Kiosk Window Size Problem

[Oldfogey]

I am just putting the finishing touches to a runtime solution - adding default password, my splash screen, etc. Nothing major.

It's been fine but, in my beta versions, I didn't get kiosk mode. (Didn't read the instructions properly.)

Now, everything is fine except for one horrible showstopper - the app opens in a half size window with a horizontal scroll bar. Actually, right at the start, there is a vertical scroll bar over where it should be on a full screen but it disappears when it is clicked. It looks as though the app is full screen but with the particular window half size.

I have tried maximising the window but to no avail. At no stage in the development have I used a window of the size being displayed.

And yes, I am running V7.3.

Any suggestions gratefully received. H-e-e-e-lP!!!

(Not sure if this is related. When I save my runtime settngs, the location of the solution doesn't hold. Keeps taking me to 'My Computer' not the folder I've specified.)

Any clues?

[Reed]

Can you just use:

Adjust Window [Resize to Fit]

in a script when kiosk accounts are used.

[Oldfogey]

Thanks, I'll try that. I did try to maximise the window - no go.

Tried a backup copy and it's fine so I suspect a corrupted file. Fortunately, I've only made trivial changes since the backup - I think.

[Oldfogey]

Thanks, Reed.

Oh, Boy! What a mess. Tried Adjust window (resize to fit) This almost works.

It actually clips some of the objects. i.e. it doesn't do what it's supposed to do. I'm hanged if I can see why 'resize' should almost work and 'maximize' not at all. Anyway, I've finally got the window the right size by using both 'resize' and 'maximise'.

After all that, it seems it is basically a security issue. I am opening the DB with Guest but didn't let Guest have enough privileges to do anything. Now I've almost fixed that but FMP refuses to give me kiosk mode. The regular menu items are there along with the usual FMD frame around the whole lot. No matter what I do, in the way of executing scripts, the menu bar stays there. BUT ... if I minimize the whole window and maximise it, it comes back in kiosk mode!

Do FMI think software has to behave irrationally to be acceptable in the Windoze world?

[SteveB]

I created a kiosk in version 5 and 6 of my solution, had nothing but problems with strange behavior and window size problems. Plus, a kiosk is a real odd-ball in the Windows world. Given that you have already scripted your entire application, I'd suggest switching to a runtime and using Dacon Menu Control. Your users will be able to get their desktops back, you'll have far fewer Window issues, you'll give your users a app that is more standard.

After working with Menu Control for over 3 years, I'd never consider doing a kiosk.

Steve

[Oldfogey]

Thanks for making my day, Steve.

This particular app is no big deal but I have another I developed in V6 for a franchiser. The franchisees all have kiosk solutions, (with very few problems by the way.) I've just agreed to upgrade it all to V8. After my recent experience with V7, I'm getting worried. Will check out Dacon. Thanks.

[Inky Phil]

Hey Fogey,

Don't be too downhearted.

I would not dream of disagreeing with Steve because he is a lot more experienced than myself but I have a kiosk system that runs trouble free in 5.5 ( 12 files from a server, 5 users, mac and windows) and I am rewriting it in 7 and am not experiencing any problems there either. I have not tried a runtime solution though.

I have experienced window problems but I this was only after the sulotion was opened off server for updates and then transferred back without being specific about the way that the files (windows) where left on last closing, off server.

I have the same startup script in all the files that zooms to 100 % and maximises the window but of course if the files are opened by relationship then the startup script doesn't trigger. The windows will then open as they where last left before closing, whatever the size and position - thats what you get! So before transerring the files back to the server I manually mimimise them apart from my main screen which I maximise and no probs.

One other problem I have is that once the solution has been opened in non kiosk mode it can sometimes give the problem where it opens in semi 'Kiosk mode' where the toolbars are visible but not available and the desktop is visible. I close it and open it again and the problem disappears. Never did bottom that one!!

In a nutshell what I am trying to say is that all these problems seem to be on first startup. From then on it has run trouble free for 18 months now. You can have sample files to play with no probs if you like

I stress once again that my view in no way detracts from the advice that Steve gave you, I only put my 2c's worth in to try to make your day a little better. If your customer absolutely insists on kiosk then I say don't worry.

Phil

ps your day could of course take another turn for the worse if your problems are runtime related. What the hell, have a beer!

[Oldfogey]

Thanks Phil.

I wouldn't disagree with Steve either - except when he's wrong.

I've had no problems with Kiosk mode in V6 but now ...! Maybe my app isn't complex enough. It consists of just two tables in one file.

Hey, my brain just got into gear. How can you run kiosk mode across a network?

[Inky Phil]

Hi Fogey,

Don't forget that my solution is not a runtime.

Each seat has it's own copy of FM. The solution on the server has kiosk mode invoked and so when anyone opens it across the network thats what they get - a kiosk mode solution.

I can still open the file on the server in non kiosk mode by entering the admin password

HTH

Phil

[Oldfogey]

Neat!

How do you invoke kiosk mode but not runtime? Don't tell me I've got to go and RTFM.

Unfortunately, it is runtime plus kiosk mode that mucks up the windows.

[Reed]

kiosk mode and runtime are two separate checkboxes in the developer tools, so you can use them independently.

[Inky Phil]

Hi there again Fogey,

I have never done a runtime so I don't know anything about it.

To be honest I am barely above novice status in FM generally but I managed to invoke kiosk without runtime in 7 developer no real probs ('cept my own natural slowness to grasp anything that involves more than two clicks of the mouse)

Surely you only use runtime to save the end user the expense of buying a copy of FM and even then a runtime cannot be networked.

Now I think of it though I can't see any reason why you shoudn't have both anyway. Maybe it's time for me to RTFM.I might just do that. I will get back to you if I have any success - or if I need cheap digs down under maybe

Regards

Phil

[HALBURN]

When running in Kiosk mode it seems as though the space where my computer's menubar would be (and the space where the FM window bar would be) are simply being blacked out by FM. I would have expected my solution's background color to expand full screen into this space and fill the entire monitor...like when watching a DVD!

This extra half inch black bar on the top of my display makes my solution look unprofessional and off balance. I could add a half inch black border all the way around my layout to try and make it look visually centered but I'd rather not give up the extra space, my layout is already tight enough as it is.

There is also an irritating white box that flashes in the bottom left hand corner of the widow whenever the layout is changed. It is exactly where the zoom in/out buttons are located. Is there any way to stop this area from flashing...other than changing the background of my solution to white?

[Inky Phil]

Can you post a copy of your file Spenn so we can have a look at it for you

Phil

[mluka]

...but I have a kiosk system that runs trouble free in 5.5 ( 12 files from a server, 5 users, mac and windows) and I am rewriting it in 7 and am not experiencing any problems there either. I have not tried a runtime solution though.

Hey Phil!

Do you mean that you can actually run a kiosk solution on a network with several users???

That's exactly what we were looking for, but were told by FMI customer support that it couldn't be done!

Thanks!

[HALBURN]

Yes, it can be done and we are doing it.

We are running FM7 Server and FM8 clients.

What you can not do is create a runtime kiosk solution that is hosted on a server without having a full version of FM installed on the kiosk machine. That might have been what they were trying to tell you.

Edited June 8, 2006 by Guest

[HALBURN]

Can you post a copy of your file Spenn so we can have a look at it for you

Phil

I figured out that the problem...and several other problems that I was having...were being caused by a beta copy of plug-in that I was testing.

[Inky Phil]

I am glad to hear you sorted your problems but I am DELIGHTED to find someone else who successfully runs a kiosk mode solution from server.

At times it has been a lonely place in here where nearly everyone is more advanced than me but almost no-one has a good word to say for kiosk and I think the sun shines out of it's backside!

Maybe we should just huddle in a corner of the forum and mutter dark thoughts to one another!

Phil

[mluka]

Hi, Halburn.

Yes, it can be done and we are doing it.

We are running FM7 Server and FM8 clients.

What you can not do is create a runtime kiosk solution that is hosted on a server without having a full version of FM installed on the kiosk machine. That might have been what they were trying to tell you.

Thanks for the info. We're going to take another look at *all* our options!

[Oldfogey]

I used to be pleased with Kiosk until the experiences that lead me to start this thread, using V7.

With V8, I'm using an empty Custom Menu for my franchisee. It looks better and still keeps the users away from all those naughty menu items like Find and Replace. Best of all, it saves me from re-writing a subset of the FMP Help file.

The weird flashing and what have you is what I got with V7. V8 is much better.

[xmoose]

Hey, Gang. I have a runtime solution I've designed for presenters/trainers. I have it rigged for them to open it as an administrator so that they can add their own content. Then, when they go to "present" it, I have the script set with a relogin set to put them into a non-admin account so that the solution goes into Kiosk mode so that it can be projected without the distraction of seeing the user's desktop, etc.

I'm working in 8.0v3, and I was thrilled with the results on OSX. However, when I created the runtime solution for WinXP, I ran into some major issues.

When clicking the button/script that should kick the solution into kiosk mode, it appears to attempt to switch and then fail. The Start bar and everything stays visible. However, if I click outside of the runtime solution and then click back into it (make it active again), it then goes into kiosk mode, but smashed into the upper left-hand corner!

Any suggestions (other than Resize to Fit - because I'm already doing that) would be greatly appreciated. After two days of trying subtle changes to the code, I'm becoming afraid that this will be a Mac-only release.

Many thanks!

John.