focus problem when exiting GameEx

[username1024]

I launch GameEx from myHTPC (running fullscreen). Everything runs fine, but when I quit GameEx, instead of the focus returning to myHTPC, no application has the focus. After pushing the exit button, it looks like GameEx quickly minimizes, then dies. The problem is the task bar seems to get the focus, so even though myHTPC was running fullscreen, now its not, and I can't send commands to it.

Anyone have a similar problem launching GameEx from other front ends? Any workaround ideas? Any chance of a fix? Thanks.

[Tom Speirs]

I launch GameEx from myHTPC (running fullscreen).  Everything runs fine, but when I quit GameEx, instead of the focus returning to myHTPC, no application has the focus.  After pushing the exit button, it looks like GameEx quickly minimizes, then dies.  The problem is the task bar seems to get the focus, so even though myHTPC was running fullscreen, now its not, and I can't send commands to it.

Anyone have a similar problem launching GameEx from other front ends?  Any workaround ideas?  Any chance of a fix?  Thanks.

Hi,

You could try this. Run GameEx via a batch (.bat) file, that on exit runs myHTPC.

Hopefully when myHTPC is run at the end it will regain focus. Most modern HTPC software regains focus or maximizes with this method. It works for Sage.

Create c:\runit.bat

-----------------------

C:

CD "\Program files\GameEx"

GameEx.exe

C:

CD "\Program files\Myhtpc"

myhtpc.exe

Tell myHTPC to run the batch file above instead of GameEx.exe

Let me know how it works out.

If not you could write an autoit script to do this fairly easily I would have thought.

Thanks,

Tom

[djrobx]

Tom,

In a similar vein, do you have any suggestions on what to do about Media Center and its menu key? If someone presses the media center button while GameEx is up in full screen mode, Media Center tries to open and fails with a "Your video card or drivers are not compatible with Media Center" and runs it in a limited mode.

When this happens GameEx looses focus, and will not re-focus itself if you try and open GameEx again from the MCE interface. You have to grab a keyboard to get out from this state.

[Tom Speirs]

Tom,

In a similar vein, do you have any suggestions on what to do about Media Center and its menu key?  If someone presses the media center button while GameEx is up in full screen mode, Media Center tries to open and fails with a "Your video card or drivers are not compatible with Media Center" and runs it in a limited mode.

When this happens GameEx looses focus, and will not re-focus itself if you try and open GameEx again from the MCE interface.  You have to grab a keyboard to get out from this state.

I think a timer to check to see if ehshell is a running process and if so exit GameEx. With an option to enable this check. On by default.

My Home button never worked on my remote unless I have MCE open, so if i'd of known about this behaviour would have addressed months ago.

Probably be in next release.

I may also implement a shell on exit setting to address the issues above.

Cheers.

Tom

[Tom Speirs]

I launch GameEx from myHTPC (running fullscreen).  Everything runs fine, but when I quit GameEx, instead of the focus returning to myHTPC, no application has the focus.  After pushing the exit button, it looks like GameEx quickly minimizes, then dies.  The problem is the task bar seems to get the focus, so even though myHTPC was running fullscreen, now its not, and I can't send commands to it.

Anyone have a similar problem launching GameEx from other front ends?  Any workaround ideas?  Any chance of a fix?  Thanks.

Just curious, and would like to know. Why are you using myHTPC and not GameEx alone. In other words what extra does myHTPC allow you to do that GameEx does not?

Thanks.

[Tom Speirs]

Tom,

In a similar vein, do you have any suggestions on what to do about Media Center and its menu key?  If someone presses the media center button while GameEx is up in full screen mode, Media Center tries to open and fails with a "Your video card or drivers are not compatible with Media Center" and runs it in a limited mode.

When this happens GameEx looses focus, and will not re-focus itself if you try and open GameEx again from the MCE interface.  You have to grab a keyboard to get out from this state.

Rob,

Can you please try the attached exe, and see if it resolves the issue?

Cheers.

GameEx.zip

[username1024]

Run GameEx via a batch (.bat) file, that on exit runs myHTPC.

Hopefully when myHTPC is run at the end it will regain focus. Most modern HTPC software regains focus or maximizes with this method.

Heh, there's the problem, myHTPC is pretty far from modern. Work stopped on it a while back when the author decided to start selling it and call it Meedio.

Anyway, thanks a ton for pointing out AutoIt. I was able to write a one line script to restore focus to myHTPC. I use a batch file to launch GameEx, and once GameEx dies, I run the focus script.

[Tom Speirs]

Rob,

Can you please try the attached exe, and see if it resolves the issue?

Cheers.

I tested this by running ehshell when GameEx is loaded by scheduling ehshell with task scheduler.

Don't work

Not sure there is a viable solution to this at the moment. I understand the next version of MCE supports out of process apps, so it might have to wait until then.

[djrobx]

Didn't really make a difference with the new exe.

You can test it without the MCE remote by assigning a hotkey to the ehshell shortcut. Go to the start menu, and right click on the Media Center shotcut, go to Properties. Click on the shortcut key and assign it to something like ctrl-alt-M.

Here's my suggestion on how GameEx can deal with it:

Monitor the task list for ehshell (or, monitor for that video card error dialog). If found, kill ehshell, then close down directx. Have GameEx load ehshell again (which will now succeed because DirectX isn't locking the display), then exit GameEx. Not pretty, but far superior to having to dig for a keyboard.

[Tom Speirs]

Didn't really make a difference with the new exe.

You can test it without the MCE remote by assigning a hotkey to the ehshell shortcut.    Go to the start menu, and right click on the Media Center shotcut, go to Properties.  Click on the shortcut key and assign it to something like ctrl-alt-M.

Here's my suggestion on how GameEx can deal with it:

Monitor the task list for ehshell (or, monitor for that video card error dialog).  If found, kill ehshell, then close down directx.  Have GameEx load ehshell again (which will now succeed because DirectX isn't locking the display), then exit GameEx.  Not pretty, but far superior to having to dig for a keyboard.

Works perfectly for menow. Try This:

GameEx.zip

[djrobx]

Works perfectly for menow. Try This:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

NICE! You are DA MAN!! When you do it with the real remote, it leaves MCE out of focus with the task bar over it, but that can be fixed by pressing the MCE button again. Great work!

-- Rob

[brdhse1]

I am currently using GameEx 4.72 and the problem is back. When exiting GameEx with the GreenButton I receive an error: "your video card driver is not compatible with mce". then gameex exits and returns to mce.

Thank you for all the hard work. GameEx is amazing

[Tom Speirs]

I am currently using GameEx 4.72 and the problem is back.  When exiting GameEx with the GreenButton  I receive an error: "your video card driver is not compatible with mce".  then gameex exits and returns to mce. 

Thank you for all the hard work.  GameEx is amazing 

Have you got MediaCenter mode set to 1 instead of 2?

And have you got the setting turned on to check for MCE.

There both under tweaks performance.

[djrobx]

Have you got MediaCenter mode set to 1 instead of 2?

And have you got the setting turned on to check for MCE.

There both under tweaks performance.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Confirmed - I have the same problem with 4.72. Media center mode is 2 and check for MCE is on.

[Tom Speirs]

Confirmed - I have the same problem with 4.72.  Media center mode is 2 and check for MCE is on.

Can you confirm the exact behaviour please?

Thanks.

[Tom Speirs]

Can you confirm the exact behaviour please?

Thanks.

I did mess with Media Center mode 1 in the last release, although its working fine on my system.

Could you try the attached?

GameEx.zip

[djrobx]

MCE pops up the "your video card driver is not compatible with mce" box. GameEx then minimizes pretty quickly. It sits like that for a long time (about 20 seconds). MCE finally dies off, GameEx then closes and you do return to MCE ok. It just takes 100x as long as it used to. It used to all happen pretty smoothly.

-- Rob

[Tom Speirs]

MCE pops up the "your video card driver is not compatible with mce" box.  GameEx then minimizes pretty quickly.  It sits like that for a long time (about 20 seconds).  MCE finally dies off, GameEx then closes and you do return to MCE ok.  It just takes 100x as long as it used to.  It used to all happen pretty smoothly.

-- Rob

What happens if you leave GameEx running for 25 seconds then press the Green Button?

There is a delay because the processes are cached in windows, and I was having GameEx detect the MCE was open when it was not.

[Tom Speirs]

What happens if you leave GameEx running for 25 seconds then press the Green Button?

There is a delay because the processes are cached in windows, and I was having GameEx detect the MCE was open when it was not.

See if this ones any better.

GameEx.zip

[brdhse1]

See if this ones any better.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I tried that file and it still has the same problem. MediaCenterMode = 2 and check for media center = true

[Tom Speirs]

I tried that file and it still has the same problem.  MediaCenterMode = 2 and check for media center = true

Can you try this one, and also post the log so I can see where the slow down is occuring.

Thanks.

GameEx.zip

[djrobx]

The new one is working for me.

[brdhse1]

I am using version 5.09 and the problem is still there. If running Project 64 and the Green Button is pressed, a message box pops up giving the video card driver error, then it closes and media center opens. If running ZSNES, and the Green Button is pressed, the screen goes black and the only way to recover is to ALT+TAB to set the focus back to ZSNES then close down properly. I posted the log below because of attach issues. Thank you for all your hard work.

18:33:29.8 9/17/2005: GameEx: Version 5.09: Starting Log

18:33:29.8 9/17/2005: Operating System Platform: Win32NT

18:33:29.8 9/17/2005: Operating System Name: Windows XP

18:33:29.8 9/17/2005: Operating System Version: 5.1.2600

18:33:29.8 9/17/2005: Checking Registration

18:33:29.8 9/17/2005: Running Randomize()

18:33:29.8 9/17/2005: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

18:33:29.9 9/17/2005: Running Misc startup tasks

18:33:29.9 9/17/2005: Setting Menu types

18:33:29.9 9/17/2005: Opening Configuration File

18:33:29.9 9/17/2005: Getting Configuration Values

18:33:29.9 9/17/2005: Using Theme: Default - GameEx

18:33:29.9 9/17/2005: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - GameEx

18:33:29.9 9/17/2005: Text/Language: English

18:33:29.9 9/17/2005: Applying Language/Text

18:33:29.9 9/17/2005: Creating Scancodes.txt (List of DirectInput scan codes)

18:33:30.0 9/17/2005: Snap Delay set to: 2

18:33:30.0 9/17/2005: Is Media Center running?

18:33:30.0 9/17/2005: Media Center is running

18:33:30.0 9/17/2005: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

18:33:30.0 9/17/2005: Media Center Mode 2

18:33:30.1 9/17/2005: Closing Media Center

18:33:35.2 9/17/2005: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

18:33:35.2 9/17/2005: Get other settings

18:33:35.2 9/17/2005: Using 2D Animations

18:33:35.2 9/17/2005: Mouse Input is disabled

18:33:35.2 9/17/2005: Launching HideOS.exe

18:33:36.3 9/17/2005: Hiding Taskbar

18:33:36.3 9/17/2005: Start work for Form

18:33:36.3 9/17/2005: Getting Original Screen Size

18:33:36.3 9/17/2005: Loading ICON

18:33:36.3 9/17/2005: Initializing Component

18:33:36.4 9/17/2005: Initialising Bass Audio Library

18:33:36.5 9/17/2005: Loading default loading screen

18:33:36.5 9/17/2005: Using General Font: HandelGothic BT

18:33:36.5 9/17/2005: Using Title Font: HandelGothic BT

18:33:36.5 9/17/2005: Initialising DirectDraw

18:33:36.5 9/17/2005: Applying GameEx is Loading Image

18:33:36.5 9/17/2005: Creating DirectDraw Device

18:33:36.6 9/17/2005: Setting Resolution to 720x480 32 bit color

18:33:36.6 9/17/2005: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces

18:33:36.6 9/17/2005: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode

18:33:36.6 9/17/2005: Creating Back Buffer

18:33:36.6 9/17/2005: Loading graphic surfaces

18:33:36.6 9/17/2005: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs

18:33:36.7 9/17/2005: Creating Surface Volume

18:33:36.7 9/17/2005: Creating Surfaces Arrows

18:33:36.7 9/17/2005: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text

18:33:36.7 9/17/2005: Creating Surfaces Toolbar

18:33:36.7 9/17/2005: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds

18:33:36.8 9/17/2005: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls

18:33:36.8 9/17/2005: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo

18:33:36.8 9/17/2005: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit

18:33:36.9 9/17/2005: Creating Surfaces Snaps

18:33:36.9 9/17/2005: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars

18:33:37.0 9/17/2005: Creating Fonts

18:33:37.0 9/17/2005: Creating Menu Font

18:33:37.3 9/17/2005: Creating Game Font

18:33:37.7 9/17/2005: Creating Game Font Standard Size

18:33:37.9 9/17/2005: Creating Font Black

18:33:38.0 9/17/2005: Creating Font Black Small

18:33:38.1 9/17/2005: Creating Game Font Faded

18:33:38.3 9/17/2005: Creating Title Font

18:33:39.0 9/17/2005: Loading Controls.ini map file

18:33:39.0 9/17/2005: Loading Custom Emulators

18:33:39.0 9/17/2005: Loading Emulator 1: Nintendo 64 Games

18:33:39.1 9/17/2005: Loading Emulator 2: Nintendo SNES Games

18:33:39.1 9/17/2005: Loading Emulator 3: Nintendo NES Games

18:33:39.1 9/17/2005: Loading Emulator 4: SEGA Genesis

18:33:39.3 9/17/2005: MAME CMD options: -skip_disclaimer -skip_gameinfo -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy

18:33:39.3 9/17/2005: Attempting to load game list

18:33:39.3 9/17/2005: Loading last used Game List

18:33:39.5 9/17/2005: Cannot Load Play List. Check Path and filename

18:33:39.5 9/17/2005: Creating DirectSound Device

18:33:39.5 9/17/2005: Trying: Primary Sound Driver

18:33:39.5 9/17/2005: Loading Sound Files

18:33:39.5 9/17/2005: DirectSound Device Created Successfully

18:33:39.5 9/17/2005: Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support

18:33:39.5 9/17/2005: Looking for Device: Logitech Cordless RumblePad 2 USB

18:33:39.6 9/17/2005: Device Created

18:33:39.6 9/17/2005: Playing intro sound file

18:33:39.6 9/17/2005: Initializing MCE Remote

18:33:39.6 9/17/2005: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!

18:33:39.6 9/17/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame

18:33:39.8 9/17/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_1: Snap Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_1: Snap Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_1: Title Snap Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_1: Title Snap Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_1: Box Art Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_1: Box Art Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_1: Cart Art Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_1: Cart Art Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_1: MAPFile Does Not Exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_2: Snap Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_2: Snap Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_2: Title Snap Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_2: Title Snap Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_2: Box Art Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_2: Box Art Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_2: Cart Art Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_2: Cart Art Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_3: Snap Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_3: Snap Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_3: Title Snap Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_3: Title Snap Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_3: Box Art Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_3: Box Art Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_3: Cart Art Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_3: Cart Art Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_4: Snap Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_4: Snap Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_4: Title Snap Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_4: Title Snap Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_4: Box Art Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_4: Box Art Path Does not exist

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Validating: Emulator_4: Cart Art Path:

18:34:06.6 9/17/2005: Warning: Emulator_4: Cart Art Path Does not exist

18:34:22.2 9/17/2005: Running: cmd.exe /c C: zsnesw.exe "C:\Games\SNES\Donkey Kong Country 3 (Dixie Kong's Double Trouble).smc"

18:35:35.3 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

18:35:55.1 9/17/2005: Running: cmd.exe /c C: zsnesw.exe "C:\Games\SNES\Donkey Kong Country 3 (Dixie Kong's Double Trouble).smc"

18:36:30.8 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

18:36:38.1 9/17/2005: Running: cmd.exe /c C: zsnesw.exe "C:\Games\SNES\Donkey Kong Country 3 (Dixie Kong's Double Trouble).smc"

19:45:08.4 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

19:45:40.1 9/17/2005: Running: cmd.exe /c C: zsnesw.exe "C:\Games\SNES\Donkey Kong Country 3 (Dixie Kong's Double Trouble).smc"

21:20:47.2 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:20:49.8 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:20:52.3 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:20:54.7 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:20:57.0 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:20:59.4 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:01.8 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:04.1 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:06.5 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:08.9 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:11.2 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:13.6 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:16.0 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:18.3 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:20.7 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:23.0 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:25.4 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:27.8 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:30.2 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:32.5 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:34.9 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:37.2 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:39.6 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:42.0 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:44.3 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:46.7 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:49.1 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:51.5 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:53.8 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:56.2 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:21:58.5 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:00.9 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:03.3 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:05.6 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:08.0 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:10.4 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:12.7 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:15.1 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:17.5 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:19.8 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:22.2 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:24.6 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:26.9 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:29.3 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:31.7 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:34.0 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:36.4 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:38.7 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:41.1 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:43.5 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:46.5 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:22:48.8 9/17/2005: Sending Q to emulator

21:23:31.4 9/17/2005: Detected Media Center launched

21:23:31.4 9/17/2005: Killing Media Center

21:23:35.0 9/17/2005: Exiting GameEx!

21:23:35.0 9/17/2005: Saving Settings

21:23:37.5 9/17/2005: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

21:23:37.5 9/17/2005: Launching Media Center

[Tom Speirs]

I think this is an issue with ZSNES rather than GameEx. If your using Media Center yourll probably find not using the advanced zsnes config and using MapKeys works much better if you press the Green button.

This issue is caused by Zsnes not linking Media Center loading while its using your graphics card. Your sending the Q key to exit, but its not responding, probably because its showing an error dialog. Either remove the key to send or dont use the advanced config. This gameEx will kill the ZSNES process, and should return to MCE eventually, and not hang.

Thanks.

[Smiff]

i wrote this before, but zSNEs will quit natively on ESCAPE if you start it with "-m". in case that's relevant.