Focus From Firefox to Outlook

[Stecyk]

Hi Folks,

I am using Windows XP and currently have two applications running: Outlook and Firefox. While viewing Firefox, I have been switched occasionally to Outlook. In other words, while simply reading text on a website using Firefox, the focus has automatically switched to Outlook.

I just noticed this happening today. It might have happened very infrequently before, nothing to ever take note of.

Can someone point me in the right direction as to determine what is causing this loss of focus?

Thank you.

Regards,
Kevin

[Stecyk]

It appears to be something in Firefox. I opened up Windows Task Manager, and when I got the hourglass cursor, which immediately precedes the change in focus, I looked at the processes. I noted once, so far, that at the hourglass, Firefox had jumped up in CPU from its normal <5% to about 65%. So something is happening there.

I do have a lot of tabs open, about 25 or so. Some take a while to refresh, notably WSJ and FT. Perhaps one of those is causing grief.

I am also using (always used) Tabbrowser Extensions. It is not the most friendly of extensions, though I do like it. As I was writing this message, I noticed that Firefox again climbed to the top of the CPU, and once again, I lost focus. So it has something to do with Firefox and the windows I have open.

If anyone has any thoughts, I am certainly interested. :safegrin:

[Adam]

Do you have both windows maximized? Are you using a laptop?

I had silly focus problems once, and turns out it was my palm catching on the laptop's touch pad and activating the "touch click" feature most of them have.

Also, which version of Firefox are you using?

[Adam]

Just another thought... have you forced any windows that would naturally open in a new window to open in a tab instead. What if one of those, say something like a "compose mail" feature was set to autosave and close or something?

I'm probably way off but just throwing out ideas :)

[kitchin]

I don't like programs that steal focus. Is Outlook doing that when new mail comes in?

[Stecyk]

Do you have both windows maximized? Are you using a laptop?

I had silly focus problems once, and turns out it was my palm catching on the laptop's touch pad and activating the "touch click" feature most of them have.

Also, which version of Firefox are you using?

Hi Adam, Yes, both windows are maximized. No, using a desktop. So nothing about touching should come into play. :smile:

[Stecyk]

Just another thought... have you forced any windows that would naturally open in a new window to open in a tab instead. What if one of those, say something like a "compose mail" feature was set to autosave and close or something?

I'm probably way off but just throwing out ideas :)

No, the problem occured earlier when I had just Outlook and Firefox 1.5.0.8 open. I had other stuff running in the background such as Norton AV and stuff. But that has always been there. Hmmmmm...

[Stecyk]

I don't like programs that steal focus. Is Outlook doing that when new mail comes in?

Oddly enough, Outlook isn't doing anything when this happens. At least I don't think it is. I just notice that I get an hourglass on Firefox 1.5.0.8 and then, boom, I am in Outlook. I fired up Windows Task Manager and noticed that when the hourglass hits, Firefox CPU goes to 65 or something. It almost seems to me that something in Firefox gets frustrated and kicks me out to Outlook.

I have been doing some work this evening with Excel and PowerPoint open, in addition to Outlook and Firefox. If I am using Firefox and the focus shifts, I go to Outlook. Now that I think of it, I haven't had the focus shift while using Excel nor PowerPoint.

If this keeps up, I am going to upgrade to Firefox 2.0 and see if that helps. The reason for not upgrading is that Tabbrowser Extensions is not yet offered for version 2. Might just have to find something else.

[Dale Ward]

You're correct that the problem seems to be with Firefox. I'm using the same version you are and I've had the focus either go to another app or just back to the desktop (by minimizing Firefox). And, I don't even have Outlook installed on my box, so it's definitely not that.

Unfortunately, I can't even offer a clue as to what the problem might be. So far, though, it seems to be harmless, albeit annoying.

[Adam]

Considering a there are no obvious results when you search for this, it might be worth submitting to https://bugzilla.mozilla.org.

I did a quick search there for bugs about "focus" but didn't see anything that stands out.

[Stecyk]

So far today, the problem hasn't occurred. I am not sure what to make of this.

Last night I completed a full system scan for viruses and spyware using Norton. According to Norton, the PC was and remains clean as a whistle. After the scan, rebooted the pc and everything seems more or less normal. So I will continue to monitor it and see what happens.

Thanks everyone for your input. :smile: