Windows Vista hiding the expression editor

djamesburgess · Post by **djamesburgess** » Thu May 08, 2008 8:43 pm

I'm running DataStage on Windows Vista.

Every time I try to load the expression editor in a Transformer etc. to load the available job parameters/functions etc. the expected window 'disappears' underneath the other open applications.

As this interaction is modal, I have to close my instance of Designer, which then reveals my missing window.

I think this is one of the registry settings but I've no idea which one to change. Any ideas welcome as this is pretty anonoying.

Thanks

ray.wurlod · Post by **ray.wurlod** » Thu May 08, 2008 10:22 pm

No idea, since DataStage is not supported on Vista. But do you really have to close Designer? Would not minimizing Designer (and all other open windows) be enough to expose the modal dialog? Maybe just clicking Show Desktop would do it.

jhmckeever · Post by **jhmckeever** » Thu May 08, 2008 10:26 pm

Welcome aboard!

Do you have that miracle of modern technology named 'Aero' running?

j

ray.wurlod · Post by **ray.wurlod** » Thu May 08, 2008 10:29 pm

Aero. Isn't that a chocolate bar?

One where you spend your hard earned on air rather than chocolate?

jhmckeever · Post by **jhmckeever** » Thu May 08, 2008 10:39 pm

No Ray, Aero is part of Vista.

Vista - The one where you spend your hard earned on Aero rather than the Operating System.

bmsq · Post by **bmsq** » Thu May 08, 2008 11:23 pm

Hi all,

I'm having the same problem. I've tried disabling Aero and using various compatability modes but have had no luck.

I did some investigation and it looks like DS executes another application (vmdsflt.exe) to display the popup box causing the issue. You can avoid closing the designer by killing this process, but this doesn't fix the issue

Anyone have any magic ideas about how to fix this? Its REALLY frustrating!

ray.wurlod · Post by **ray.wurlod** » Fri May 09, 2008 4:24 pm

Magic idea: install DataStage on a supported operating system.

bmsq · Post by **bmsq** » Sun May 11, 2008 4:41 pm

Thanks ray, probably sound advice. I was just about to start use XP in a VM when I discovered the problem.

Turns out this wasn't a vista problem at all and could occur on older windows as well. Dunno why, but Dell (or some software that gets installed on them at the factory) changes a registry setting call ForegroundLockTimeout. This prevents newly opened windows from stealing focus. Setting this back to the default of 0 fixes the problem.

The registry key is as follows:

; Specifies the time, following user input, during which the system keeps apps from moving into the foreground.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"ForegroundLockTimeout"=dword:00000000

Thanks for all your responses guys!

chulett · Post by **chulett** » Sun May 11, 2008 5:12 pm

Nice find.

ray.wurlod · Post by **ray.wurlod** » Sun May 11, 2008 5:32 pm

Sure is. Please mark the thread as Resolved.

chulett · Post by **chulett** » Sun May 11, 2008 5:43 pm

I was going to make the same request, then noticed that bmsq is not the thread starter. Marking will have to wait.

ray.wurlod · Post by **ray.wurlod** » Sun May 11, 2008 6:04 pm

Funny how it doesn't stop Microsoft apps from moving into focus, usually at the most inconvenient time!