"loss of focus" problem. *Testers Wanted* for possible permanent fix

[Luigi]

You could try putting the C runtime files in the plugins directory and see if it loads then (for me it would only load if I put them in the exe directory).
Please report back and let me know what works. I'd like to add the info to the plugin download so other people don't run into the same problem.

Yeah, I've placed the three files into the plugins-directory and now it is shown in the "Event Plugin"-Tab   
I don#t understand why I didn#t try that before on my own 

It would also be interesting to know which version of windows you're running.

I have WinXP Professional Version 2002, SP2 installed.

Thanks Luigi, and sorry for the trouble.

No trouble at all and thus no need to say "sorry"


I appreciate you guys make Mala even more comfortable and powerful !! 

[TheShanMan]

Strange. I use XP SP2 as well, and while I initially expected it to work fine if I put those files in the plugins directory, I could only get it to work if I put it in the main directory. Glad you got it working though!

Loadman: how do I go about updating the description for MaLaFocusLogger and the readme for MaLaLauncher on the malafe.net plugin page?

[loadman]

Loadman: how do I go about updating the description for MaLaFocusLogger and the readme for MaLaLauncher on the malafe.net plugin page?

Just send it again as MaLaFocusLogger 2 and I will fix it up   
 

[dmworking247]

I just thought I'd add that I'm using the latest Mala also, and have been having this problem for some time... it occured on my previous 'build' of Win2k, and its happening on WinXP too.

In my case I'm not using AVI snaps or any intro videos at all... 100% of the time when I boot up and Mala automatically starts, it does not have focus so the joysticks don't do anything. I have to open the keyboard drawer and click the mouse on the menu for it to gain focus and work. Quite frustrating.

I've yet to try the 'delete ini' trick because I haven't had time to debug this... hopefully I will one day.

Does anybody have a workaround util that could be added to the startup menu and force focus onto the Mala application?

[loadman]

It sounds like something else is 'stealing' focus rather than MaLa losing it in this case.

Q1) What is that app is in focus before you click the mouse on the menu?

Q2) How are you starting MaLa on windows start?
a) Using the option in MaLa
b) A MaLa shortcut in the windows startup Folder
c) Using MaLa as the windows shell?

It would be good to know 

[AdamC]

I dont lose focus running Mala on my Mame cabinet, but i do lose focus while running it on my jukebox machine. On the juke its running - SkJukebox & Ultrastar Deluxe. (Starts skjukebox as soon as mala starts)
I have tried using the focus plugin, and that seemed to help, but its still dropping out.

I have a house full of ppl here atm , so I will check on how mala is set to start (as per loadmans previous post) and versions, etc , tomorrow after work.

[Space Fractal]

I Guess SK-Jukebox take focus sometimes from Mala after Sk-Jukebox have readed its database?

[TheShanMan]

I'm currently enhancing the plugin. I recently installed stella for Atari 2600 emulation and my son and I have found on a handful of occasions when launching stella it doesn't capture focus properly. In that case, since no window had focus, the plugin was setting it back to MaLa even though stella was running. I'm making it so you can configure the plugin to run down a prioritized list of windows to try to set focus to, where MaLa would be last (as in, if the stella window exists set focus there; if not, set it to mala).

Hopefully that will solve my problem with stella, and hopefully that is the same issue reported here even with the use of the plugin. Incidentally, if you're using the plugin and still having focus problems, examine the log file right after you experience the problem and it may clue you in as to what, if anything, is ending up with focus (or "stealing" it).

I'll post back when my enhancement is ready, assuming it proves helpful for my situation.

[loadman]

I'll post back when my enhancement is ready

,

:-)

It will be great to know in what circumstances Focus is an issue.

[AdamC]

OK i think i have fixed it on my machine.. (jukebox)

Juke-  MaLa 1.04 (1.04.05)   with MaLaFocusLogger plugin installed.

"Starts with windows"  box is checked.
Starts SkJukebox when MaLa starts.

This is when I lose Focus on MaLa, after you exit out of SkJukebox.

When I turned off the automatic starting of SkJukebox, it seems to be ok.

.........................................

On my Mame cab , its the same version , but without the plugin installed. I have no probs on this machine.

[TheShanMan]

Again, I suggest looking at the malafocuslogger.log file to see what is happening with focus at that point (it will tell you what app, if any, has focus).

Also, you may have more luck if you set up mala to be your windows shell rather than explorer (on your cab only, of course). You can find info on that by searching the forums or the wiki.

[loadman]

If anyone with focus issues could please post the logs from the plug-in focus logger her that would be great.

The focus issue does not happen to me so I need to know what circumstances it does so I have a hope of fixing it.

Thanks

[AdamC]

Here are some logs for you

[TheShanMan]

Adam, from my perspective that's really not enough info. You gotta do a little bit of the investigative work. When the problem happens, stop at that point and find the handful of relevant log file lines.

That said, what OS are you running? It doesn't seem to be able to set the focus window. I believe in 98/ME it won't be able to set the focus window generally. I have XP only so that's the only environment I've confirmed it will work in, though I believe it will work in anything other than 98/ME.

One more thing, Adam. It looks like you have so many processes running that from my limited perspective I think you are just asking for focus problems. You really need to get it confined to the bare minimum necessary for your gaming environment. That includes making mala your windows shell if at all possible (i.e. if it's a dedicated gaming system like a cab).

Loadman, what is the frmBlend window? It belongs to MaLa and I see that window gets the focus sometimes in Adam's log file.

[swindus]

The frmBlend windows is for the fades when showing the menu or info window or while switching the orientation. It holds a bitmap of the main window which fades to/from black.

[AdamC]

Part one has been there for a while , cause the lines concerning the flash drive were all done a few days ago.
Thats why i deleted it and started Mala a few times with Skjukebox on auto start , and with it off. (Part 2)
A time stamp might come in handy in the FocusLogger. 

Things seem ok when i dont have Skjukebox starting automatically when Mala starts , so thats the way im going to keep it.

I am using XP, btw.

[loadman]

AdamC . I like your avatar.

It reminds me of an old Amiga Game I use to play called 'Another World' 

[swindus]

AdamC . I like your avatar.

It reminds me of an old Amiga Game I use to play called 'Another World' 

Yeah, nice game. But I think the avatar is from Flashback, another nice one.

[loadman]

Yeah, nice game. But I think the avatar is from Flashback, another nice one.

Ahh yes, It was the next game in the series I think.

[TheShanMan]

A time stamp might come in handy in the FocusLogger. 

Yeah, I know. I've been too lazy to do that so far (since it hasn't been necessary for me), but I'm going to have to do that at some point.

[loadman]

A time stamp might come in handy in the FocusLogger. 

Yeah, I know. I've been too lazy to do that so far (since it hasn't been necessary for me), but I'm going to have to do that at some point.

Yeah that would be super cool. 

[Blanka]

AdamC . I like your avatar.

It reminds me of an old Amiga Game I use to play called 'Another World' 

LOL, I've just been watching the walk-through on Youtube 10 mins ago. I had it on my Mac. On Mac it did 1024x768 resolution as well as it was vector. Amazing graphics on those high res screens. It looked even better than the Amiga version.

[TheShanMan]

A time stamp might come in handy in the FocusLogger. 

Yeah, I know. I've been too lazy to do that so far (since it hasn't been necessary for me), but I'm going to have to do that at some point.

Yeah that would be super cool. 

You guys will be happy to know that I just put it in. It's still undergoing my son's testing (he's the one that seems to be able to cause focus problems the most) but so far so good. If and when it's ready for release I'll update it on malafe.net and let you guys know.

[loadman]

Just out of interest...

  Do you find the focus issue any better/worse when using/not using fullscreen picture on game start option'?

[loadman]

BUMP

[dmworking247]

loadman, I'm able to reproduce this problem 100% of the time when my arcade boots, Mala NEVER has focus until I use the mouse and click on it again.

To answer your question above, my 'use full screen pictures' option in the game start box is not checked.

[loadman]

loadman, I'm able to reproduce this problem 100% of the time when my arcade boots, Mala NEVER has focus until I use the mouse and click on it again.

To answer your question above, my 'use full screen pictures' option in the game start box is not checked.

Did you try the focus logger plug-in to see what program is getting focus instead of MaLa?

[dmworking247]

Sorry loadman I didn't see your reply.

I've been talking to someone on AussieArcade.com.au about this problem and we've both seperately come up with a workaround.

For those experiencing the problem, I suggest trying these two things and let us know which (if any) work for you:

1) If you're running Windows XP, right click on Mala.exe, go to 'compatibility' and change compatibility to Windows 95. Reboot.   If that doesn't fix it, try Windows 98.   

2) I went into the taskbar properties and unchecked 'auto hide Windows taskbar'. I then went into Mala options>GUI tab>Display tab>  and unchecked 'display Windows taskbar'.  Reboot. This one worked for me.

[whynotpizza]

Hi Loadman.

I tried the plugin to see what is happening here (which is all the time - on multiple machines using the same MaLa configuration)

Here is the output.

While Mala is great, this issue can get real old, especially when it is experienced all the time (or often).

After the load of the video preview, Mala seems to drop focus and you need to LEFT click the mouse to get back in control on the Mala UI.

Any ideas?

I'd be willing to help in whatever way possible to put this issue to rest! 


   David


MaLaFocusLogger started.
frmSplash (process: MaLa.exe)
MaLa Frontend for Arcade Cabinets :: Plugins - Microsoft Internet Explorer (process: iexplore.exe)
MaLa (process: MaLa.exe)
frmBlend (process: MaLa.exe)
MaLa (process: MaLa.exe)
Options (process: MaLa.exe)
MaLa (process: MaLa.exe)
frmBlend (process: MaLa.exe)
MaLa (process: MaLa.exe)
DivX Menu Navigator (process: divxsm.exe)
MaLa (process: MaLa.exe)
DivX Menu Navigator (process: divxsm.exe)
MaLa (process: MaLa.exe)
DivX Menu Navigator (process: divxsm.exe)
MaLa (process: MaLa.exe)
MaLaFocusLogger ended.

[loadman]

Hi

I don't know what 'divxsm.exe' is  That is your answer here. At I guess I assume it's some Divx crap running in the background that wants to take control when you run a video?

I use and recommend the xvid codec. 

You really don't want to use to use divx. Rid your machine of all that. There are many posts about that. Have a search

Apart from that did you try the suggestion of the post before yours to set the taskbar to hide?

[whynotpizza]

Ah, I didn't really catch that in the previous posts (aka UNINSTALL the DivX stuff).

After I did a complete uninstall of DivX, it worked like a champ.

 

That works for me.

Thanks Loadman...

   David

[loadman]

Great 

There is still a focus issue apparently.

I am yet to experience it but I have it on good authority. 

When I get to it on my list I will ask more questions of those who reported it

[slsimon]

Great 

There is still a focus issue apparently.

I am yet to experience it but I have it on good authority. 

When I get to it on my list I will ask more questions of those who reported it

I have verified and the loss of focus is still a problem with both version 1.05 and 1.06 beta.  I am using the Mala focus plugin and it seemed to fix my problem.  I would have to use the left mouse click button after playing every game to focus back to the gamelist and or after resuming a game from the screensaver.  Just a heads up.  Thanks, Shane

[loadman]

I have verified and the loss of focus is still a problem with both version 1.05 and 1.06 beta.  I am using the Mala focus plugin and it seemed to fix my problem.  I would have to use the left mouse click button after playing every game to focus back to the gamelist and or after resuming a game from the screensaver.  Just a heads up.  Thanks, Shane

Thanks for the info 

Do you have videos in your layout?

Do you use mouse/trackball to navigate the list?

[slsimon]

Hey Loadman, I know Circo has SQ and HQ quality previews.  Which do you use and or would
you suggest to allow for the best playlist preview and screensaver preview?  I think I am using
the HQ set but an older set. 

[loadman]

Hey Loadman, I know Circo has SQ and HQ quality previews.  Which do you use and or would
you suggest to allow for the best playlist preview and screensaver preview?  I think I am using
the HQ set but an older set. 

See which one works best for you and your PC speed.

I find HQ looks better but takes longer to load.

P.S. I accidently cropped your previous post.. Sorry

[loadman]

A little more info that I think sheds some light on the problem...

Tonight I was playing with my kids, and one game we played was Q-Bert. The strange thing is I could hear Q-Bert audio that was out of sync with the state of the game, on top of the normal (in sync) Q-Bert audio. Eventually I realized what it was; the avi video in Mala was still playing and I could hear the audio of that avi during gameplay! I never noticed this aspect of the problem before because I used to have the avi audio turned off.

Then, when I exited the game mala didn't have focus. So, for whatever reason when I launched the game, mala did something "abnormal" - forgetting to stop the avi, and neglecting to watch for the mame process to terminate.

I think this MUST have something to do with the problem I've been experiencing. It sure doesn't seem to be a coincidence.

Unfortunately it doesn't give me any ideas for solving or working around the problem.

OK, I know how to reproduce the focus issue I mentioned here. All you have to do is navigate to a game, and before the avi snap has a chance to start, launch the game. You'll hear that the avi snap is still playing while mame is also running the game, and when you exit the game mala does not have focus. I'd love to hear if anyone can reproduce this. I'll try headkaze's registry suggestion to hopefully at least fix the focus issue, but that obviously doesn't help with hearing the avi snap playing while the game is also running.

This issue has been fixed for the next MaLa release. 

[TheShanMan]

I saw that, and that's great! But this was only one way that loss of focus would occur, so don't get too excited.

[loadman]

I saw that, and that's great! But this was only one way that loss of focus would occur, so don't get too excited.

Cool 

I am looking forward to fixing any other focus issues 

[Ummon]

Man, too bad this didn't occur to me when the thread was started. Its title reads like some bad headlines: loss of focus problem. Well, isn't that a good thing?  (You know, really it's a FOCUS problem.) Haw haw haw.