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Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 15.07.2010 18:39:20
by Jim Davis
I've had this problem with Excel and dexpot for a long time now.
After a random number of desktop switches, an Excel ActiveX window (custom VBA programming) loses the ability to be selected with the mouse. The window is there and updates properly , but can't be activated. I have to close the process and restart it to regain control.
Is there something I could try to prevent this from occurring?
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 16.07.2010 06:56:23
by Jim Davis
I should add that I 'hide' the main excel window, leaving only the ActiveX windows visible. Don't know if this is an issue or not.
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 16.07.2010 12:09:02
by Patrick
Hi,
what versions of Excel, Windows and Dexpot do you use?
Jim Davis wrote:I should add that I 'hide' the main excel window, leaving only the ActiveX windows visible. Don't know if this is an issue or not.
Well, does the problem still occur when the Excel window is not hidden?
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 18.07.2010 06:12:35
by Jim Davis
Window 7 Ultimate
Excel 2007
Dexpot 1.5.4 build 1212
Problem has existed for some time , not just recent DExpot versions.
I never run this particular custom app with the Excel main screen visible, so I am not 100% sure it is related to that. I suspect not, but will run it with the main windows unhidden to see.
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 19.07.2010 22:20:26
by Jim Davis
Ran with Excel man windows NOT hidden , and didn't see the problem.
Is there something you can do to prevent the problem when its in the hidden state? Looks like something random, because I can switch desktops many times before the issue crops up.
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 20.07.2010 03:03:31
by Jim Davis
Spoke too soon. It took a while but eventually the child windows lost the ability to be selected with the mouse.
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 23.07.2010 04:16:47
by Jim Davis
?? Any idea why this is happening. I am assuming its dexpot related, but not certain. This is the only app(Excel) I have this particular problem with
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 28.07.2010 16:10:06
by Jim Davis
Well, any help here?
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 28.07.2010 16:32:56
by sgtevmckay
Patience friend
This issue is not forgotten
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 29.07.2010 17:27:27
by Patrick
Not forgotten, but not reproducible either. Could it have something to do with your VBA app?
Maybe try adding the following to the
Exe section of the
wechsel.ini:
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 06.11.2010 06:26:17
by Jim Davis
Still have this annoying issue. Very few problems with Dexpot (running the latest build 1394) but this one won't go away. Happens every day . Since it only seems to happen randomly after 'x' numver of desktop switches, I assume there's something that can be repaired.
I understand you probably can't duplicate this on your machine, but is there any chance of fixing this. A userform should not lose the ability to be activated by the mouse. In order to close the program , I have to call up the Dexpot window manager and tell it to close the app, which does work as it should.
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 10.11.2010 23:05:45
by Patrick
Did you try the suggestion from my last post?
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 12.11.2010 06:12:57
by Jim Davis
Yes, I added that line to the ini file long ago.
What would cause the Userform windows to randomly lose the ability to be 'selected' by the mouse? They continue to display correctly, and show only on the desktop they are assigned to . Just can't be clicked and brought into focus. I get a system 'bell' sound when clicking on them.
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 12.11.2010 19:41:36
by CircleDock
Jim Davis wrote:Yes, I added that line to the ini file long ago.
What would cause the Userform windows to randomly lose the ability to be 'selected' by the mouse? They continue to display correctly, and show only on the desktop they are assigned to . Just can't be clicked and brought into focus. I get a system 'bell' sound when clicking on them.
Any chance that you have updated Dexpot since adding that entry? The reason being that "wechsel.ini" is overwritten whenever you update the program. To ensure it survives updates, place the entry (same syntax exactly) in a new file, "mywechsel.ini".
Mark
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 16.11.2010 04:59:06
by Jim Davis
Yes, I made sure the overwritten file was updated to include the .
excel.exe=move
It gets a little weird under Win 7 X64, as the actual ini file that's used is located in the "VirtualStore" directory. I created a mywechsel.ini as you suggested.
Before doing anything today, I ran the program all day, many desktop switches as usual, and didn't have the problem. It's very random.
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 21.11.2010 21:05:53
by Patrick
Jim Davis wrote:What would cause the Userform windows to randomly lose the ability to be 'selected' by the mouse? They continue to display correctly, and show only on the desktop they are assigned to . Just can't be clicked and brought into focus. I get a system 'bell' sound when clicking on them.
Does your app use message boxes or other modal windows that could somehow be lost somewhere?
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 27.12.2010 22:28:56
by mikeunderwood
Patrick wrote:Jim Davis wrote:What would cause the Userform windows to randomly lose the ability to be 'selected' by the mouse? They continue to display correctly, and show only on the desktop they are assigned to . Just can't be clicked and brought into focus. I get a system 'bell' sound when clicking on them.
Does your app use message boxes or other modal windows that could somehow be lost somewhere?
I have the same problem, if there are any log files that would help let me know.
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 28.12.2010 13:53:55
by Patrick
Please describe the problem you are experiencing.
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 16.06.2011 05:45:01
by Jim Davis
Still having this annoying problem.
Is there no way to figure out why this is happening?
Happens every day, though my Excel app has been running all day today and the userforms are still selectable. Unusual actually.
Is there something about userforms that are 'sensitive' to desktop switches?
Re: Excel loses focus after desktop switches
Posted: 21.06.2011 17:32:47
by Patrick
Have you tested whether the problem occurs with every userform or only with your app in particular?
Jim Davis wrote:Is there something about userforms that are 'sensitive' to desktop switches?
Unlikely. They are actually very similar to the VB6 forms used by Dexpot itself.