Triggering external exe/app minimized (or window focus control) in AIR?

Hello all,
I'm wrapping up a big flex/AIR app and very excited about it, but there's one thing that's bugging me: in the program I need to repeatedly open and run external files (speech recognition scripts) but when I do so, the window for that executable pops up briefly before minimizing...
The program is functional, but sure seems distracting and not too classy to see these windows briefly pop up and disappear.... is there any good way to either:
a) Force the executable to start completely hidden/behind the scenes (ie. not minimize on load, but stay hidden/minimized all along)
b) If not, is there a way I can control the window z-depth/ordering/layering/focus so that I can keep the AIR window floated to the top at all times (thus hiding those other windows that briefly pop up)?
Thanks!
PS. This is specifically running in windows (because that's what my speech recognition engine is working on)

A. It depends on how you set up the external apps. I think you want a Windows Application, not a Console Application. See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3853629/hide-console-window-in-c-console-application

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App similar to stay focused for MacBook Air

Is there an app similar to stay focused for MacBook Air?

There is a way to see (in small window) short bits and parts of video movies, where they exist, in the iTunes application from the store page in there. My older Mac with earlier version of iTunes lets me browse Music, Movies, TV stores, from the sections on the iTunes application; years ago there was more direct content. They used to have a site page for some of those clips... I haven't looked lately.
A screenshot of a video clip ^ from the iTunes Movie store, via iTunes in my Mac.
If you browse the items for sale/rent, a few have a tiny triangle on them and this opens the little window where a preview runs. A few actual movies will have an option to see a preview or trailer-like video in a similar small window that opens up over the store screen.
The older iTunes application in earlier Mac systems had various other features. In order to view movie trailer kinds of content streamed from the internet, you may have to look into a third party application or a web page.
There may be a list of applications included with certain models of Mac portables
and if you can find that name, that may be a talking point. The Store has lists of
what software may be included in the most recent Macs in each products info.
{There was no mention prior to your reply...
that you did not want to make movies, btw.}
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edited.

When doing the app exposé gesture, is it normal to see a thin white horizontal line at the bottom of the screen after minimizing a window?

I noticed that when I open two windoes (say Safari and Trash can) and minimize both windows so they go on the dock, when I do the swip down gesture with 3 fingers (App Expose´) there is a thin white horizontal line at the bottom of the screen. Does it happen to every macbook pro out there? Is this normal? Hope it's not a display screen problem...

You would have to have multiple pages of the app minimized.
This is what it looks like with Safari with 1 page open and 4 minimized.

OS 10.6.4 losing application window focus across a bunch of apps

Hi
My iMac (10.6.4) has started doing something odd - it loses the application window focus in a range of different applications:
The application stays in focus, but the current window loses focus. (You can see in the 'Window' menu for that app when it's done it that no window has focus). It happens when you're typing OR when you're doing nothing.
It's affected at least Safari and iTunes, and i think, Entourage.
There are no unusual apps running that I'm aware of: at least from the 'Force Quit' menu.
Any ideas?
(I'm using wired keyboard and mouse, and have switched USB ports for each, just to test if that was the prob)

Bob: as you may have seen on the original post I did install the updates.
That got the programs starting again, but trying to be productive is doing nothing but cause more crashes. I haven't seen something this bad and annoying in years.
I tried to simply copy a graphic in AI and place it as a Smart Object into a Photoshop layer. AI immediately crashed and PS froze. Had to do a force quit on PS.
Next I tried to do a save as with an AI file and it crashed the program. I'm totally crippled and very frustrated--as is my client needing the work done.
Simply put--why are Adobe CS programs crashing? The patch didn't solve the problem and I'm seeing a rash of discussions about crashes. What's the solution? What's the best way to get a real-world Adobe person to help me?
Geez what a mess.

DDE Server Window: AcroRd32.exe - App Error

I would like to know on what following error is about, and how to solve it.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions :>
DDE Server Window: AcroRd32.exe - App Error
"0x8d18bad5" Reference to "0x8d18bad5" Memory, which memory cannot be written.

I do not know the answer to this, but if you are willing to to do some troubleshooting:
Which version of windows are you using?
XP vista or 7, 64 bit or 32 bit.
Do you have Quicktime? If so does Quicktime launch?
Did you change anything on your computer just before this problem started?
Please look in the Event viewer for a helpful error message.
To open the event viewer:
Control Panel>>Administrative Tools>>Event Viewer
Or type Event Viewer into the search box.
Then select Windows Logs>>Application
Open the Event viewer immediately after iTunes crashes.
The error message should be at or near the top.
Double click on it to open more information and press copy.
Paste the result into your post.
You are looking for a message starting something like this:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: iTunes.exe
Application Version: 10.2.1.1
Application Timestamp: 4d756476
Fault Module Name: iTunes.dll

Google Chrome & Lion bug keeps switching app window focus

Since installing Google Chrome, when I type something into the url bar, it immediately switches the Chrome window to the bottom most of all application windows that are open. Very annoying.
For example, if I have 5 app windows open and then in Chrome, start typing in the URL bar, the Chrome window is pushed to the back of all windows. What's weird is although the window is moved to the lowest layer of visibility, as I continue typing, it still is typing in Chome. So no window focus but still abe to type in it.
A very weird bug but also makes Google Chrome almost unusable in Lion. Shame.

I have the same thing. However it is not just Chrome. It often happens when typing in Outlook or Word. It does not happen every time and a reboot often solves the problem. Has anyone else experienced this and - more importantly - found a solution?
I am using an iMac and the only change since upgrading to Lion is that I followed a workaround for NAS access listed at: http://www.alexanderwilde.com/2011/04/os-x-lion-connection-error-with-afp-and-wo rkaround/

Error while installing Oracle Apps R12 , on windows server 2003 R2

Hi Experts
While installing Oracle Apps R12 , on windows server 2003 R2, I am getting the following error.
System Utilities
command: cmd.exe /c E:\oracle 12i dump\startCD\Disk1\rapidwiz\bin\adchkutl.cmd F:\cygwin\bin F:\VC\bin
'E:\oracle' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
RW-50011: Error: - System Utilities Availability test has returned an error: 1
======================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
File Space Check :
-- database node space checks --
RW-20012: Error: - Free disk space on system returns zero:
     probable cause - mount point does not exist.
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
Database ORACLE_HOME = F:\oracle\VIS\db\tech_st\11.1.0
required = 5600.0
actual = 0.0
RW-20012: Error: - Free disk space on system returns zero:
     probable cause - mount point does not exist.
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
Database System File Directory = F:\oracle\VIS\db\apps_st\data
required = 20200.0
actual = 0.0
RW-20012: Error: - Free disk space on system returns zero:
     probable cause - mount point does not exist.
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
Database Log File Directory = F:\oracle\VIS\db\apps_st\data
required = 950.0
actual = 0.0
RW-20012: Error: - Free disk space on system returns zero:
     probable cause - mount point does not exist.
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
Database Transaction File Directory = F:\oracle\VIS\db\apps_st\data
required = 103350.0
actual = 0.0
RW-20012: Error: - Free disk space on system returns zero:
     probable cause - mount point does not exist.
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
Database Archive File Directory = F:\oracle\VIS\db\apps_st\data
required = 64500.0
actual = 0.0
-- apps node space checks --
RW-20012: Error: - Free disk space on system returns zero:
     probable cause - mount point does not exist.
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
APPL_TOP = E:\apps\VIS\apps\apps_st\appl
required = 5800.0
actual = 0.0
RW-20012: Error: - Free disk space on system returns zero:
     probable cause - mount point does not exist.
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
APPL_TOP mount 2 = E:\apps\VIS\apps\apps_st\appl
required = 2800.0
actual = 0.0
RW-20012: Error: - Free disk space on system returns zero:
     probable cause - mount point does not exist.
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
APPL_TOP mount 3 = E:\apps\VIS\apps\apps_st\appl
required = 8400.0
actual = 0.0
RW-20012: Error: - Free disk space on system returns zero:
     probable cause - mount point does not exist.
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
APPL_TOP mount 4 = E:\apps\VIS\apps\apps_st\appl
required = 3100.0
actual = 0.0
RW-20012: Error: - Free disk space on system returns zero:
     probable cause - mount point does not exist.
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
COMMON_TOP = E:\apps\VIS\apps\apps_st\comn
required = 3200.0
actual = 0.0
RW-20012: Error: - Free disk space on system returns zero:
     probable cause - mount point does not exist.
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
Apps ORACLE_HOME = E:\apps\VIS\apps\tech_st\10.1.3
required = 1400.0
actual = 0.0
RW-20012: Error: - Free disk space on system returns zero:
     probable cause - mount point does not exist.
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
Tools ORACLE_HOME = E:\apps\VIS\apps\tech_st\10.1.2
required = 1400.0
actual = 0.0
RW-20012: Error: - Free disk space on system returns zero:
     probable cause - mount point does not exist.
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
Temp Directory = E:\apps\VIS\inst\apps\VIS_stccspr01\temp
required = 1024.0
actual = 0.0
waiting for expert suggestion.
Thanks
Rahul Srivastava

Hi Hussein
after changing the directory name as Stage12, I am getting error
File Space Check :
-- database node space checks --
Disk space on system acceptable:
Database ORACLE_HOME = F:\oracle\VIS\db\tech_st\11.1.0
required = 5600.0
actual = 200473.43359375
Disk space on system acceptable:
Database System File Directory = F:\oracle\VIS\db\apps_st\data
required = 20200.0
actual = 194873.43359375
Disk space on system acceptable:
Database Log File Directory = F:\oracle\VIS\db\apps_st\data
required = 950.0
actual = 174673.43359375
Disk space on system acceptable:
Database Transaction File Directory = F:\oracle\VIS\db\apps_st\data
required = 103350.0
actual = 173723.43359375
Disk space on system acceptable:
Database Archive File Directory = F:\oracle\VIS\db\apps_st\data
required = 64500.0
actual = 70373.43359375
-- apps node space checks --
Disk space on system acceptable:
APPL_TOP = F:\oracle\VIS\apps\apps_st\appl
required = 5800.0
actual = 5873.43359375
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
APPL_TOP mount 2 = F:\oracle\VIS\apps\apps_st\appl
required = 2800.0
actual = 73.43359375
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
APPL_TOP mount 3 = F:\oracle\VIS\apps\apps_st\appl
required = 8400.0
actual = 73.43359375
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
APPL_TOP mount 4 = F:\oracle\VIS\apps\apps_st\appl
required = 3100.0
actual = 73.43359375
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
COMMON_TOP = F:\oracle\VIS\apps\apps_st\comn
required = 3200.0
actual = 73.43359375
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
Apps ORACLE_HOME = F:\oracle\VIS\apps\tech_st\10.1.3
required = 1400.0
actual = 73.43359375
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
Tools ORACLE_HOME = F:\oracle\VIS\apps\tech_st\10.1.2
required = 1400.0
actual = 73.43359375
RW-20013: Error: - Not enough free disk space on system:
Temp Directory = F:\oracle\VIS\inst\apps\VIS_stccspr01\temp
required = 1024.0
actual = 73.43359375
also for
System Utilities
command: cmd.exe /c E:\Stage12\startCD\Disk1\rapidwiz\bin\adchkutl.cmd F:\cygwin\bin F:\VC\bin
E:\Stage12\startCD\Disk1\rapidwiz>echo off
/cygdrive/c/WINDOWS/system32/cmd
'which' command is available.
/usr/bin/gnumake
'gnumake' is available.
'cl' is not available.
ERRORCODE = 1 ERRORCODE_ENDThe system cannot find the path specified.
which: no cl in (/usr/bin:/cygdrive/c/WINDOWS:/cygdrive/c/WINDOWS/system32)
RW-50011: Error: - System Utilities Availability test has returned an error: 1
Yes I do have sufficient space i.e . for E: 106 GB and F: 195 GB free space .
Thanks
Rahul Srivastava

Significant Computer Window Focus Problem With Verizon Access Manager 7.7.1.0 (2707e)

With the newly released Verizon Access Manager 7.7.1.0 (2707e) there is a significant computer focus problem with it.
What I mean by this is that if I am using ANY application on my computer with the Verizon Access Manager minimized to the Windows System Tray, something will go on with the Verizon Access Manager and it steals the window focus - I am unable to work in the other application unless I click on the application to use it again.
An example of this would be my typing to post a message in this forum. Something occurs in the Verizon Access Manager and my typing is rendered useless unless I click with my mouse on the browser window to be able to use it again.
I'm highly suspecting whenever networks are coming and going in the Access Manager is when the problem occurs.
This problem did not exist in the previous version of the Access Manager I was using.
This is extremely annoying - please issue a fix for this ASAP!

I have found by not minimzing the Verizon Access Manager 7.7.1.0 (2707e) the focus problem does not occur - it appears to be a problem when the app is minimzed to the system tray.

ACR to Photoshop CS5 window focus problem.

Running Photoshop CS5 on Win7, both 64 bit. No problems for months, then recently this minor "annoyance" appeared.
I "host" ACR via Bridge, with the windows for all three apps maximized. I double-click a raw file in Bridge and ACR opens. I make my ACR adjustments, or not, and click "Open Image" to pass to Photoshop.
The images passes into Photoshop OK, but the Photoshop window does not receive "focus". Instead, the ACR window closes, leaving the underlying Bridge window displayed. But then no window has focus.
When I click once on the Photoshop tab, I get a screen flicker, like a window is being minimized, but the Bridge window remains displayed. I click again on the Photoshop tab and it comes up, full screen with focus.
If I take the ACR window out of "maximized" mode, the problem does not occur. Raw images pass from Bridge through ACR to Photoshop with proper window focus. Opening tif, psd, or jpeg images via Bridge is no problem. Only when raw images pass through a maximized ACR window does Photoshop fail to receive focus.
A few days ago I used the Windows 7 "snap" feature to place the Photoshop window and ACR window side-by-side. This is done by dragging a window off-screen until it turns blue and then releasing. I believe this action caused the problem I'm having now. I've unsnapped, resnapped, and unsnapped the Photoshop and ACR windows several times, hoping to clear the problem, but it remains.
Keeping the ACR window out of maximized mode is an easy work around, but the mystery remains and I hate mysteries.

I know how you feel, I've had a few problems like this with CS5. I can only think of two suggestions:
1. Disable Windows 7's fancy desktop (Aero peek, or whatever it's called) to see if that helps.
2. Make sure you're sorting by filename in Bridge. I have noticed that sorting by metadata causes Bridge to sometimes steal focus when it's not wanted. I love Bridge, but christ it needs a good sorting out.

Problem with new firefox tabs and window focus

Here's a problem that I've had for ages - sometimes it annoys me, other times I can live with it. Right now it's really p***ing me off. :x
I have selected 'a new tab in the most recent window' under FF's Preferences->Tabs->Open links from other applications in:, so as an example, if I click on a URL in a mail in Thunderbird, Firefox opens it in a new tab. However, window focus stays on Thunderbird. I run both of them full screen, so although I'm looking at the web page in Firefox, anything I do on the keyboards affects Thunderbird. It affects URLs opened from other apps too e.g. if I open a terminal and do
firefox www.archlinux.org
focus stays on the terminal window. The only exception is when firefox is not already running - in that case, firefox launches with focus.
DE is xfce4, and the system is completely up to date.
I've done some googling, and AFAICS, nobody else seems to have this problem. Any ideas, anyone?
TIA.

Thanks MAC!EK - definitely a useful add-on, but it still doesn't solve my problem. In Tab Mix Plus Options, I have the following selected:
Links -> Open links from other applications in: New tab
Events-> Tab Focus -> Focus/Select tabs that open from: <all>
However, the behaviour is as before i.e. I click a URL in Thunderbird, it opens in a new tab in Firefox, but window focus stays on Thunderbird. Within Firefox, the newly-opened tab is selected or focussed, but Firefox itself is not.
Anyway, thanks again. I think I need to keep looking.

IDT HD Audio stuttering 3d apps/games/tf2 - Windows 7 x64 - Pavilion dv7-4113tx

As per the rules I need to state:
I am a HP employee, my views/opinions/etc are my own and do not represent those of HP.
This is cross-posted from freezes/lockups.
I would file some sort of bug report - but I wouldn't know where to start, I don't work in an area that has anything to do with manufacturing HP products; and this is my free time now and I don't have intranet access .
I recently picked up a HP Pavilion dv7-4113tx Entertainment Notebook PC [ XV780PA ] for my personal use and overall it's been pretty good. It comes with windows 7 Home Premium x64 bit.
there is however an issue that I must bring up in regard to gaming, or i would assume any intensive 3d application, most notably Valve games, my test of choice is Team Fortress 2.
The game will work fine in native resolution - I get around 100-120fps but about every 30 seconds - 2 minutes, there is a audio/video stutter (by stutter, it will repeat the last .5 seconds of audio about 3-4 times in a loop while the screen will freeze on where the first audio stutter started), which will cause the game to 'freeze' for approximately 2 seconds and then continue where you left off.
Team fortress 2 is an incredibly time critical multiplayer online game, and this delay essentially means my e-death on multiple occasions.
I initially thought it was the graphics card, or the drivers - I upgraded the drivers to the latest on the ATI site, that increased my fps, but the stuttering was still there. After searching around on the internet a bit, i found a suggestion to disable the audio driver (device manager lists it as - IDT High Definition Audio CODEC) as a test - so I did so.
The game purrs like a kitten - absolutely no stuttering. my score went up immediately
So, my next step was to try and get some Updated Drivers for the IDT Audio device (note, i cannot find a model name anywhere in the hp specs - or on the internet really) - I found out IDT themselves cannot release drivers, that these can only be obtained through OEMs.
which brings me to here.
now - the closest I have found to the drivers I required are here: IDT High-Definition (HD) Audio Driver for Microsoft Windows 7
Note: - it says on the page that they are 32 bit drivers - but I've found they work with the 64 bit version of windows.
these worked a little better - it fixed another annoying issue - the fact if you use the volume controls in a fullscreen application that it will switch back to the desktop to display the on screen slider bar of the volume going down (which was arguably redundant as windows 7 displays the speaker volume in the bottom right hand corner) - and it just turns the audio down as intended.
however - the stuttering is still very noticeably present .
I then tried to use the HP Support assistant to run automated diagnostics and troubleshoot... which then downloaded the old drivers that gave me that fullscreen volume control issue back again - so i assume the original drivers.
So I installed the other drivers again.
My next test will be to use an external USB or firewire soundcard to see if this will allow me have games with sound.
Can an appropriate agent at HP please address this concern and notify when this bug will be fixed - IDT says they work with OEM's to fix issues regularly on the IDT link above.
I believe this is such an issue that will likely require a bug fix.

Hi ozDerek,
Thank you for visiting the HP Support Forums. Since this is a duplicate post I'm going to lock this one, please check your other post here for replies:
IDT HD Audio stuttering 3d apps/games/tf2 - Windows 7 x64
Thanks!
Wendy M - HP Support Forums Moderator
Click the Kudos star as a way to say "thank you" for helpful posts.
Be sure to come back and click the 'Accept as Solution' button on the post that solved your issue - it may help someone else.
Rules of Participation

How to run an external .exe file from an indesign pluging

Hi,
      Suppose if I have written an separate application in C++ (.exe file) & need to run it from an indesign pluging(as if a service in windows). have you provided that facilities in your SDK? if it's please let me know how to run an external .exe file from a indesign pluging.
Thanks,

I'm actully writing data in PMString to a external txt file.
another question..
if i want to execute an action when the ok button is cliked how can i do it?
whe i add a button(widget) i know how to handle it. please see my code.
// Call the base class Update function so that default behavior will still occur (OK and Cancel buttons, etc.).
CDialogObserver::Update(theChange, theSubject, protocol, changedBy);
do
InterfacePtr<IControlView> controlView(theSubject, UseDefaultIID());
ASSERT(controlView);
if(!controlView) {
break;
// Get the button ID from the view.
WidgetID theSelectedWidget = controlView->GetWidgetID();
if (theChange == kTrueStateMessage)
//if (theSelectedWidget == kEXTCODGoButtonWidgetID
switch(theSelectedWidget.Get())
         case kEXTCODGoButtonWidgetID:
this->ViewOutput();
break;
         case kEXTCODFindButtonWidgetID:
this->SaveLog();
break;
// TODO: process this
} while (kFalse);
I do two actions "SaveLog" & "ViewOutput()" using two buttons. But i dont know how to execute an action when the ok button is clicked...

Can you call external exe file from Flex Air Application like notepad.exe

Im trying to make my Air Application open an External exe file anyone know if this can be done?

Hi,
If you want to share code between a flex app and AIR, you
could isolate the common bits as a swc file and link to the swc
from both the flex and air project.
Also, you could have the flex mxml file and air mxml file
load the same module (which has the same stuff as your original
flex application) using ModuleLoader.
Or, you could even load the swf of your flex application
using SWFLoader in your air mxml file.
Basically, check out creating flex libraries, modules and
runtime loading of swfs.

Lasso tool problem, using alt key, no click within 5sec causes loss of active window focus

I have been using Photoshop since ver. 4 and have never seen this happen. The only difference is now I'm on Windows 7 64bit. Did not have this problem with XP. Current version CS3 Extended.
Problem: While using Lasso tool with the alt key if I do not make a mouse click in 5 seconds Photoshop's active window loses focus for a split second and then the first point of my selection and the last point will connect. Thus, wasting my time and my attempt at a selection.
I have task bar buttons to "Never combine". I see for that split second what appears to be another program button opening but it is so fast that I cannot see if there is a name on the task bar button. The current Photoshop button moves to the right and back too fast. This all happens very quickly as the window loses focus.
I first thought it was some another program but after many searches found nothing I can identify as the cause.
Right before posting this I had a thought and did a test that concluded in the 5 sec rule. For over a minute I held down the alt key and made a mouse click within the 5 second window of time and there was no loss of window focus. While still holding down the alt key in this same test but not making a mouse click within 5 seconds the window lost focus and the tool stopped with my selection.
I have a wireless Logitech M305 mouse that this morning updated the driver to its current version 5.20.51, Control Center version: 6.20.50.
I have not tested a wired mouse, yet.
Any help would be appreciated. Anyone else seen this? Windows 7 64 bit the culprit?????
Message was edited by: golfnut333

UPDATE
After I removed Photoshop from Norton 360's Administrative Settings_Silent Mode Settings_User-Specified Programs, I did not have the problem with the lasso tool that I first had with loss of window focus. I then put Photoshop back in the 360's settings and the lasso tool still worked, BUT...............
After a couple of days of not using Photoshop and turning computer on and off in that time, I tried Photoshop again and the same problem, it came back. Loss of focus after 5 seconds of not clicking mouse. So, once again I open Norton and took Photoshop out of the User-Specified Programs and the problem went away, no loss of focus.
So, I will see if after a couple of days of turning on and off the computer and NOT putting Photoshop in the Norton's User-Specified Programs setting if the problem stays fixed.
I don't have to have Photoshop in the Norton's setting I just thought that it would be a good idea so Norton didn't try to do any background processes or whatever while I was working in Photoshop or I was rendering a filter or something.
Another thought I also have the Full Screen Detection setting ON. I do use Photoshop in Full Screen mode so maybe when having both the Full Screen mode and User-Specified Programs setting selected it makes something go wacky.
Hope this helps anyone having the same problem I "did". Will post back after a few days to let you know if focus problem is gone.
If it does relieve the problem then I will leave Photoshop off the list in Norton. No sense in trying to fix something that really doesn't matter, really.
UPDATE 2
January 8, 2011, I tried the lasso tool again and it still appears to be working. I did my standard test of holding the alt key and clicking to make selections then not click for 5 seconds or more and I did not lose window focus. I do not know why the Norton 360 setting triggers the loss of focus but since I turned that setting off I'm not having any problem.
Will update again if something changes.
Anyone else out there with the same problem that was solved using this method?
Message was edited by: golfnut333

Adobe shock wave flash is causing Mozilla Firefox to lose window focus.

WhenI leave a website open in Mozilla Firefox and then shut my laptop and leave it over night, then turn on my laptop the next day and open Mozilla Firefox and start using it my window loses focus so that I can't scroll or type without clicking somewhere on the screen to regain window focus. I am running windows 8.1 with the most recent version of the schockwave flash plugin. (17.0.0.169). I am also using the most recent and updated version of Mozilla Firefox. Why am I losing window focus? It seems to only happen after starting up my computer after leaving a webpage open from the day before.

I think Adobe might have solved this by now, but there used to be a problem where when you launched a new window using Flash, you would get switched to a different window. The workaround was to disable the protected mode feature of the Flash player plugin. It has security benefits, but seems to have compatibility issues on some systems.
The old instructions were somewhat arduous; fortunately, there is a new hidden setting for this:
(A) In a new tab, type or paste '''about:config''' in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.
(B) In the search box above the list, type or paste '''flash''' and pause while the list is filtered
(C) Double-click the '''dom.ipc.plugins.flash.disable-protected-mode''' preference to switch its value from false to true.
This might not take effect until all Flash has been unloaded for a few minutes, or you close Firefox.
Before that preference was added, the way to disable protected mode was by creating or editing a settings file. The following pages/posts provide different approaches for that if it turns out to be necessary (if Flash EXE processes continue to show up in the Windows Task Manager, Processes tab, even after changing the Firefox preference):
* Adobe support article under the heading "Last Resort": [http://forums.adobe.com/message/4468493#TemporaryWorkaround Adobe Forums: How do I troubleshoot Flash Player's protected mode for Firefox?]
* Manual steps: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/968190?page=5#answer-509209
* Batch file to automate the manual steps: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/982093#answer-518078 (alternate version of Carm's batch file with a few changes by me: [https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=f7d304d92388737d&id=F7D304D92388737D!336&ithint=file,.bat&authkey=!AP2FXW2Y_3BXZyo])
Flash needs to completely unload from memory (exiting and starting Firefox up again might help) before this takes effect.
Any improvement?

Triggering external exe/app minimized (or window focus control) in AIR?

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