how to get a window to show on top?

I have a parent window that opens a new window.

if the new window is already open but minimized or behind the parent I want to bring the focus to that window. (bring it to the front)

Code:

---

<script>
if(newWin) // if the newWin exists...
{
newWin.focus; //bring it to the front
}
{
nextWin=window.open('help_page.asp','newWin','status=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,location=no,left=170,top=200,width=700,height=570,menubar=no');
}
</script> "

---

This seems logical but doesn't give me the results I want.

I get an error saying newWin is not defined...?


any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

hi, This might help..

http://javascript.internet.com/page-...op-window.html

I think you're just missing the () after focus:

Code:

---

newWin.focus(); //bring it to the front

---

If that doesn't work then I think you need to use nextWin instead of newWin for the focus function.

cool.

thanks

I did try changing the code to newWin vs. nextWin and got the same error message.

Doesn't focus() work? If not, that it must be something else... you mustn't forget the function parantheses.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by pnj

Code:

---

<script>
if(newWin) // if the newWin exists...
{
newWin.focus; //bring it to the front
}
{ <--- Syntax error here
nextWin=window.open('help_page.asp','newWin','status=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,location=no,left=170,top=200,width=700,height=570,menubar=no');
}
</script>

---

---

I can't believe I didn't notice this earlier... don't you mean "} else {"?

Well, am I? Or is that just another shorthand way of writing "if" conditionals...?

I think the { and } should just be removed shouldn't they as you want the page to change even if the window is already open, so calling window.open should do that. I think you can leave the { and } there anyway can't you? Doesn't it just make the enclosed statements sort of equal to one statement?

<script>
if(newWin) newWin.focus(); //bring it to the front

// Open next window, regardless of the previous window
nextWin=window.open('help_page. asp','newWin','status=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,location=no,left=170,top=200,width=700,height= 570,menubar=no');
</script>

It's saying that newWin isn't defined...? That's a bit odd, since the "if" conditional checks to see if the var exists, before it calls the focus() function - that's the whole point...

Code:

---

var child = new Object();
child.open = false; 


if( !child.open ){       
child = window.open("blank.htm");
child.open = true;
}else{
child.focus();
}

---

ok, this is what the code looks like now.

it still doesn't work however.....

I get an error message from line 2 ?

makes no sense to me...

thanks for all your help everyone.

?
ok,

NOW it works.
that was strange.....

only it opens up a NEW window EVERYTIME.

i only need the window to open once. it it's already open, bring it to the front....

do I need to name the window?

I tried the standard

newWin= window.open(mypage.htm,'nameOfWindow') but it just put the nameOfWindow into the query string...
so weird...

thanks again

The 'nameOfWindow' string is the actual title/name of the new window...

Let's get this straight:

a) You want a parent popup window to be open first; if so than open a smaller child?

b) If the parent isn't open/focused then open and focus() it...?

Nooo...

He wants the Parent to launch a new window (Client), but if the window has already been opened then it will simply bring that window to the front.

It's clear now...

Client page:

Code:

---

<script language="javascript"><!--
if (!newWin) {var newWin=window.open(...); //Open new window
}else{newWin.focus(); //focus window}
--></script>

---

This is almost exactly the same as before, I think, the only difference is that it checks to see whether the var newWin does not exist, as you know. It should work - dunno why it isn't for you... Try it though...

P.S: Obviously, replace the "..." in window.open() with the window details...

so if i put the window attributes in like this

Code:

---

('blank.htm','child','status=no,resizable=no,scrollbars=yes,location=no,left=170,top=200,width=300,height=270,menubar=no'); //used blank just for demo purposes

---

in Netscape 7 it works. at least it opens the window with the attributes.
but it won't bring it to the front if it's allready open.


in IE 6 I get an Unterminated String constant...


?
if I remove the attributes and test in IE and Netscape it opens a new window but won't bring it to the front if it's allready open.

aarrg.

This works in IE, and it should work in NN with no conditionalising required. For an example of this script in action, it's on my site @ http://vacuum.virtualave.net/examples/js_windows.asp

Or just click the "masked" links...