[1.5.0.4] Alt+Tab not functioning correctly

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[1.5.0.4] Alt+Tab not functioning correctly

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Distant Worlds 1 Series >> Tech Support >> [1.5.0.4] Alt+Tab not functioning correctly

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[1.5.0.4] Alt+Tab not functioning correctly - 2/15/2011 3:17:39 PM

OverlordCW

Posts: 88
Joined: 3/28/2010
Status: offline

More often than not I cannot Alt+Tab out of the game, I can see the taskbar but DW still stays on top of everything else. Could you please fix that?
OS: Windows 7 x64

Post #: 1

RE: [1.5.0.4] Alt+Tab not functioning correctly - 2/15/2011 4:47:57 PM

Data

Posts: 3909
Joined: 1/3/2011
Status: offline

I use this alot and have used it with every patch version both in the vanilla and expansion; never had a problem with it. I'm on XP 32bit if that helps to narrow down the root cause in your case, Overlord.
Btw, if you make the game windowed and use alt+tab do you still encounter this?

_____________________________

...Igniting stellar cores....Recharging reactors...Recalibrating hyperdrives....

(in reply to OverlordCW)

Post #: 2

RE: [1.5.0.4] Alt+Tab not functioning correctly - 2/15/2011 5:20:13 PM

Bingeling

Posts: 5186
Joined: 8/12/2010
Status: offline

I have had issues with accessing the desktop on the DW screen when DW is up (as it is these days)

I minimize and see the desktop, but as I activate any window, DW pops up. I am not bothered as I can access the other screen just fine.

One feature I love from other games (like MMOS) is running them in a maximised window. Not movable, no borders, but a window. That way you can have a window in front, and still see everything that goes on behind without interrupting anything. Apart from not seeing what other windows cover, of course. Not so relevant in DW, but nice in other games where time passes and you need to be somewhat alert while you want to read the distant worlds forum ;-)

One thing I miss in the game is an option to have sound even if the window don't have focus. Sometimes I forget to pause while updating my AAR document, and I won't hear attack warnings.

(in reply to Data)

Post #: 3

RE: [1.5.0.4] Alt+Tab not functioning correctly - 2/15/2011 5:35:34 PM

Data

Posts: 3909
Joined: 1/3/2011
Status: offline

quote:

I minimize and see the desktop, but as I activate any window, DW pops up

this one I have as well....it's greedy, it wants all the attention

so if I understand correctly the part with the sound not enabled when DW it's out of focus and you forget to pause it will actually slow down you documenting the AAR? I'm just trying to imagine how you could be faster....we should introduce a warp scale for you

_____________________________

...Igniting stellar cores....Recharging reactors...Recalibrating hyperdrives....

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Post #: 4

RE: [1.5.0.4] Alt+Tab not functioning correctly - 2/15/2011 7:08:54 PM

Bingeling

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Joined: 8/12/2010
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Nah, I would never document without pause on purpose. There is no worry about boring periods during the swarm...

(in reply to Data)

Post #: 5

RE: [1.5.0.4] Alt+Tab not functioning correctly - 3/4/2011 6:20:22 PM

OverlordCW

Posts: 88
Joined: 3/28/2010
Status: offline

Has this been looked into?

(in reply to Bingeling)

Post #: 6

RE: [1.5.0.4] Alt+Tab not functioning correctly - 3/4/2011 6:45:26 PM

Kayoz

Posts: 1516
Joined: 12/20/2010
From: Timbuktu
Status: offline

It's a full-screen app. I believe DW is behaving correctly for a full-screen application. Allowing play in windowed mode is certainly possible - but probably not high up on the list of features to add.

If you can see your taskbar, right-click on it and "show desktop". That will effectively minimize DW. I believe you're only seeing DW "on top" because there's nothing else to put "on top". Try opening your word processor and ALT-Tabbing between it and DW. You should find this to work.

Behaviour is correct, as far as I can tell.

(in reply to OverlordCW)

Post #: 7

RE: [1.5.0.4] Alt+Tab not functioning correctly - 3/5/2011 10:35:58 AM

OverlordCW

Posts: 88
Joined: 3/28/2010
Status: offline

Firstly, it's not a full-screen app, it's a maximized borderless window, this is how .NET Framework applications work unless you use a DirectX (or OpenGL) Surface to draw the window in exclusive full-screen mode (which unloads the desktop), which DW does not.

Secondly, even if I press "Show Desktop" or Alt-Tab to different open applications DW still stays on top of everything except the Taskbar.
I CANNOT minimize DW most of the time, it works at the beginning of the game session but not later on anymore. And this is NOT correct behavior.

Maybe the developer has set the Form.TopMost property to true, which I found, after some quick testing, causes this behavior in full-screen apps.

< Message edited by OverlordCW -- 3/5/2011 10:41:55 AM >

(in reply to Kayoz)

Post #: 8

RE: [1.5.0.4] Alt+Tab not functioning correctly - 3/5/2011 11:04:09 AM

Bingeling

Posts: 5186
Joined: 8/12/2010
Status: offline

It indeed fails to give the proper benefits of a max window application.

I play the odd mmo, and love to play in a maxed window. Why? Because I can put other windows which partially obstructs the game window, while having the game window partial visible, active, and still max screen size with no annoying border. An example is a common mmo practice of running (or flying, or whatever) long distances. It is not dangerous, it is not really hard or require constant inputs. At least if you are a carebear like me and stay away from pvp servers.

So if I can see a little of what goes on, and can get sound from the game while it lacks focus (which I don't think DW gives), I can pretty much read something on the web while travelling. I will see/hear if I am attacked, get stuck behind a tree or something. Local knowledge to know there is no cliff to run off helps, though...

I would think this is somewhat relevant in DW, as you can have stretches where the game runs itself and you basically wait for an alarm to go off. I can manage now because i have two monitors on my gaming rig, but I think I lose the sound of the alarm.

(in reply to OverlordCW)

Post #: 9

RE: [1.5.0.4] Alt+Tab not functioning correctly - 3/5/2011 6:45:43 PM

Kayoz

Posts: 1516
Joined: 12/20/2010
From: Timbuktu
Status: offline

C# isn't my thing - C/C++ system programmer - seemed to behave like a full-screen application. Aah well, if it's wrong, it's wrong.

(in reply to OverlordCW)

Post #: 10

RE: [1.5.0.4] Alt+Tab not functioning correctly - 3/8/2011 1:52:49 AM

elliotg

Posts: 3597
Joined: 9/10/2007
Status: offline

Sorry I didn't see this before OverlordCW.

This should work in DW - I can Alt-Tab no problem, and use 'Show Desktop' properly.

On the technical side, the window/form used for the game is not set to TopMost - it's just maximized. In DW windowed mode it's simply set to a fixed-size window of the specified width and height.

Maybe there's some other Windows setting or another application that's interfering with this on your machine?