Re: Looking for help with form focus - C# Discussion Boards

Rajesh Anuhya1-Jan-12 1:06

Rajesh Anuhya

1-Jan-12 1:06

My Tip/Trick[^]

Dave Kreskowiak31-Dec-11 11:49

Dave Kreskowiak

31-Dec-11 11:49

No, there is no tool to do the conversion for you.

You'll have to rewrite the entire app from scratch, by hand.

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Dave Kreskowiak

jschell31-Dec-11 13:34

jschell

31-Dec-11 13:34

I would suspect a potential redesign as well since if the Android phone can access the database then so can any internet based app and exposing a database directly to the internet is not something that one should do casually.

Looking for help with form focus

V.2-Jan-12 1:39

2-Jan-12 1:39

Probably the easiest way is create a Web GUI for the existing application and use the HTC to browse to that webapp. (if that is an option)

turbosupramk330-Dec-11 18:06

30-Dec-11 18:06

Hi,

This has baffled me for hours ...

I wrote an addin for an existing program, and when I launch it, it steals focus away from the parent program, even when it is minimized, which I don't want.

I would prefer for it to not steal focus, so that I can click on menu items of the parent program regardless, or for it to at least release focus when I minimize it. Is this possible?

Thanks for reading.

Richard MacCutchan30-Dec-11 22:38

Richard MacCutchan

30-Dec-11 22:38

What do you mean by an addin for an existing program?

turbosupramk3 wrote:
when I launch it, it steals focus away from the parent program

That's the way Windows is designed to work, why would you not expect it?

Unrequited desire is character building. OriginalGriff
I'm sitting here giving you a standing ovation - Len Goodman

turbosupramk331-Dec-11 3:08

31-Dec-11 3:08

It's not that I don't expect it, it's that I don't want it or I at least want it to release focus if I minimize the window

Richard MacCutchan31-Dec-11 3:44

Richard MacCutchan

31-Dec-11 3:44

turbosupramk3 wrote:
I at least want it to release focus if I minimize the window

Then you need to capture that action and somehow pass the focus back to the parent. However, you still have not explained how all this fits together so I cannot offer much more than that.

Unrequited desire is character building. OriginalGriff
I'm sitting here giving you a standing ovation - Len Goodman

turbosupramk331-Dec-11 4:19

31-Dec-11 4:19

I used Form.Show() instead of Form.ShowDialog() after I found out one was for a modal form and one for a non-modal form. This seems to have fixed that issue.

Thank you for your help.

Alan N31-Dec-11 3:43

Alan N

31-Dec-11 3:43

It very difficult to decipher what question you are really asking but for what it's worth here is my interpretation.

1) By "addin" you mean an assembly containing the definition of a form.
2) By "launch" you mean display the form.
3) By "steal focus" you mean that the main form of the application is inaccessible until the addin's form is closed.

Based on (3) the addin's form has been displayed via ShowDialog and what you observe is the expected behaviour.

One part of the solution to your problem will be to display the addin form non-modally via the Show method.

However giving the user the ability to access both the addin and main forms will present new problems and you will need to decide what actions are allowable when the addin form is open. For example, will it be reasonable to let the user terminate the application?

Alan.

turbosupramk331-Dec-11 4:18

31-Dec-11 4:18

Hi Alan,

Thank you for the reply. I did us Form.Show(); instead of Form.ShowDialog(); and ironically enough I now have the exact opposite of my problem. My form is now non-modal, which is what I want, but I would like for it to be brought to the foreground.

1) It is an addin DLL that has a configuration form inside of it. The form configures some of the DLL settings, for when it is ran inside of the parent application.
2) Yes
3) Yes because of ShowDialog();

It is reasonable for the user to terminate the form and dialog, I would just like it to be brought to the foreground now when the form is displayed.

I just tried this code, and it seems to be working ... what do you think?

this.TopMost = true;
this.Focus();
this.BringToFront();
this.TopMost = false;

Alan N31-Dec-11 7:08

Alan N

31-Dec-11 7:08

Yes, the TopMost trick would be a fix it but it's interesting to consider why it is needed.

Your observation of the configuration form behind the main form suggests that the main form is the last one to be shown. The desired order can probably be restored by deferring creation of the config form to the main form's Shown event.

An alternative would be to set the main form as the the owner of the config form, but then it would not be possible to bring the main form to the front, which may not be what you want.

Alan.

turbosupramk331-Dec-11 9:32

31-Dec-11 9:32

Hi Alan,

Thanks for the reply. I'm willing to give that a try, how do I set the main form as owner?

turbosupramk331-Dec-11 9:50

31-Dec-11 9:50

I figured out why the main form loaded last, and have corrected it. It works like it should now, thank you.

DaveAuld31-Dec-11 3:46

DaveAuld

31-Dec-11 3:46

I just did some tests by starting notepad from a c# windows form, and yes notepad retains activated status. You can get round this by doing the
following;

(The test form has a textbox and a button)

private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    System.Diagnostics.Process p;
    p = System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("notepad.exe");

    p.WaitForInputIdle(); //Comment out this line and notepad will retain activated status

    this.Activate();

    textBox1.Focus();

}

Your form will now retain Activated status, and notepad will not be the current active window.

Dave
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turbosupramk331-Dec-11 4:21

31-Dec-11 4:21

Thank you Dave, I will play around with that now.