Message window does not always appear on top

[supraspecies]

OK, here's the problem I'm encountering. Sometimes when my script calls up a message after the installation of some program, the message appears in the background rather than foreground. I'm not clicking on any windows (I'm not doing any clicking at all) and it doesn't matter whether I use simple MsgBox or GUI. It happens rarely, but it happens. I know I can use TopMost attribute, I know I can use WinSetActive, but that's not what I'm asking here. The only thing I want to know is whether it's an AutoIt bug, or Windows' bug.
 I just want to find the cause for this issue. Personally, I suspect it's something in Windows.

OS: Windows 7 SP1 x64.

[JohnOne]

It's more likely to be a script bug.

[Jos]

Not sure what you are considering as a bug as any other window can be create or setting it's attribute to TopMost.
So what exactly would you expect from a plain MsgBox()?

Jos

[supraspecies]

@ JohnOne

It's doubtful that it's a script bug, as it happens only sometimes, and where would that bug be if all I do is call an MsgBox like MsgBox(0,'','').

@ Jos

Yeah, any window can be TopMost, but that doesn't explain why would my MsgBox appear behind an already existing window which is not set as TopMost. Specifically, behind a simple open folder window.

Edited July 23, 2015 by supraspecies

[tweakster2010]

I've seen this but its normally as msgbox or UAC is prompting for me while im clicking onto another screen and at work I use W7 Sp1 32 and 64 so I dont think its an OS bug. I would definitely agree its odd behavior though. I just learned to stop clicking when I know a box is due to come and my issue doesn't happen.

 

Maybe some more details onto what the entirety of a script that does that might help maybe spot a line or something causing it? 

[supraspecies]

@ tweakster2010
 

Afraid that's not it then, as I wasn't doing any clicking when I've seen this behavior. And my UAC is off.

 

Here is the whole script. It's a wrapper for the installer of software called "Tunngle". My script pre-installs my settings, custom GUI skin for Tunngle and bypasses some annoying messages during installation:

expandcollapse popup

#notrayicon
#include <Misc.au3>
#include <Process.au3>
_Singleton("Tunngle Installer", 0)


$var1 = RegRead('HKLM64\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Tunngle_is1', 'InstallLocation')
   If $var1="" then
      $var1 = RegRead('HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Tunngle_is1', 'InstallLocation')
   EndIf
If ProcessExists ('tunngle.exe') Or ProcessExists ('TnglCtrl.exe') Then
   $msg = MsgBox (16, "Setup", "Tunngle is still running. Please shut it down before proceeding with installation.")
   Exit
   EndIf
RegWrite("HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net\Tunngle", "Skin", "REG_SZ", "Tunngle HD")
RegWrite("HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net\Tunngle", "PlaySound", "REG_DWORD", "0")
RegWrite("HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net\Tunngle", "SAFV_ClientClose", "REG_DWORD", "1")
RegWrite("HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net\Tunngle", "SAFV_ExternalLink", "REG_DWORD", "0")
RegWrite("HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net\Tunngle", "SAFV_NewVersion", "REG_DWORD", "0")
RegWrite("HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net\Tunngle", "SB_Register", "REG_DWORD", "1")
RegWrite("HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net\Tunngle", "SAFVB_LifetimeOffer1", "REG_DWORD", "1")
RegWrite("HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net\Tunngle", "SAFVB_LifetimeOffer2", "REG_DWORD", "1")
RegWrite("HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net\Tunngle", "SAFV_ZoneFW", "REG_DWORD", "1")
RegWrite("HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net\Tunngle", "SB_JoinNet", "REG_DWORD", "1")
RegWrite("HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net\Tunngle", "SAFV_WizardStartup", "REG_DWORD", "1")
RegWrite("HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net\Tunngle", "SAFV_WizardBeforeLogin", "REG_DWORD", "1")
RegWrite("HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net\Tunngle", "SortNicks", "REG_DWORD", "1")
DirCreate(@tempdir & "\Tunngle_Setup")
DirCreate(@DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins")
DirCreate(@DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD")
DirCreate(@AppDataDir & "\Tunngle")
FileInstall("cfg_13080811.ini", @AppDataDir & "\Tunngle\cfg_13080811.ini")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD.cfg", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD.cfg")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD.skf", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD.skf")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD.skn", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD.skn")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\findex_ico_button.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\findex_ico_button.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\ico_mute.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\ico_mute.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\ico_soundon.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\ico_soundon.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\msg_ico_group_closed.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\msg_ico_group_closed.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\msg_ico_group_empty.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\msg_ico_group_empty.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\msg_ico_group_opened.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\msg_ico_group_opened.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\qbutton_blog.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\qbutton_blog.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\qbutton_events.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\qbutton_events.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\qbutton_facebook.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\qbutton_facebook.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\qbutton_favorite.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\qbutton_favorite.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\qbutton_forum.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\qbutton_forum.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\qbutton_google+.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\qbutton_google+.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\qbutton_home.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\qbutton_home.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\qbutton_lobby.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\qbutton_lobby.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\qbutton_privnet.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\qbutton_privnet.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\qbutton_twitter.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\qbutton_twitter.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle HD\qbutton_youtube.bmp", @DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins\Tunngle HD\qbutton_youtube.bmp")
FileInstall("Tunngle_Setup.exe", @TempDir & "\Tunngle_Setup\Tunngle_Setup.exe", 1)
ShellExecute(@tempdir & "\Tunngle_Setup\Tunngle_Setup.exe", "/NORESTART", @tempdir & "\Tunngle_Setup")

WinWait("[TITLE:Select Setup Language; CLASS:TSelectLanguageForm]","Select the language to use during the installation")
ControlClick("[TITLE:Select Setup Language; CLASS:TSelectLanguageForm]","Select the language to use during the installation","TNewButton1")

WinWait("[TITLE:Setup; CLASS:#32770]","Creating a Windows System Restore Point")
ControlClick("[TITLE:Setup; CLASS:#32770]","Creating a Windows System Restore Point","[ID:7]")

WinWait("[TITLE:Setup - Tunngle; CLASS:TWizardForm]","Welcome to the Tunngle Setup Wizard")
ControlClick("[TITLE:Setup - Tunngle; CLASS:TWizardForm]","Welcome to the Tunngle Setup Wizard","TNewButton1")

WinWait("[TITLE:Setup; CLASS:#32770]","Would you like setup to check if a newer version")
ControlClick("[TITLE:Setup; CLASS:#32770]","Would you like setup to check if a newer version","[ID:7]")

WinWait("[TITLE:Setup - Tunngle; CLASS:TWizardForm]","How should Tunngle be installed?")
ControlDisable("[TITLE:Setup - Tunngle; CLASS:TWizardForm]","How should Tunngle be installed?","TNewButton1")

ProcessWaitClose('Tunngle_Setup.exe')


$var2 = RegRead('HKLM64\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Tunngle_is1', 'InstallLocation')
   If $var2="" then
      $var2 = RegRead('HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Tunngle_is1', 'InstallLocation')
   EndIf
If $var2 == "" Then
DirRemove(@DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle\Skins", 1)
DirRemove(@DocumentsCommonDir & "\Tunngle")
DirRemove(@AppDataDir & "\Tunngle", 1)
RegDelete("HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net\Tunngle")

RegEnumKey ('HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net', 1)
$nokeys=(@error=-1)
RegEnumVal ('HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net', 1)
$novalues=(@error=-1)
If $nokeys And $novalues Then RegDelete ('HKCU\Software\Tunngle.net')

Else
ShellExecute($var2 & '\Tunngle.exe', '',  $var2)  
EndIf
EndIf

If $var1='' And $var2<>'' Then
   $msg = MsgBox (68, "Tunngle Setup", "To complete the installation of Tunngle, your computer must be restarted." & @CRLF & @CRLF & "Would you like to restart now?")
      IF $msg=6 then
      Shutdown(2)
   EndIf
   EndIf

 

The very last part of the script. It doesn't really have a direct connection to anything else, that's why I didn't post the whole script. As I said, I've seen this behavior multiple times in various different scripts of mine.

Edited July 23, 2015 by supraspecies

[MilesAhead]

I can remember that happening to me a lot when programming using MFC.  The messagebox would display but it was behind the application window.  It happened often enough that I made my messageboxes System Modal.

 

[kylomas]

supraspecies,

By default MSGBOX is modal (I believe) so I suspect a timing issue.  The solution from MilesAhead should solve your problem.

Here is a discussion of dialog box types.

kylomas

Edited July 24, 2015 by kylomas
clarification

[supraspecies]

Yes, System Modal bypasses that issue, thank you, MilesAhead. And thanks kylomas for more insight on this, it explains a lot.

[BrewManNH]

You should add the $MB_SYSTEMMODAL value to it to make sure it's set to TOPMOST

MB_SYSTEMMODAL 0x00001000L

Same as MB_APPLMODAL except that the message box has the WS_EX_TOPMOST style. Use system-modal message boxes to notify the user of serious, potentially damaging errors that require immediate attention (for example, running out of memory). This flag has no effect on the user's ability to interact with windows other than those associated with hWnd.