SageTV opening in the background (out of focus)

[teststrips]

If I have other windows open on my machine (say my web browser) and open Sage it opens full screen in the background, and "focus" is still on my browser window.

This isn't a problem when I'm sitting directly at my machine - i can grab the mouse or alt + tab, but this is a problem when I'm on my remote control from my couch (where I don't have a full keyboard/mouse)

Is there a way to force sage to come up being the "in focus" window, and not behind other programs?

[Clift]

What remote do you use?

Andy's (www.babgvant.com) sageTvtray/SageTVLauncher program sets focus on SageTV when the green button is pressed (MCE remote)

[Striker:WG]

LMRemoteKeymap also works pretty well allowing you to script different functionality to different buttons depending what has focus, and it can also handle your IR blasting.

-Striker-

[teststrips]

Originally Posted by Clift

What remote do you use?

I use a Harmony remote, talking to a MCE remote IR box and am using IR Server Suite to grab that input. IR server suite was was written by one of the MediaPortal developers - http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/ir..._4-t33512.html

IR Server Suite sits + listens for IR coming to the MCE IR box... it genearlly just passes on the default keystrokes, but you can remap any IR command to do a diffferent (non-default) keystroke, or to run an executable (I use a lot of batch files).

I set up a soft key on my harmony remote to say "lights" - this button calls a batch file, which is set to cycle through three different light "modes". Full lighting, movie lighting, and OFF. In reality, my batch is sending commands to my USB based X10 RF module (CM19A- cheap on ebay).

I have a similar soft key called "monitor" - this cycles monitor profiles, switching from my 22 inch desktop monitor, to my Projector.

And finally, I have a soft key called "SageTV" - this pretty much just launches SageTV.

I guess I can create another soft key for Alt+Tab.

For those interested in the actual Batch logic that I"m using, its documented here: http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/mc...-things-39970/

I guess my biggest issue though is why Sage opens in the background - no matter how I launch Sage, it never takes "focus" - is this normal, or is my machine acting "funny" for some reason.

[teststrips]

I just read a bit more about the two suggested programs above. Looks like SageTVLauncher may be my answer - as long as it doesn't "mess" with my other software (IR Server Suite).

If that fails, I may try to see if I get any different results with LM Remote keyMap

[teststrips]

sagetvlauncher did not work for me - whatever hijack my other program (ir server suite) uses to listen to the IR box, seems to block out sagetvlauncher from hearing the commands.

I did, however find a program called sendfocus.exe which I was able to incorporate into my .bat script files. I found several places talking about the sendfocus.exe program, but had trouble actually finding it... I eventually found a working link in this thread http://www.promixis.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10498

One problem I had working on this was if sage was closed, the batch file wouldn't wait long enough for the window "sagetv" to open + I'd get an error from sendfocus.exe... my final working script is below:

c:
cd \batch
sagetvshortcut.lnk
PING 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 3000 >NUL
sendfocus.exe sagetv

You may also note that I called a shortcut to sagetv, rather than going for c:\program files\sagetv\sagetv\sagetv.exe.... this is because if a batch file calls an .exe it generally waits for that .exe to "finish" or "close" before moving to the next command. If you use a shortcut file (which will always end in a .lnk extension), the batch file will continue to progress without waiting first.

[Striker:WG]

Originally Posted by teststrips

sagetvlauncher did not work for me - whatever hijack my other program (ir server suite) uses to listen to the IR box, seems to block out sagetvlauncher from hearing the commands.

I did, however find a program called sendfocus.exe which I was able to incorporate into my .bat script files. I found several places talking about the sendfocus.exe program, but had trouble actually finding it... I eventually found a working link in this thread http://www.promixis.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10498

One problem I had working on this was if sage was closed, the batch file wouldn't wait long enough for the window "sagetv" to open + I'd get an error from sendfocus.exe... my final working script is below:

c:
cd \batch
sagetvshortcut.lnk
PING 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 3000 >NUL
sendfocus.exe sagetv

You may also note that I called a shortcut to sagetv, rather than going for c:\program files\sagetv\sagetv\sagetv.exe.... this is because if a batch file calls an .exe it generally waits for that .exe to "finish" or "close" before moving to the next command. If you use a shortcut file (which will always end in a .lnk extension), the batch file will continue to progress without waiting first.

instead of calling a shortcut, you could also use the START command.

this will allow the batch file to start another process and continue processing the batch file without waiting for the program you called to respond or exit.

-Striker-

[teststrips]

Originally Posted by Striker:WG

instead of calling a shortcut, you could also use the START command.

Awesome - I'll keep that in mind. I use batch files for a lot of things... I should probably learn some other scripting language, but I've always been able to do what I want done with a simple .bat.

Does anyone have any suggestions on another (easy to learn) language or scripting tool to play with?

[babgvant]

Originally Posted by teststrips

I guess my biggest issue though is why Sage opens in the background - no matter how I launch Sage, it never takes "focus" - is this normal, or is my machine acting "funny" for some reason.

that's an issue with how windows assigns focus. it doesn't see the relationship b/w your launcher and this new application that pops up and wants to "steal" focus.

[babgvant]

Originally Posted by babgvant

that's an issue with how windows assigns focus. it doesn't see the relationship b/w your launcher and this new application that pops up and wants to "steal" focus.

the newest rev of sagetvlauncher forgos all the fancy API stuff and just simulates a mouse click in the middle of the screen.