Tab navigation not working after making wpf app as noactive.

Question

Tab navigation not working after making wpf app as noactive.

Smrithi Surendran 61

User's image

When we press tab, application not performing tab navigation.

Please help/guide here.

Viorel 125.6K Reputation points

2023-03-17T05:45:51.64+00:00

Maybe do not make it unfocusable and inactive if this causes problems.
Smrithi Surendran 61 Reputation points

2023-03-17T06:20:24.34+00:00

Thanks for reply
Could you please suggest a way to enable tab navigation with above mentioned code.
Jack J Jun 25,316 Reputation points

2023-03-17T08:04:13.4066667+00:00

@Smrithi Surendran, Welcome to Microsoft Q&A, what is your current app type, is wpf app or winui3 app?
Smrithi Surendran 61 Reputation points

2023-03-17T08:10:19.73+00:00

@Jack J Jun ,
It's a wpf application
Jack J Jun 25,316 Reputation points

2023-03-17T08:38:06.5166667+00:00

@Smrithi Surendran , thanks for the feedback, could you tell me how I reproduce your problem? Could you provide some steps or some code? BTW, I recommend that you use Code block to show your code instead of picture.

Darga, Suresh - Dell Team 1

We are deactivating the WPF window using WS_EX_NOACTIVATE as in below code, after deactivation of the window, the tab navigation is not working for the WPF app. could you please help on this. 

       public class WindowHelper
	   {
	   
			private Window _appWindow;
	   

            public enum WindowLongFlags : int
            {
             GWL_EXSTYLE = -20,
             GWLP_HINSTANCE = -6,
             GWLP_HWNDPARENT = -8,
             GWL_ID = -12,
             GWL_STYLE = -16,
             GWL_USERDATA = -21,
             GWL_WNDPROC = -4,
             DWLP_USER = 0x8,
             DWLP_MSGRESULT = 0x0,
             DWLP_DLGPROC = 0x4
            }
        [Flags]
        public enum WindowStylesEx : uint
        {
            /// <summary>Specifies a window that accepts drag-drop files.</summary>
            WS_EX_ACCEPTFILES = 0x00000010,

            /// <summary>Forces a top-level window onto the taskbar when the window is visible.</summary>
            WS_EX_APPWINDOW = 0x00040000,

            /// <summary>Specifies a window that has a border with a sunken edge.</summary>
            WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE = 0x00000200,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a window that paints all descendants in bottom-to-top painting order using double-buffering.
            /// This cannot be used if the window has a class style of either CS_OWNDC or CS_CLASSDC. This style is not supported in Windows 2000.
            /// </summary>
            /// <remarks>
            /// With WS_EX_COMPOSITED set, all descendants of a window get bottom-to-top painting order using double-buffering.
            /// Bottom-to-top painting order allows a descendent window to have translucency (alpha) and transparency (color-key) effects,
            /// but only if the descendent window also has the WS_EX_TRANSPARENT bit set.
            /// Double-buffering allows the window and its descendents to be painted without flicker.
            /// </remarks>
            WS_EX_COMPOSITED = 0x02000000,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a window that includes a question mark in the title bar. When the user clicks the question mark,
            /// the cursor changes to a question mark with a pointer. If the user then clicks a child window, the child receives a WM_HELP message.
            /// The child window should pass the message to the parent window procedure, which should call the WinHelp function using the HELP_WM_HELP command.
            /// The Help application displays a pop-up window that typically contains help for the child window.
            /// WS_EX_CONTEXTHELP cannot be used with the WS_MAXIMIZEBOX or WS_MINIMIZEBOX styles.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_CONTEXTHELP = 0x00000400,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a window which contains child windows that should take part in dialog box navigation.
            /// If this style is specified, the dialog manager recurses into children of this window when performing navigation operations
            /// such as handling the TAB key, an arrow key, or a keyboard mnemonic.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_CONTROLPARENT = 0x00010000,

            /// <summary>Specifies a window that has a double border.</summary>
            WS_EX_DLGMODALFRAME = 0x00000001,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a window that is a layered window.
            /// This cannot be used for child windows or if the window has a class style of either CS_OWNDC or CS_CLASSDC.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_LAYERED = 0x00080000,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a window with the horizontal origin on the right edge. Increasing horizontal values advance to the left.
            /// The shell language must support reading-order alignment for this to take effect.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_LAYOUTRTL = 0x00400000,

            /// <summary>Specifies a window that has generic left-aligned properties. This is the default.</summary>
            WS_EX_LEFT = 0x00000000,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a window with the vertical scroll bar (if present) to the left of the client area.
            /// The shell language must support reading-order alignment for this to take effect.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_LEFTSCROLLBAR = 0x00004000,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a window that displays text using left-to-right reading-order properties. This is the default.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_LTRREADING = 0x00000000,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a multiple-document interface (MDI) child window.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_MDICHILD = 0x00000040,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a top-level window created with this style does not become the foreground window when the user clicks it.
            /// The system does not bring this window to the foreground when the user minimizes or closes the foreground window.
            /// The window does not appear on the taskbar by default. To force the window to appear on the taskbar, use the WS_EX_APPWINDOW style.
            /// To activate the window, use the SetActiveWindow or SetForegroundWindow function.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_NOACTIVATE = 0x08000000,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a window which does not pass its window layout to its child windows.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_NOINHERITLAYOUT = 0x00100000,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies that a child window created with this style does not send the WM_PARENTNOTIFY message to its parent window when it is created or destroyed.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_NOPARENTNOTIFY = 0x00000004,

            /// <summary>
            /// The window does not render to a redirection surface.
            /// This is for windows that do not have visible content or that use mechanisms other than surfaces to provide their visual.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_NOREDIRECTIONBITMAP = 0x00200000,

            /// <summary>Specifies an overlapped window.</summary>
            WS_EX_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW = WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE | WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE,

            /// <summary>Specifies a palette window, which is a modeless dialog box that presents an array of commands.</summary>
            WS_EX_PALETTEWINDOW = WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE | WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW | WS_EX_TOPMOST,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a window that has generic "right-aligned" properties. This depends on the window class.
            /// The shell language must support reading-order alignment for this to take effect.
            /// Using the WS_EX_RIGHT style has the same effect as using the SS_RIGHT (static), ES_RIGHT (edit), and BS_RIGHT/BS_RIGHTBUTTON (button) control styles.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_RIGHT = 0x00001000,

            /// <summary>Specifies a window with the vertical scroll bar (if present) to the right of the client area. This is the default.</summary>
            WS_EX_RIGHTSCROLLBAR = 0x00000000,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a window that displays text using right-to-left reading-order properties.
            /// The shell language must support reading-order alignment for this to take effect.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_RTLREADING = 0x00002000,

            /// <summary>Specifies a window with a three-dimensional border style intended to be used for items that do not accept user input.</summary>
            WS_EX_STATICEDGE = 0x00020000,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a window that is intended to be used as a floating toolbar.
            /// A tool window has a title bar that is shorter than a normal title bar, and the window title is drawn using a smaller font.
            /// A tool window does not appear in the taskbar or in the dialog that appears when the user presses ALT+TAB.
            /// If a tool window has a system menu, its icon is not displayed on the title bar.
            /// However, you can display the system menu by right-clicking or by typing ALT+SPACE.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW = 0x00000080,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a window that should be placed above all non-topmost windows and should stay above them, even when the window is deactivated.
            /// To add or remove this style, use the SetWindowPos function.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_TOPMOST = 0x00000008,

            /// <summary>
            /// Specifies a window that should not be painted until siblings beneath the window (that were created by the same thread) have been painted.
            /// The window appears transparent because the bits of underlying sibling windows have already been painted.
            /// To achieve transparency without these restrictions, use the SetWindowRgn function.
            /// </summary>
            WS_EX_TRANSPARENT = 0x00000020,

            /// <summary>Specifies a window that has a border with a raised edge.</summary>
            WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE = 0x00000100
        }

			[DllImport("user32.dll")]
			static extern int GetWindowLong(IntPtr hWnd, int nIndex);

			[DllImport("user32.dll")]
			static extern int SetWindowLong(IntPtr hWnd, int nIndex, uint dwNewLong);
			
			public void Initialize(Window appWindow)
			{
				if (_appWindow == null)
					_appWindow = appWindow;
			}
	   
			public void RemoveWindowFocus()
			{
				var interopHelper = new WindowInteropHelper(_appWindow);
				int exStyle = GetWindowLong(interopHelper.Handle, (int)WindowLongFlags.GWL_EXSTYLE);
				SetWindowLong(interopHelper.Handle, (int)WindowLongFlags.GWL_EXSTYLE, (uint)(exStyle | (int)WindowStylesEx.WS_EX_NOACTIVATE));
			}
		
		}
	  
	  
	  public partial class AppWindow : Window
	  {
	  
	    public AppWindow()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            this.ShowActivated = false;
            this.Focusable = false;
            FocusManager.SetIsFocusScope(this, false);
            //Removed window focus
            Application.Current.Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(() => _windowHelper.RemoveWindowFocus());
        }
		
	  }

Smrithi Surendran 61 Reputation points

2023-03-20T05:16:42.47+00:00

Hi @Jack J Jun ,
Please consider the above given code for replicating the issue.

Please help/guide here

Hui Liu-MSFT 48,706 Microsoft External Staff

Hi,@Smrithi Surendran. I got the wrong System. ArgumentNullException: 'the Value always be null. (the Parameter' window ') ' when I test your code.

Do you have the same problem? Or did I miss something?

The error disappeared when I added thecode _windowHelper.Initialize(this); .

According to my test results, your code seems to work fine.

WindowHelper _windowHelper=new WindowHelper();
 public AppWindow()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            this.ShowActivated = false;
            this.Focusable = false;
            FocusManager.SetIsFocusScope(this, false);
            _windowHelper.Initialize(this);
            //Removed window focus
            Application.Current.Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(() => _windowHelper.RemoveWindowFocus());
        }

MainWindow.xaml.cs:

  public MainWindow()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            AppWindow appWindow=new AppWindow(); 
            appWindow.Show();
          
        }

The result of test:

User's image

Hui Liu-MSFT 48,706 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-03-20T09:15:29.6066667+00:00

Hi,@Smrithi Surendran. Are the results consistent with your expectations? What are the actual results you get? And what are the steps to get the actual result?
Smrithi Surendran 61 Reputation points

2023-03-20T11:37:48.4333333+00:00

Hi @Hui Liu-MSFT ,
Tab navigation not working after making wpf app as noactive
Hui Liu-MSFT 48,706 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-03-21T02:38:07.63+00:00

Hi,@Smrithi Surendran. Do you press Tab on your keyboard to switch focus Windows? What is the code for your Tab navigation?
Smrithi Surendran 61 Reputation points

2023-03-21T05:11:58.43+00:00

Hi @Hui Liu-MSFT ,

I pressed Tab, but key events are not triggering as we are deactivating the WPF window using WS_EX_NOACTIVATE.

Could you please help/guide here to enable Tab navigation

Hui Liu-MSFT 48,706 Microsoft External Staff

Hi,@Smrithi Surendran.

What is the expected result of enabling Tab navigation? Does it press tab to switch focus window?

You didn't show me the code for your Tab event. I did not reproduce your problem using the following code, and AppWindow is not focused.

 public partial class MainWindow : Window
    {
       
        AppWindow appWindow;
        public MainWindow()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
             appWindow=new AppWindow(); 
            appWindow.Show();
            AddHandler(Keyboard.KeyDownEvent, (KeyEventHandler)HandleKeyDownEvent);
        }
        private void HandleKeyDownEvent(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
        {
            if (e.Key == Key.Tab)
            {
                FocusOnWindow(0);
            }
        }
        WindowHelper _windowHelper = new WindowHelper();


        private void FocusOnWindow(int currentIndex)
        {

            IEnumerable<Window> windows = Application.Current.Windows.OfType<Window>();
            if (currentIndex < windows.Count() - 1)
            {
                Window w = windows.ElementAt(currentIndex + 1);
                w.ShowActivated = false;
                w.Focusable = false;
                FocusManager.SetIsFocusScope(w, false);
                _windowHelper.Initialize(w);

                Application.Current.Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(() => _windowHelper.RemoveWindowFocus());
              
            }
        }
    }

]

Darga, Suresh - Dell Team 1 Reputation point

2023-03-21T13:15:55.5933333+00:00

Hi @Hui Liu-MSFT , we are not using any specific code for tab navigation, usually by default after pressing Tab key, in wpf app the focus will move to different controls in the window. and we have deactivated the app window using WS_EX_NOACTIVATE to fix one of the issues. after that default tab navigation is not working for that app window.

Could you please help/guide here to enable Tab navigation
Smrithi Surendran 61 Reputation points

2023-03-31T11:53:25.64+00:00

Hi @Hui Liu-MSFT ,

Thanks for your reply.
We didn't implement any specific code for tab navigation, also we have deactivated the app window using WS_EX_NOACTIVATE to make it always top on full screen games. But we have observed after providing the fix, the default tab navigation is not working in that app window.

Could you please help/guide here to enable Tab navigation.

Your answer

Viorel 125.6K Reputation points

2023-03-17T05:45:51.64+00:00

Maybe do not make it unfocusable and inactive if this causes problems.
Smrithi Surendran 61 Reputation points

2023-03-17T06:20:24.34+00:00

Thanks for reply
Could you please suggest a way to enable tab navigation with above mentioned code.
Jack J Jun 25,316 Reputation points

2023-03-17T08:04:13.4066667+00:00

@Smrithi Surendran, Welcome to Microsoft Q&A, what is your current app type, is wpf app or winui3 app?
Smrithi Surendran 61 Reputation points

2023-03-17T08:10:19.73+00:00

@Jack J Jun ,
It's a wpf application
Jack J Jun 25,316 Reputation points

2023-03-17T08:38:06.5166667+00:00

@Smrithi Surendran , thanks for the feedback, could you tell me how I reproduce your problem? Could you provide some steps or some code? BTW, I recommend that you use Code block to show your code instead of picture.
Smrithi Surendran 61 Reputation points

2023-03-20T05:16:42.47+00:00

Hi @Jack J Jun ,
Please consider the above given code for replicating the issue.

Please help/guide here
Hui Liu-MSFT 48,706 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-03-20T09:08:29.9666667+00:00

Hi,@Smrithi Surendran. I got the wrong System. ArgumentNullException: 'the Value always be null. (the Parameter' window ') ' when I test your code.

Do you have the same problem? Or did I miss something?

The error disappeared when I added thecode _windowHelper.Initialize(this); .

According to my test results, your code seems to work fine.

WindowHelper _windowHelper=new WindowHelper(); public AppWindow() { InitializeComponent(); this.ShowActivated = false; this.Focusable = false; FocusManager.SetIsFocusScope(this, false); _windowHelper.Initialize(this); //Removed window focus Application.Current.Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(() => _windowHelper.RemoveWindowFocus()); }

MainWindow.xaml.cs:

public MainWindow() { InitializeComponent(); AppWindow appWindow=new AppWindow(); appWindow.Show(); }

The result of test:
Hui Liu-MSFT 48,706 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-03-20T09:15:29.6066667+00:00

Hi,@Smrithi Surendran. Are the results consistent with your expectations? What are the actual results you get? And what are the steps to get the actual result?
Smrithi Surendran 61 Reputation points

2023-03-20T11:37:48.4333333+00:00

Hi @Hui Liu-MSFT ,
Tab navigation not working after making wpf app as noactive
Hui Liu-MSFT 48,706 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-03-21T02:38:07.63+00:00

Hi,@Smrithi Surendran. Do you press Tab on your keyboard to switch focus Windows? What is the code for your Tab navigation?
Smrithi Surendran 61 Reputation points

2023-03-21T05:11:58.43+00:00

Hi @Hui Liu-MSFT ,

I pressed Tab, but key events are not triggering as we are deactivating the WPF window using WS_EX_NOACTIVATE.

Could you please help/guide here to enable Tab navigation
Hui Liu-MSFT 48,706 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-03-21T09:02:39.3233333+00:00

Hi,@Smrithi Surendran.

What is the expected result of enabling Tab navigation? Does it press tab to switch focus window?

You didn't show me the code for your Tab event. I did not reproduce your problem using the following code, and AppWindow is not focused.

public partial class MainWindow : Window { AppWindow appWindow; public MainWindow() { InitializeComponent(); appWindow=new AppWindow(); appWindow.Show(); AddHandler(Keyboard.KeyDownEvent, (KeyEventHandler)HandleKeyDownEvent); } private void HandleKeyDownEvent(object sender, KeyEventArgs e) { if (e.Key == Key.Tab) { FocusOnWindow(0); } } WindowHelper _windowHelper = new WindowHelper(); private void FocusOnWindow(int currentIndex) { IEnumerable<Window> windows = Application.Current.Windows.OfType<Window>(); if (currentIndex < windows.Count() - 1) { Window w = windows.ElementAt(currentIndex + 1); w.ShowActivated = false; w.Focusable = false; FocusManager.SetIsFocusScope(w, false); _windowHelper.Initialize(w); Application.Current.Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(() => _windowHelper.RemoveWindowFocus()); } } }

]
Darga, Suresh - Dell Team 1 Reputation point

2023-03-21T13:15:55.5933333+00:00

Hi @Hui Liu-MSFT , we are not using any specific code for tab navigation, usually by default after pressing Tab key, in wpf app the focus will move to different controls in the window. and we have deactivated the app window using WS_EX_NOACTIVATE to fix one of the issues. after that default tab navigation is not working for that app window.

Could you please help/guide here to enable Tab navigation
Smrithi Surendran 61 Reputation points

2023-03-31T11:53:25.64+00:00

Hi @Hui Liu-MSFT ,

Thanks for your reply.
We didn't implement any specific code for tab navigation, also we have deactivated the app window using WS_EX_NOACTIVATE to make it always top on full screen games. But we have observed after providing the fix, the default tab navigation is not working in that app window.

Could you please help/guide here to enable Tab navigation.

Share via

Tab navigation not working after making wpf app as noactive.

Your answer