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Issue with "Window always on top" feature
- Issue with "Window always on top" feature
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Issue with "Window always on top" feature
LaurentG > 2021-12-31 14:45
Hi Jean,
I just incidently discovered that the QAP feature "Window always on top" DOES NOT work when applied to a Windows Explorer window.
Each time I try to use it to set such a window "on top", I get the pop up explaining that "on top is turned OFF" (and the window is actually NOT "on top").
It's the only situation in which this feature do not work : for all other windows (at least all those in which I used it...) it works fine.
BTW, it would be also great to display a temporary pop up when the "on top" is set (and not only when it is removed), or maybe to have the option to display such a pop up.
Last (but not least), we are Decembre 31st in the evening... so I whish you (a also QAP) all the best for coming year !
Regards
Laurent -
RE: Issue with "Window always on top" feature
Horst > 2021-12-31 15:35
That works fine for me.
I use it often and have assigned it to Win-T.
A message comes only after removing the On top. -
RE: Issue with "Window always on top" feature
Jean Lalonde > 2021-12-31 16:53
@Laurent:
> I just incidently discovered that the QAP feature "Window always on top" DOES NOT work when applied to a Windows Explorer window.
This feature works well on regular windows. Could it be that the app you want always on top runs as admin (elevated UAC). Or would it be your Windows Explorer running as admin?
> Last (but not least), we are Decembre 31st in the evening... so I whish you (a also QAP) all the best for coming year !
Merci Laurent! Bonne année 2022 à vous et à vos proches :-) -
RE: Issue with "Window always on top" feature
joeNOR > 2022-01-01 09:00
@Laurent:
If you want to troubleshoot this you can try the following ahk script. I use this, and it displays a message on both enable and disable.
Works fine with Explorer or any other window (so far).
Code:; Always on Top
; CTRL-SPACE
; Makes current window "Always on Top"
^SPACE::
WinGet, currentWindow, ID, A
WinGet, ExStyle, ExStyle, ahk_id %currentWindow%
if (ExStyle & 0x8) ; 0x8 is WS_EX_TOPMOST.
{
Winset, AlwaysOnTop, off, ahk_id %currentWindow%
SplashImage,, x0 y0 b fs12 CTFFFF00 CW0000FF, OFF always on top.
Sleep, 1500
SplashImage, Off
}
else
{
WinSet, AlwaysOnTop, on, ahk_id %currentWindow%
SplashImage,, x0 y0 b fs12 CTFFFF00 CWFF0000, ON always on top.
Sleep, 1500
SplashImage, Off
}
Return
Regards,
joeNOR -
RE: Issue with "Window always on top" feature
LaurentG > 2022-01-01 11:24
Hi Jean,
thank you for your answer.... but unfortunately, I'm not in a situation as you describe...
I am running W10 21H2, build 19044.1415
And I have the problem with any WinExplorer window, NOT RUNNING as admin...
So I just run the same test on a VM (under Virtualbox, that is the virtualization of my real Pc, as it was 2 month ago : 21H1, build 19043.1288)... and in this environment, it works... sometimes, but not always (I'd say once out of 3)...
New test, always in a VM, but running a "naked" Win10 21H1 64bits, build 19043.1415... and in this environment, it DOESN'T WORK....
The only thing that is (maybe...) specific in my way of doing, is the fact that I do not have associated any keyboard shortcut to this entry (I select it in the standard QAP menu).
So I associated the Win+T (as Horst does).... and bingo : in all my environments (real Pc, virtual "real pc", and virtual "naked" W10), it works with the shortcut. (But the fact to have added the shortcut doesn't change in any way what I can see when using the menu : never works on real Pc, works sometimes in virtualization of real Pc, never works on virtual "naked" W10)
So, now two questions :
- when you say it works, Jean, Horst a/o Joe, is it selecting "always on top" in the menu, or activating it with the shortcut ?
- 2nd question only for Jean : is there anything I can do to add some verbosity (in QAP) somewhere to try to understand what happens, why it doesn't work when activated thanks to menu.
Regards
Laurent -
RE: Issue with "Window always on top" feature
joeNOR > 2022-01-01 11:41
(2022-01-01 11:24)LaurentG Wrote: So, now two questions :
- when you say it works, Jean, Horst a/o Joe, is it selecting "always on top" in the menu, or activating it with the shortcut ?
@Laurent:
Sorry, but I don't use this function from QAP.
I use the posted script. It is part of larger script where I have collected some stuff I call "QAPhelper".
My reason to suggest trying the script is for troubleshooting.
If that script works OK then it is an indication that QAP, or something interfering with QAP, causes the trouble you have.
Regards,
jN -
RE: Issue with "Window always on top" feature
Jean Lalonde > 2022-01-01 12:15
> The only thing that is (maybe...) specific in my way of doing, is the fact that I do not have associated any keyboard shortcut to this entry (I select it in the standard QAP menu).
Oh! This made a difference. I can reproduce what looks like a bug. Let me come back to you on this.
Thanks for reporting this.
Jean -
RE: Issue with "Window always on top" feature
LaurentG > 2022-01-01 13:24
@joeNOR :
Thank you, Joe, for your suggestion.
But I guess I would need to install AHK if I want to test your script, isn't it ? (currently, AHK is NOT on my laptop, since QAP is the only "AHK script" I "run", that don't need to have AHK itself).
But since Jean told us that there is actually something wrong, I'll wait for his investigations.
Nevertheless, thank you for your help and your suggestion. And I wish you a very good year 2022
Regards
Laurent -
RE: Issue with "Window always on top" feature
joeNOR > 2022-01-01 13:35
@Laurent:
Thank You very much and the same wishes to you!
The AHK runtime is possible to download as a portable exe (that's how I run it), requiring no installation.
I would never suggest a tool/program/application that requires installation unless it is absolutely necessary (and then I would flag it as an installer).
Some installer messing up the system, thanks, but no thanks!
An I guess you are like me in that regard.....
That's why I suggested the ahk script, the runtime won't fcuk up your system because it is a portable.
Regards,
jN
Btw, a script like that .
Save it as "testOnTop.ahk", rename the ahk exe to "testOnTop.exe", put them in the same folder, double click the exe and it will automagically load the script.
This is a common feature of ahk, I think Kunkel (and probably others) have posted this before?
-jN -
RE: Issue with "Window always on top" feature
Jean Lalonde > 2022-01-01 16:34
After investigation, I was able to reproduce the issue but not to fix or even explain it. I reported it to the AHK forum. Let's see what these experts can find...
https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewto...76&t=98368 -
RE: Issue with "Window always on top" feature
LaurentG > 2022-01-02 03:28
I just saw the proposal of Mikeyww on AHK forum (and your answer saying it works).
If it works, tutto bene (as would say Italian people), but I definitely do not understand
- why it can be a distinct behaviour between hotkey and menu in a script as simple as the one you provided in your AHK forum request
- why this distinct behaviour may impact only WinExplorer windows and not other windows
- and last, how inserting such a delay may have an impact...
AHK is surely a great tool... but doesn't look so easy to master !
PS : BTW, what about my proposal to have a pop-up (at least optionnally) not only when window loses its "On top" status (as it is the case right now) but also when the "On top" is set ? -
RE: Issue with "Window always on top" feature
Jean Lalonde > 2022-01-02 09:16
Maybe someone with deeper knowledge of Windows than me will explain this better but I know that Windows Explorer is not built as are "regular" application. Sometimes inserting a small delay let Windows perform some internal tasks required to make something work in a specific situation (like after closing a menu in this case).
Your PS is noted. I would not make it an option. I will also add a different message is setting the option failed. This will be in the next release. Thanks again for spotting this. -
RE: Issue with "Window always on top" feature
Horst > 2022-01-03 14:01
(2022-01-01 11:24)LaurentG Wrote: ...
So, now two questions :
- when you say it works, Jean, Horst a/o Joe, is it selecting "always on top" in the menu, or activating it with the shortcut ?
Regards
Laurent
I always use the keyboard shortcut for this function.
Its much easier compared to invoke from a menu.
Normaly I prefer mouse actions but I have often used functions assigned Winkey shortcuts. -
RE: Issue with "Window always on top" feature
joeNOR > 2022-01-04 01:07
(2022-01-02 09:16)Jean Lalonde Wrote: Maybe someone with deeper knowledge of Windows than me will explain this better but I know that Windows Explorer is not built as are "regular" application. Sometimes inserting a small delay let Windows perform some internal tasks required to make something work in a specific situation (like after closing a menu in this case).
The File Explorer aka Windows Explorer aka explorer.exe process is not only the file manager, but also the shell (start menu, desktop, systray).
Kill the explorer.exe process and your start menu etc is gone. You can still use Windows without problems.
So I don't know if it is "regular" or not, it just covers more than just the file managing part.
How this may be connected to the problem, I've no idea.
But, a keyboard shortcut seems to work fine.
Regards,
joeNOR