Browse Flat scrap window focus

[OldSchool2]

x2 6.1.0.3 ultimate on Windows 11 24H2

While trying to reproduce this user's window focus problem (viewtopic.php?t=12429) I ran into a different window focus problem.

Run X2
Select a folder
Select File->Browse-Flat from the menu or press Shift-Enter.
The scrap window does NOT have focus. It is in the background. Focus is on the main x2 window.
If you do it again the scrap window gets focus every time. It only happens the first time you browse flat after opening the x2 app.

Note:
Ctrl-S (send to scrap) has a similar problem, but it ALWAYS puts the scrap window in the background. Perhaps thats by design?

[Kilmatead]

Ctrl-S (send to scrap) has a similar problem, but it ALWAYS puts the scrap window in the background. Perhaps thats by design?

This has been an issue since Windows Vista and has less to do with design than with Nikos' aversion to simple z-order ergonomic niceties like ShowWindow(hWin, SW_RESTORE)/SetForegroundWindow(hWin).

I have threatened him with the whip, spat at him, and generally withheld all sweets, but he just never seems to get the message.

That said, at least on Win10 I cannot reproduce the browse-flat issue - that one, curiously enough, works as expected and opens as foreground. I cannot speak to Win11.

Since Nikos has a habit of hiding behind "it's a Windows thing" for issues he can't reproduce (which is not wholly unreasonable), if you spend any time googling it, you'll find numerous threads inevitably resolving to this perennial solution, but as it hasn't worked for the last 16 years, I wouldn't have high expectations. (And yes, I know the description in that 'solution' doesn't necessarily match the same symptoms, but it is the most common suggestion people give for z-order issues in Windows... including on this forum.)

[OldSchool2]

That said, at least on Win10 I cannot reproduce the browse-flat issue - that one, curiously enough, works as expected and opens as foreground. I cannot speak to Win11.

Thanks for the info. The "browse flat" focus problem only happens once. Make sure x2 is not running (in the background for example) then start it. Do a browse flat and it will show the issue. But any additional browse flat commands you do after that will set focus correctly.

I have a Win 10 PC I'm going to test on tomorrow. On two Win 11 machines the problem is there.

[nikos]

when you send files to scrap one by one, the idea is you (probably) want to send in more, hence the focus stays with the main window

the focus issue when using browse flat for the first time is really the CAPTION message that shows about the operation (14 files flattened)
I don't know why the first time it shows, it steals the focus. I have it as an open issue to fix one day

[Kilmatead]

...the idea is you (probably) want to send in more...

Which is probably why long ago I chose to just exclusively use the mini-scrap - that's always visible. (And I cast stones on your reasoning that low z-order can be construed as a "feature".)

Here's a v7 idea - turn scraps into virtual-tabs... you always wanted to get rid of the multi-window "malarkey" (your word) anyway.

...is really the CAPTION message

Which explains why I don't see it... god invented status bars for a reason - and that reason was not to break scripts (and other things, apparently).

[OldSchool2]

when you send files to scrap one by one, the idea is you (probably) want to send in more, hence the focus stays with the main window

the focus issue when using browse flat for the first time is really the CAPTION message that shows about the operation (14 files flattened)
I don't know why the first time it shows, it steals the focus. I have it as an open issue to fix one day

Thanks for the explanation. The 'send to scrap' explanation makes sense and I thought it was designed to be that way.

I agree that the 'browse flat' issue is caused by the CAPTION message. Just wondering, is there a way to turn that caption msg off? It does seem intrusive and I agree with Kilmatead that you should probably display this kind of info in the status bar.

Thanks again.

[nikos]

just disable caption messages from advanced options

[Kilmatead]

More precisely, that would be:

Tools -> Advanced Options -> Global -> More Options -> "Don't use caption error messages plain statusbar text is fine"

[johngalt]

Here's a v7 idea - turn scraps into virtual-tabs... you always wanted to get rid of the multi-window "malarkey" (your word) anyway.

I like this idea a LOT.

[nikos]

that would be a major architectural change, and frankly I don't think hunting for a search tab among 10 others will be easier than grabbing the dedicated window

[Kilmatead]

that would be a major architectural change

Well, the (underutilised) mini-scrap functionality already exists, so just introduce it to the tab-bar and let them make babies!

I don't think hunting for a search tab among 10 others will be easier than grabbing the dedicated window

That's why you'd have to introduce coloured tabs as well

And if "grabbing the dedicated window" was so obvious and simple, this thread wouldn't exist.

[nikos]

alt+tab

[Kilmatead]

Have you ever seen what happens to Alt+Tab when you've got 15 applications open, another 15 tabs on a web-browser (each of which presents its own window) and anything else that's awake and just happens to have a taskbar presence? Having x2 add to that mess and then going "hunting" for a scrap window (that looks suspiciously like every other scrap window) is not as easy for us serfs as it is for the king - kings have beaters to stir up the grouse! Where are my beaters, eh?

You've gotten soft as you enter your declining years - I think you've forgotten what it's like to be a true power user!

This is v7 I'm postulating for... you've got ages to think about how you're going to make up for the lackluster additions v6 weakly promulgated.

[nikos]

cltr+W?

[Kilmatead]

All right you slippery wabbit, you got lucky this time, but I'm keeping my eye on you.