Aldus Freehand: Focus Is Not Returned to the Installer

• Microsoft Windows NT operating system, version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, version 3.1

SYMPTOMS

During Setup, the program items for Aldus Freehand are created. The focus should then return to the "Aldus Setup Main Window" so that you can complete installation. However, focus remains on the newly created Aldus program group window so that at this point, you can't see the program item for the tutorial. You must press ALT+TAB to return to the main window.

NOTE: This problem does not occur in Windows 3.1.

CAUSE

This problem is not specific to FreeHand. Any Aldus Windows-based application may exhibit this problem. The Aldus installer posts a DDE_EXECUTE message to Program Manager to add an item, then Yield()s and assumes the message will be processed. It would be processed if Program Manager were a 16-bit Windows-based application nonpreemptively scheduled. Instead, Program Manager takes the focus to process the DDE command and the focus is never returned to the Aldus installer.

WORKAROUND

Change focus back to the Aldus installer by hand.