Help requested diagnosing this issue

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Free4all
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Help requested diagnosing this issue

#1 Post by Free4all » 08.01.2021, 07:53

Has anyone else experienced the issue in which you use FreeCommander to open a file, and then when you close the application that was opened to display/edit the file, the foreground window is no longer FreeCommander?

The issue seems to be quite random, and so it has been very difficult to develop consistent steps to reproduce.

The basic steps are:

1. Launch FreeCommander as a maximized window
2. Launch another application as a maximized window
3. Go back to the FreeCommander window
4. Open any file using FreeCommander (a text file is sufficient)
5. Close the application that was opened in step 4
6. Notice that the FreeCommander window is not displayed

If that doesn't ever reproduce the issue for you, try swapping steps 1 and 2.

I experience the aforementioned issue about 20%-30% of the time. Specifically, I have noticed it many times when Step 4 involves opening a text file with Notepad++.

Sometimes the issue will happen 5 times consecutively, and then repeating the identical steps will result in everything suddenly start working correctly.

Thanks for you help in trying to fully diagnose and document this issue so it can hopefully be fixed.

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Dreamer
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Re: Help requested diagnosing this issue

#2 Post by Dreamer » 08.01.2021, 22:10

First - FC version, Windows version, read the topic "How to report a bug", link below.

Try to test it with default settings, hints in the same topic.

Try it with other programs, perhaps you could write the other program which if maximized too and program for txt files.

Are you using mouse or keyboard, perhaps try it with both.

Check if the file you're opening is fully shown, has no tooltip, I had a similar bug like this with internal viewer, but in window mode and just for few seconds FC was inactive.

Free4all
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Re: Help requested diagnosing this issue

#3 Post by Free4all » 09.01.2021, 04:32

Given that I am likely the #1 bug reporter for FreeCommander in recent years, I think I'm pretty good at actually reporting bugs, don't you?

This isn't a bug report. It's asking for help getting enough details to report an issue accurately.

I tested using FreeCommander version 840 donor 64-bit on Win7, but my notes indicate that I've experienced this issue before that release.

Since this issue does not reveal itself all the time, it is very time consuming to do this work all alone, and without any compensation at all. I could really use some help.

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Dreamer
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Re: Help requested diagnosing this issue

#4 Post by Dreamer » 09.01.2021, 13:32

It looks as a bug, possibly FC or Windows bug, but it doesn't matter, FC and Windows version is important here too.

I tried to help, with some hints and questions, try to read them again. For example, the names of the other programs, or at least if they are standard programs or Windows applications...

It would he helpful to test with programs everyone can test. I can't reproduce the issue/behavior in FC 840 donor 64-bit (and 840 public 32-bit), also with default settings, Windows 10 20H2 64-bit, testing programs: Windows Explorer (maximized), txt file opened in Notepad, with mouse and Enter.

BTW For donor version, "FreeCommander XE - donor" forums should be used (except the Feature Requests).

Free4all
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Re: Help requested diagnosing this issue

#5 Post by Free4all » 10.01.2021, 05:46

I agree, it's definitely a bug. Although it's possible, I doubt it's a Windows bug.

Whether or not it's a FreeCommander bug, I'm not certain. I think it's most likely a FreeCommander bug or a Notepad++ bug.

That circles around to your request of another application to use for testing. As I wrote in my initial post, I see this issue happen frequently when Notepad++ is launched by FreeCommander. This occurs when pressing enter or double-clicking on an associated file. You wanted a test app that everyone could download freely, and Notepad++ definitely fits the bill. It is 100% open-source and free to download.

The author's download page is here:
https://notepad-plus-plus.org/downloads/
and all the source code is publicly available for free here:
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus

I performed all testing with the 32-bit portable version of Notepad++, as it is more memory efficient than the 64-bit version, and I have yet to find any benefit to using the 64-bit version.

On the other hand, I performed all testing using the 64-bit portable version of FreeCommander, because the 64-bit version does have some benefits.

During testing, I initially had the following settings checked on the "General" page of FreeCommander settings:
  • Allow only one instance
  • Minimize to system tray
  • Handle closing as minimization
  • Always show system tray icon
  • Delete history entries on close
I have confirmed this issue many times (over 100) on Windows 7; I no longer use Windows 10, so I have no testing data for that OS regarding this issue at this time.

I chose to post here because the version of FreeCommander I used for testing is currently the same as the non-donor release, version 840 (although I am using the donor 64-bit variant). Also, I did not want to exclude people who were willing to lend a hand but who do not read the Donor forum because they have chosen not to donate.

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alf5000
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Re: Help requested diagnosing this issue

#6 Post by alf5000 » 10.01.2021, 09:46

@Free4all: cannot confirm

my machine:
(Win10x64) -- (FCXEx64 840 portable) -- (Notepad++ x32 portable)

I've used Win7x64 long years until recently and I didn't have 'your' problems

btw my FCXE-settings:
Image[/img]
(win10pro x64) - (latest FCXE x64 portable)

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Dreamer
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Re: Help requested diagnosing this issue

#7 Post by Dreamer » 10.01.2021, 17:27

It's not easy for me to test, since I have another OS.

Anyway, if you're not sure if it's a FC, Windows, or Notepad++, you can try to reproduce it with FC+Notepad, Windows Explorer+Notepad++, Windows Explorer+Notepad.

Free4all
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Re: Help requested diagnosing this issue

#8 Post by Free4all » 11.01.2021, 07:39

alf5000 wrote: 10.01.2021, 09:46 my machine:
(Win10x64) -- (FCXEx64 840 portable) -- (Notepad++ x32 portable)
Thanks. Which version of Notepad++ x32 portable did you test with?

I tested with v7.9.1 and v7.9.2.

Win10 has different windows management code from Win7, so testing on Win7 is likely necessary.

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alf5000
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Re: Help requested diagnosing this issue

#9 Post by alf5000 » 11.01.2021, 10:36

Notepad++ 7.8.5

After my upgrade to Win10 (~3weeks ago) I can't do tests on Win7 any more but I'm more than sure that there weren't problems like yours.
(win10pro x64) - (latest FCXE x64 portable)

Free4all
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Re: Help requested diagnosing this issue

#10 Post by Free4all » 12.01.2021, 10:55

alf5000 wrote: 11.01.2021, 10:36 Notepad++ 7.8.5

After my upgrade to Win10 (~3weeks ago) I can't do tests on Win7 any more but I'm more than sure that there weren't problems like yours.
Since that version of Notepad++ is over 10 months old, unfortunately, it's like comparing apples to oranges. There have been 7 releases of Notepad++ since that version was released.

Since you can't test on the same OS on which I'm experiencing this issue, and your version of Notepad++ is so outdated, I don't think we can draw any relevant conclusions from your experiences. I do appreciate you trying to help though.

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Dreamer
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Re: Help requested diagnosing this issue

#11 Post by Dreamer » 12.01.2021, 21:00

We can't test winh Windows 7, but as I said, you can test the other programs and find, where is the problem, just replace Notepad++ with notepad and FC with Explorer and test with the same steps.
Dreamer wrote: 10.01.2021, 17:27Anyway, if you're not sure if it's a FC, Windows, or Notepad++, you can try to reproduce it with FC+Notepad, Windows Explorer+Notepad++, Windows Explorer+Notepad.

Free4all
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Re: Help requested diagnosing this issue

#12 Post by Free4all » 13.01.2021, 08:11

Dreamer wrote: 12.01.2021, 21:00 We can't test winh Windows 7, but as I said, you can test the other programs and find, where is the problem, just replace Notepad++ with notepad and FC with Explorer and test with the same steps.
Dreamer wrote: 10.01.2021, 17:27Anyway, if you're not sure if it's a FC, Windows, or Notepad++, you can try to reproduce it with FC+Notepad, Windows Explorer+Notepad++, Windows Explorer+Notepad.
When I have enough time, which is not now. It's not as simple and quick as you imply because the bug does not happen 100% of the time. Hopefully others have a little time to help right now, but I currently have a full plate. If you want, you can create a Win7 partition to test.

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