In 0.9 beta 10, sometimes when I use a global hotkey for playlist search, the window doesn't become focused. Although it, as well as the window that really has focus, does appear to be (title bar color, blinking text cursor).

Isn't that the best thing about global hotkeys? The fact that you can change tracks without bringing foobar to focus!

I'm talking about the playlist search window, not foobar.

Before beta 9 or 10 (I didn't install 9 so I don't know exactly from which one) shortcut key for playlist search (global) popped up this dialog window in front of all opened windows (this was usefull to select a song while playing quake 3 etc...) But right now it does not put it in front and this is really bad.


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I'm using the Feb 24th RC and I can confirm this bug.

I've bound ctrl+shift+j globally to the Edit -> Search function, and it does pop up, but it doesn't get focus or even pop up on top of other windows. This means we have to minimize all of our other windows to do a quick search anyway. Also the Playlist Search window itself always pops up in the top left corner of the screen. (or the top-left corner of foobar2000 when it isn't minimized).

In other words, the Playlist Search window doesn't pop up on top (or with focus), and it doesn't remember window positions anymore.

More than just blatantly bumping the topic, I'll report that the bug has unfortunately made its way into 0.9 final.
The "playlist manager" component pops up in a similar fashion, and a little testing reveals it's a victim of the same bug. The playlist manager remembers its window position though, while the search box doesn't.

I just noticed there's a 0.9.1 Beta 1 available for download. I couldn't find a changelog for it, but I tested it, and the window focus/positions bug is still there. I promise you won't hear from me again on this issue until 0.9.1 final (or if the bug gets fixed)

Just wanted to add my voice to the requests to have this fixed in the next version. 90% of my use of foobar is through a global search hotkey with foobar minimised. With this bug, it totally defeats the point of having a global search hotkey.

Thanks

I'll add my name to the list of people who want this fixed ASAP! This is one of my favorite features with foobar, being able to quickly find and play a song with just a few keystrokes. PLEASE FIX THIS!

-Mike

I think I've a little workaround for this issue. Perhaps it helps someone of you. However, you've to download and install an extra program (named AutoHotkey).

The idea is to write a script, which activates the "playlist search" window after it has popped up. AutoHotkey provides an own scripting language with which you are able to map a lot of great functions to almost any key combination you wish. In this case I used it to activate the "playlist search" window right after it has popped up.

Here's what you have to do:

1.) Set a global hotkey in foobar for calling the "playlist search" window (in my case it's ctrl-j)
2.) Download and install latest version of AutoHotkey from http://www.autohotkey.com/download/
3.) Create a new text file with notepad or any other editor and insert the following script code:



4.) The above script code is only suitable if you use ctrl-j as global hotkey for playlist search (like I do). If you've set another hotkey in foobar, you've to replace the two "^j" by your hotkey combination. ^ is the symbol for the CTRL key in the scripting language of AutoHotkey. # is the placeholder for the windows key, ! stands for ALT and + for SHIFT. You can just combine them to create the key combination you need. For example if you've set in foobar the key combination SHIFT-ALT-7 you would have to replace the two "^j" by "+!7"

5.) Save the file as foobarworkaround.ahk or something else. The name isn't important but the ending has to be ".ahk"!

6.) Start this file by double clicking it. I don't know if a restart of windows after the setup of AutoHotkey is needed for this step to work properly, so just try. If you can see a little green icon with an "H" on it in your system tray the script has loaded succesfully. Now test the script by pressing your global hotkey for playlist search. The playlist search window should pop up and you should be able to type in a search immediately.

The above script works for me. If you encounter problems with this workaround let me hear and I'll try to help you.

Hope this helps a bit till the bug is fixed.

[edit]: added $ in script right before the hotkey setting. Prevents the script for starting an infinite loop, if Playlist search window doesn't open. Seems to happen sometimes. Maybe another bug in global hotkeys setting of foobar?

Cool workaround, I'll have to try this if the next build doesn't have the bug fixed. I can't help but think this thread is getting ignored because of the 0.9b10 tag in the title... Maybe we'll have to make a new thread soon