Stay on Top

[Phoenix_TT]

Hi All

I've made the switch to NPVR 1.3.56, with all the patches applied running on Windows Vista. I am using the System and ExternalDisplay plugins.

I have NPVR as a startup item, however it loses focus and so I can't control it using an MCE remote.

I tried using the Stay on Top feature but this doesn't seem to be saved, so everytime NPVR starts up, I have to select the Stay on Top menu item.

Is this a known problem or what can I do to fix?

[Elmo Putney]

It's normally caused by something in the tray area stealing focus, you can try and find whats stealing focus or ....what I do is instead of putting it as a start up item I have it setup to run it as a scheduled task with a delay of 5 seconds or so after login. The time just needs to be long enough to make sure it fires up after whatever is stealing the focus. It's worked reliably for me ...

[sub]

Its also important to note that 'stay on top' doesnt mean 'keep focus'. Even if it was the top window, some other tray icon or window could have stolen the focus, and keypresses etc wont make it to NPVR.

You can see this yourself when start the app, turn on 'stay on top' then click a window behind it. Even though NPVR is on the top, keyboard events are going to another application.

[gEd]

In case you are interested, attached is an old utility (compiled autoit script) that I have updated and modified to work with npvr that will run keep npvr in the foreground and in focus. I run it from the start up folder.

[as requested by a user] here is the utility (based on Liteswap's original) reattached to this post for people who are struggling with focus being stolen from npvr. The .exe is designed to go in your startup folder. Right click on the tray icon to configure some settings. and so ends the documentation. The sourcecode (.au3) is also included so you can hack around and see what it is going.

[RattyDAVE]

Oh thank you very much for that I was having the same issue. My work around was mapping a button on the remote to load NPVR. Not pretty but worked.

[Phoenix_TT]

gED

Thanks for this, I will give your solution a go.

[RattyDAVE]

Hi,

I cant seem to get this working. It seems to run then quit. (Checked task manager.)

Does the EXE need to go in any particular directory?

Thanks

[gEd]

Are you on windows 7? I didn't test on anything else. Do you have a c:\users\public\npvr\logs\startnpvr.log file?

Phoenix_TT: this is your thread. Are you happy for us to debug this utility I have supplied in this thread or start a new one thread elsewhere?
You shouldn't need a util such as this to keep npvr active in the foreground. historically, the key culprit used to be the divx tray tool that used to steal focus.

[Phoenix_TT]

Hi gEd

I don't mind if you want to continue using this thread to debug etc, especially if it helps someone else.

I will try your util asap and report back.

[RattyDAVE]

I have just tried again and it works perfect. God knows what it was.

Thanks again.