Only one click to change focus and activate something?

Lamberto Vitali · May 21, 2023

The inconsistency is annoying. The having to tell things to do something twice is annoying. Please tell me there's a tweak, some kind of third party program to sort this basic interface screwup.

Two programs, one in focus. Click on the one not in focus, it comes into focus, but doesn't react! I clicked a button in it, why didn't it react? Even worse, some do, and some don't! It's pure insanity, if I'm in a room of people I don't have to go and greet you first before I can ask you to close the door.

I've found wonderful programs to fix the taskbar, the file explorer, the start menu, even the way the mouse behaves across multiple monitors. Surely there must be a focus click fixer?

Edwin · May 21, 2023

Lamberto Vitali said:
Click on the one not in focus, it comes into focus, but doesn't react!

MS Office is the worst for that!!!

glasskuter · May 21, 2023

Lamberto Vitali said:
some do, and some don't.....I've found wonderful programs to fix the taskbar, the file explorer, the start menu, even the way the mouse behaves across multiple monitors. Surely there must be a focus click fixer?

I'm on 22621.1702 and do not experience the issues you describe. The only thing that comes to mind are you may be on a different version than me, since some do and some don't you may have some sort of software conflict, or your third party apps (as in plural) are causing it. See if the issue remains in clean boot.

Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts

This tutorial will show you how to perform a clean boot to start Windows 10 or Windows 11 using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs for troubleshooting application conflicts. Troubleshooting Windows can be a complex process due to the many different drivers, settings, and programs...

www.elevenforum.com

Lamberto Vitali · May 21, 2023

glasskuter said:
I'm on 22621.1702 and do not experience the issues you describe. The only thing that comes to mind are you may be on a different version than me, since some do and some don't you may have some sort of software conflict, or your third party apps (as in plural) are causing it. See if the issue remains in clean boot.

Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts

This tutorial will show you how to perform a clean boot to start Windows 10 or Windows 11 using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs for troubleshooting application conflicts. Troubleshooting Windows can be a complex process due to the many different drivers, settings, and programs...

www.elevenforum.com

No, this isn't a broken machine. They all do it, every single Windows computer I've used of every version, many not my own. You need to try a few different apps. Some do, some don't. I'll try some you may have for examples:

These work, as in they react aswell as coming into focus:
Notepad, clicking a menu, or clicking somewhere in the text to move the cursor.
Chrome, clicking something on a webpage.

These do not work, as in you click somewhere in them, they go into focus, but don't respond to the click:
MS Word, clicking somewhere in the text to move the cursor.
Wordpad, clicking somewhere in the text to move the cursor.

MS programs are the main culprits, but as you can see they forgot to break Notepad. Note I'm using the original notepad, not the new one which appeared about a month ago with tabs, which I absolutely hated so uninstalled.

Lamberto Vitali · May 21, 2023

Edwin said:
MS Office is the worst for that!!!

Indeed, I get really annoyed when I copy some text from elsewhere, then try to click somewhere in Office to paste it, then make a thorough mess. What buffoon designed this gross stupidity?

So, any 3rd party fixes? I'm using startallback and display fusion, but unfortunately they don't have this function. Display fusion is brilliant with multiple monitors, the mouse doesn't snag on the edges if your screens are different sizes, and dialog boxes don't open on the wrong screen. I have a feeling I'm going to get to love it then have to pay after 30 days :-( I hate paying for things but display fusion doesn't seem to have a workaround.

Dru2 · May 21, 2023

glasskuter said:
I'm on 22621.1702 and do not experience the issues you describe.

Neither do I and I'm on the same version as seen below my avatar.

Lamberto Vitali said:
You need to try a few different apps. Some do, some don't. I'll try some you may have for examples:

Anyway, when apps are responding like that, that's usually an indication your PC is using a lot of resources/memory. Have you examined Task Manager?

And, despite what @Edwin says, I've no "focus" issues with my Office 365 suite, and especially Word, Excel, and Outlook of which I use every day. You can also throw in OneNote, and yes.... Edge.

Edwin · May 21, 2023

Dru2 said:
... I've no "focus" issues with my Office 365 suite

I do! One right click at about 3 seconds, brings the window into focus, as you can see by the Title Bar icons brightening up..., then a second right click at about 5 seconds and I can actually perform an action!

It's always been like that, can't perform an action without 2 clicks!

Only happens with Office Apps.

Dru2 · May 21, 2023

Yeah, I'm not going to post a video, but trust me, mine definitely doesn't have that delay. And certainly no 3 second delays.

I'm running the Office 365 suite with apps locally installed. None of what you show is happening here. Doing what you're doing instantly brings up the right click menu

I don't mean no harm, but are you sure that issue isn't from your customized system and mouse pointer?

Edwin · May 21, 2023

Dru2 said:
And certainly no 3 second delays.

The seconds have nothing to do with it, that's just the delay I gave it shoot the GIF, the issue is simply that it takes 2 clciks to perform any action in the app.

Dru2 said:
... but are you sure that issue isn't from your customized system and mouse pointer?

Absolutely sure. Acts the same way with or without customizations.

Lamberto Vitali · May 21, 2023

Let's forget Office, there are countless versions, mine says something like LTSC and I've no idea what that means.

We all have the same version of Wordpad. Open Wordpad and the browser you're reading this in and have them both visible. In Wordpad have a line of text written. Put the cursor at the end. Now put the browser in focus. Now click earlier in the line of text in wordpad. The cursor will still be at the end! This is just wrong!

Lamberto Vitali · May 21, 2023

Dru2 said:
Anyway, when apps are responding like that, that's usually an indication your PC is using a lot of resources/memory. Have you examined Task Manager?

I can tell the difference between a slow PC and one which does something different to what I ask. I can't believe you wrote that. even if I was using a 486, on a decent app (non-MS) it would do as I ask, just slower. With MS, it never does it.

Dru2 · May 21, 2023

@Edwin

Edwin said:
The seconds have nothing to do with it, that's just the delay I gave it shoot the GIF, the issue is simply that it takes 2 clciks to perform any action in the app.

Absolutely sure. Acts the same way with or without customizations.

My video....

Simply right click and go. No delays here.

Dru2 · May 21, 2023

Lamberto Vitali said:
I can tell the difference between a slow PC and one which does something different to what I ask. I can't believe you wrote that. even if I was using a 486, on a decent app (non-MS) it would do as I ask, just slower. With MS, it never does it.

I don't know you or your tech level so I'm going to ask questions. If that's an issue perhaps a forum isn't for you.

Sorry, that's how I operate - ask questions while trying to help.

Edwin · May 21, 2023

Dru2 said:
Simply right click and go. No delays here.

But your Blank Document Word window already had focus..., with it open, go to another app, browser maybe, copy something, then see if you can paste right away in one right click.

Edwin · May 21, 2023

My video...

Dru2 · May 21, 2023

Edwin said:
But your Blank Document Word window already had focus..., with it open, go to another app, browser maybe, copy something, then see if you can paste right away in one right click.

Uhhh... Word, as are the other apps on the taskbar are "pinned" apps, so yes.... Word was opened from scratch as shown in the video. Additionally, you might also take a closer look at the video and note the first action done was pasting of a link.

Outside of that I don't know what more I can say other than I don't have the issue. And you can hear the mouse clicks in the video, and at each mouse click the menus immediately show.

At any rate as I don't have the issue, I still provided a suggestion but that was shot down, so I have nothing further to add.

Peace

Edwin · May 21, 2023

Dru2 said:
Additionally, you might also take a closer look at the video and note the first action done was pasting of a link.

Yes, I realize that but, prior to your right click action, you never took focus away from the Word window.

Edwin · May 21, 2023

Aaaanyway!
Sorry if I missed something, maybe I'm just not gettin it!

It's a small annoyance, but hey..., if you're good, I'm good!

Wynona · May 21, 2023

Dru2 said:
Neither do I and I'm on the same version as seen below my avatar.

Anyway, when apps are responding like that, that's usually an indication your PC is using a lot of resources/memory. Have you examined Task Manager?

And, despite what @Edwin says, I've no "focus" issues with my Office 365 suite, and especially Word, Excel, and Outlook of which I use every day. You can also throw in OneNote, and yes.... Edge.

I'm with you, Dru. No Focus problems for me. In fact, I've never had any of the problems the OP has described.

I also use my computer daily, and especially Microsoft 365. I tested WordPad and Word and had no problems.

Lamberto Vitali · May 21, 2023

Dru2 said:
I don't know you or your tech level so I'm going to ask questions. If that's an issue perhaps a forum isn't for you.

Sorry, that's how I operate - ask questions while trying to help.

But you made a weird assumption my computer was broken, when I was talking about the way the interface was designed.

Dru2 said:
Uhhh... Word, as are the other apps on the taskbar are "pinned" apps, so yes.... Word was opened from scratch as shown in the video. Additionally, you might also take a closer look at the video and note the first action done was pasting of a link.

Outside of that I don't know what more I can say other than I don't have the issue. And you can hear the mouse clicks in the video, and at each mouse click the menus immediately show.

At any rate as I don't have the issue, I still provided a suggestion but that was shot down, so I have nothing further to add.

Peace

You're missing the point entirely, you have not tried to recreate what myself and Edwin are seeing. You need TWO apps open. You're only using Word! The whole point is if ANOTHER app is in focus. Then trying to use Word requires TWO clicks, one to bring Word to focus, and one to give Word the instruction.

Only one click to change focus and activate something?

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