how to get a window to show on top?

[pnj]

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)

<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

[veryjonny]

hi, This might help..

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

[Rick Bull]

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

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.

[pnj]

cool.

thanks

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

[trojjer]

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

[trojjer]

Originally posted by pnj

<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 {"?

[trojjer]

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

[Rick Bull]

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?

[trojjer]

<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>

[trojjer]

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...

[pnj]

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.

[pnj]

?
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

[trojjer]

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...?

[Pc_Madness]

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.

[trojjer]

It's clear now...

Client page:

<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...

[pnj]

so if i put the window attributes in like this

('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.

[trojjer]

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...