Retain focus on Sublime Text

[erinata]

in my package MarkdownBuild I try to use

Code: Select all

webbrowser.open("file://" + output.name)

to open an html file.

However, after opening the file in a web browser, the focus is shifted to the web browser.

Any idea on how to switch the focus back to Sublime Text?

[bizoo]

Didn't try it and only work (if it work at all) on Windows:

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import ctypes
ctypes.windll.user32.SetForegroundWindow(self.window.hwnd())

[erinata]

I've tried exactly the same thing but it didn't work.

I also try to import win32com ........and it says that there is no module named win32com

I don't mind if it only works on windows.....if there is a way to do it.

[castles_made_of_sand]

The webbrowser.open call is likely async ... such that your call to SetForegroundWindow happens before focus has even shifted ....

You likely want to use `sublime.set_timeout` to do the call at some point in the future ... the exact amount of ms depending a lot I guess on your computer ...

If you set a bunch of timeouts in 25ms increments you can be sure that it will happen fairly snappily ... worst case you get a few redundant SetForegroundWindow calls ...

Tweak the increments / num of timeouts to your hearts content - but overall much less of a wrist slasher than having to alt - tab ...

[bizoo]

I've tried exactly the same thing but it didn't work.

I also try to import win32com ........and it says that there is no module named win32com

I don't mind if it only works on windows.....if there is a way to do it.

Bringing a window in front is tricky in Windows, and look worst in Win7:

MS Documentation for SetForegroundWindow reads as follows:
"Windows NT 5.0 and later: An application cannot force a window to the foreground while the user is working with another window. Instead, SetForegroundWindow will activate the window (see SetActiveWindow) and call the FlashWindowEx function to notify the user."

So the only way I found is this, however I cannot put the focus back to ST2:

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import sublime, sublime_plugin
import ctypes, time

class ExampleCommand(sublime_plugin.WindowCommand):
    def run(self):
        time.sleep(5)
        # ctypes.windll.user32.BringWindowToTop(self.window.hwnd())
        ctypes.windll.user32.SwitchToThisWindow(self.window.hwnd(), 0)
        # ctypes.windll.user32.SetForegroundWindow(self.window.hwnd())
        # ctypes.windll.user32.SetActiveWindow(self.window.hwnd())
        # ctypes.windll.user32.SetFocus(self.window.hwnd())
        # ctypes.windll.user32.ShowWindow(self.window.hwnd(), 5)

Hope it help.

[castles_made_of_sand]

"Windows NT 5.0 and later: An application cannot force a window to the foreground while the user is working with another window. Instead, SetForegroundWindow will activate the window (see SetActiveWindow) and call the FlashWindowEx function to notify the user."

IIRC the rules are different for subprocesses of the caller of SetForegroundWindow

ie. If you launch a subprocess from sublime, are focused there, and a set_timeout calls you back to sublime it should work ...

import sublime, webbrowser
from functools import partial
from ctypes import windll

def do():
    """

    >>> from tester import do
    >>> do()
    
    """
    webbrowser.open("http://www.google.com.au")
    sublime.set_timeout (partial( windll.user32.SetForegroundWindow,
                                  sublime.active_window().hwnd()), 500 )

Bisect from 500 downwards towards and you'll converge on a point where it's just too slow.

[castles_made_of_sand]

err, too `quick`

[bizoo]

Yes you're right, focus work fine with your code.
I only have to change this line to make it work (on Win7 64):

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sublime.set_timeout(partial(ctypes.windll.user32.SwitchToThisWindow,
                                      sublime.active_window().hwnd(), 0), 500)

It don't work for me with SetForegroundWindow.

[castles_made_of_sand]

It don't work for me with SetForegroundWindow.

Ah man, what a clusterfuck Yeah, I'm on Windows 7 x32

Queue the relentlessly branching code

[castles_made_of_sand]

[This function is not intended for general use. It may be altered or unavailable in subsequent versions of Windows.]

So this function prettily avoids all the rules that apply to SetForegroundWindow huh?

Seems to have been around since Win 2000

Learn something new everyday