard and mouse on my desktop to my 
> laptop.  However, I have found that synergy keeps my monitors from 
> shutting off when it is running.  I often forget to turn synergy off at 
> the end of the day, which means my monitors waste energy and bulb life. 
> 
> I would like to write a script in Python that would check if the 
> computer had been idle (i.e. no user input) for > 1 hour and if so, shut 
> down synergy if it is running.  I would appreciate pointers in two areas:
> 
>     * How would I check how long the computer had been idle
>     * How would I kill a process if I only know the name
> 
> Brief references would be fine, I am happy to go digging.

Might I recommend these two search URLs?
(you'll have to ignore the references to IDLE, 
the Python development env)

  site:mail.python.org windows idle python-win32

  site:mail.python.org windows kill python-win32

plus, possibly, this example (which isn't quite what you're
after but which does at least have some of the pieces you
might need):

  http://timgolden.me.uk/python/win32_how_do_i/find-the-window-for-my-subprocess.html

TJG