question about window focus and DOS compatibility

[garyusenet]

Hello,

I use a dos based application which runs on windows XP. When it is
executed it runs full screen. If I switch back to window while it's
running it minimises itself. It doesn't provide an option to window
itself and I can not resize the screen to see some of the desktop.

I have two questions please.

1. Is there anything I can program that will allow me to resize this
window? and have it running with focus, while I can see the rest of the
desktop?

2. Is it possible to create a small application that will run via a
hotkey and pop up over the top of the dos application when it is
running. I want to be able to enter a few bits of information into this
popup application and then close it and return to the dos application.
The thing is the information I want to enter into the popup application
is from the dos application so I need to be able to see the dos
application while entering the information in the popup application.

Any ideas? thoughts? or suggestions? would be very greatly appreciated

Thanks,

Gary.

 

[Michael A. Covington]

Hello,

I use a dos based application which runs on windows XP. When it is
executed it runs full screen. If I switch back to window while it's
running it minimises itself. It doesn't provide an option to window
itself and I can not resize the screen to see some of the desktop.

I wonder if either of 2 things is happening:

(1) It is using a video mode that Windows does not recognize; or
(2) Its properties have been set so that it can't be run in a window.

Right-click on the upper left corner of the window and check Properties.

 

[garyusenet]

Hello I just tried that but there is no title bar it is just full
screen, right click doesn't do anything... I don't even know if it is
dos based actually?

When i run it it goes full screen and it does seem to do something
strange with the video mode because if i alt-tab back to windows for a
couple of seconds everything is distorted and then windows gets the
resolution back properly.

Is it possible for a dos based program to behave like this? and if so,
how do i determine if this is a dos based program or not?

T I A

Gary

 

[Michael A. Covington]

Another thing you can do is make a shortcut to the .exe file and set
properties of the shortcut. Some properties specific to DOS programs will
appear on it.

I gather it's an .EXE file and it takes over the whole screen. What else
can you tell us about it? Is it a game? A vendor utility?

 

[Vincent]

Try holding down Alt and pressing enter while the DOS programme is in
full screen mode.