Synergy minimizes full screen programs on Windows

[aristizabal95 8]

I'm having this problem whenever I switch from one screen to another while running a fullscreen program on my windows. The program either gets minimized completely, or the computer brings the taskbar upfront. This happens whether my windows behaves as a client or a server. This is really frustrating since I lose focus of the program I'm running.

How to replicate

Open a browser on a windows with synergy 2

press F11 or make the browser full screen

Switch screens

Taskbar should show on top until the user returns to the windows computer

[JLJTGR 3]

This used to be avoided by a Synergy setting called "Don't take foreground window on Windows servers".

Without any settings interface in Synergy 2 we have no obvious way to configure this, but it is still a setting.  Synergy 2's configuration can be found at %LOCALAPPDATA%\Symless\Synergy\synergy.conf and the setting you want is "win32KeepForeground = true".

To keep the changes you will need to modify the file properties to Read-only or else Synergy2 will overwrite your changes when it next launches.  Speaking of, you need to restart the Synergy service in order for the setting to take effect at all.  (or reboot)

[aristizabal95 8]

10 hours ago, JLJTGR said:

This used to be avoided by a Synergy setting called "Don't take foreground window on Windows servers".

Without any settings interface in Synergy 2 we have no obvious way to configure this, but it is still a setting.  Synergy 2's configuration can be found at %LOCALAPPDATA%\Symless\Synergy\synergy.conf and the setting you want is "win32KeepForeground = true".

To keep the changes you will need to modify the file properties to Read-only or else Synergy2 will overwrite your changes when it next launches.  Speaking of, you need to restart the Synergy service in order for the setting to take effect at all.  (or reboot)

 

This fixed my problem! I'm hoping Synergy 2.1 adds all the configuration synergy1 had, as most of the problems I'm having are due to a lack of configuration. Thanks for posting the solution

[MichaelDaCova 0]

On 22/11/2017 at 7:17 PM, aristizabal95 said:

I'm having this problem whenever I switch from one screen to another while running a fullscreen program on my windows. The program either gets minimized completely, or the computer brings the taskbar upfront. This happens whether my windows behaves as a client or a server. This is really frustrating since I lose focus of the program I'm running.

How to replicate

Open a browser on a windows with synergy 2

press F11 or make the browser full screen

Switch screens

Taskbar should show on top until the user returns to the windows computer

seems to work ok for me windows 10 pro 

[MichaelDaCova 0]

Just now, MichaelDaCova said:

seems to work ok for me windows 10 pro 

to add works ok the pc that is the server, but not the client 

[James Ketner 1]

You saved me from going back to version 1 thanks a lot!

[James Ketner 1]

So I have tried to make this change permanent but i went into properties and clicked "read only" but every time i turn my computer on it still does not work, until i reset the service manually. Can someone please help with how to make this not happen? Thank you in advance 

[JLJTGR 3]

Unfortunately I reverted to v1 for other reasons, so I can't test any advice.  It worked for me back in November but maybe they have made additional changes.

[James Ketner 1]

Thanks a lot for the fast reply, I guess i will have to keep messing with it. I am honestly blown away by this v2 after only a day. I can not see any reason on earth why they would take away ALL settings from this. I get they want it to be "auto config" but the only people using this program are people who have a basic understanding of computers. Can't see some Grandma with her triple monitor 2+ computer setup being grateful that they took all the "confusing settings" out of v2. haha i don't get it lol

[JLJTGR 3]

Now that I think about it... the v1 service starts before Windows login and then restarts when the user logs in.  Maybe v2 starts with the configuration not in a user's folder but somewhere else.  Try looking in the following location:

"C:\ProgramData\Symless\Synergy"

At worst case, you could use a Windows task to restart the service when your user logs in.

[aristizabal95 8]

Following the discussion, I could'nt find any settings on neither of this directories:

C:\ProgramData\Symless\Synergy -> Doesn't exist.

C:\ProgramData\Synergy

C:\ProgramData(x64)\Synergy

Seems like config can only be found on the directory @JLJTGR pointed first.

From my experience, ever since I did this change I've had no problems concerning full-screen apps minimizing on my windows client.

However, when I tried to do something similar on my Mac server, the app couldn't connect to the cloud config. I would just say that this change may work most of the times, but can also bring some unexpected behavior form the app.

I'm also kind of bummed by the fact that there is no way of configuring synergy, let's just hope syn2.1 will fix most of our UX problems.

[Nick Bolton 400]

On 27/11/2017 at 6:11 AM, JLJTGR said:

To keep the changes you will need to modify the file properties to Read-only or else Synergy2 will overwrite your changes when it next launches

Nice tip!

[Nick Bolton 400]

On 22/01/2018 at 9:43 PM, aristizabal95 said:

I'm also kind of bummed by the fact that there is no way of configuring synergy, let's just hope syn2.1 will fix most of our UX problems.

The settings screen is coming soon to 2.1, which is due in about 6 months.

[TheBarrelRider 0]

On 11/27/2017 at 12:11 AM, JLJTGR said:

This used to be avoided by a Synergy setting called "Don't take foreground window on Windows servers".

Without any settings interface in Synergy 2 we have no obvious way to configure this, but it is still a setting.  Synergy 2's configuration can be found at %LOCALAPPDATA%\Symless\Synergy\synergy.conf and the setting you want is "win32KeepForeground = true".

To keep the changes you will need to modify the file properties to Read-only or else Synergy2 will overwrite your changes when it next launches.  Speaking of, you need to restart the Synergy service in order for the setting to take effect at all.  (or reboot)

 I just downloaded version 1.11.1 and the "win32KeepForeground = true" setting doesn't appear to be in the synergy.conf file. Is there a new workaround for this?

[sleepingbear 0]

Hi All,

Any update on TheBarrelRider's request?

win32KeepForeground = true" setting doesn't appear to be in the synergy.conf file on Version 1.12.0 stable-cb8064e8

Or should I be using a different build?

Thanks,

[JeremyCarlsten 0]

On 11/15/2020 at 3:31 PM, sleepingbear said:

Hi All,

Any update on TheBarrelRider's request?

win32KeepForeground = true" setting doesn't appear to be in the synergy.conf file on Version 1.12.0 stable-cb8064e8

Or should I be using a different build?

Thanks,

On 1.10.3 I found you can go to "server settings > advanced " and there is a "Don't take foreground window on Windows Servers" option. I'm thinking this is setting the above. 

Just upgraded to 1.13.0 same setting exists.

Edited March 1, 2021 by JeremyCarlsten