LaunchBox + MAME + Gun4IR + AHK Script Window Focus Issues

[w00master]

Hey Everyone-

I recently obtained a set of Gun4IR lightguns.  These things are so awesome and been having a blast getting my LightGuns setup.  That said, because I prefer playing on the actual aspect ratio (instead of stretched), I've been using an AHK script to dynamically adjust this when a MAME game launches.  The script does work in that the GUN4IR guns recognize the correct aspect ratio boundaries.  However, in MAME games I run into a focus issue.  Here's the AHK Script I'm using (note: I've also employed the script that removes the error/warning messages):

Run, %COMSPEC% /C echo M3.1 > COM4
Run, %COMSPEC% /C echo M3.1 > COM5

WinWait, ahk_exe {{{StartupEXE}}},,60
if ErrorLevel
    return

WinWaitActive,,,30
if ErrorLevel
     return

Sleep 2000
SetKeyDelay, 125, 50
Send, {space 3}

~ESC::
Run, %COMSPEC% /C echo M3.0 > COM4
Run, %COMSPEC% /C echo M3.0 > COM5
ExitApp
return

So again, technically this works - but I run in to 2 issues:

1.  When the game launches out of LaunchBox/BigBox - the MAME game window loses focus and I have to alt-tab over to the game

2.  When in the MAME game, when I go into configure controls (or whatever), whenever I hit Escape, instead of going back one step in MAME, the window - again - loses focus.  Strangely, this only happens once.  

Here's a screencast video of all of this happening: 

https://app.screencast.com/przDsPsSqgQB9

Just in case, I've done the same screencast without the script portion that removes some of the warning screens in MAME (still the same behavior):

https://app.screencast.com/wqNIQpyQZC03w 

Any help would be appreciated!

Edited September 7, 2024 by w00master

[JoeViking245]

On 9/7/2024 at 8:50 AM, w00master said:

However, in MAME games I run into a focus issue.

Did you ever find a resolution to this?  (asking a year and a half later 😊)

My GUN4IR is enroute and I'm going to want to do the same thing:  switch between Fullscreen and 4:3, game/emulator pending.

I think the losing focus issue can be resolved be setting the (4) Run commands to run minimized.  (Won't know until mine arrives and I set it up)

e.g.  Run, %COMSPEC% /C echo M3.1 > COM4,,Min