[GTA SA] Windowed Mode/Secondary Monitor and Game "Focus"

[ghost]

Is it possible to add a nice function to this "patch"?
When you ALT+TAB GTA:SA the window always get minimized, "SA Window" (http://www.gtagarage...how.php?id=4404) prevents the game from minimizing when it's run as "Windowed" but it doesn't prevents the game from pausing/freezing when the window is not on "focus".
Is there any flag in the RenderWare engine to set the game to be always active?
So for example... You can have the game running under another monitor and browsing the internet on another. (Useful for SA-MP)

[ThirteenAG]

Well it's useful feature indeed, that's how MVL windowed mode works in vice city. I'd like to add it, but at the moment not sure how to do it properly.

[ghost]

I just found out MTA:SA does have this function implemented, you get it by disabling "Full Screen Minimize" at Settings > Video.
If you don't know, MTA:SA is open source: https://code.google.com/p/mtasa-blue/

[ThirteenAG]

I'll check it out.

[ThirteenAG]

Try this version, works for me: https://www.sendspace.com/file/ax8apq

[ghost]

Mmh... Nothing changed here, tried with Vanilla GTA:SA with Silent's ASI Loader and a heavy modified one. No changes. Game still minimizes when the window loses focus (Clicking somewhere out of the game, ALT+TABing).

[ThirteenAG]

Do you have wshps.asi installed? What method do you use to make game windowed?

[ghost]

Oh, now I see...
The requeriment to make it work is wshps.asi.
I wasn't using any "Windowed" method at all, I tried with "SAWindow" and works perfect.

The following bugs are just for SA-MP (Singleplayer is fine), there are no mods other than:

• Silent's ASI Loader
• wshps
• Your modified version of GTASA_widescreen_fix.asi
• SAWindow

Apparently SA-MP has it own version of the "Windowed mode", pressing "ALT+ENTER" or changing to any resolution in-game (including "Windowed") will make the patch behaviour to be gone, so when you ALT+TAB the game will get paused and minimized..

The only way to make it work in SA-MP is to run the game in the initial prompt as "Windowed" and then manually resize the screen.
WARNING: Press TAB once to get the "black SA-MP cursor", if you don't and you drag any corner of the window to resize, it will get forced to be shrinked to the center of the game.

If you fit it to screen (drag window to top) this will happen:

http://puu.sh/d5dHm/cef75c860e.jpg

You will get a transparent image of the last screen in the top left corner before resizing the screen. It's simply fixed by pausing the game and getting back (Escape twice).

You can do stuff like this:

http://puu.sh/d5eaP/735dd27e97.jpg

Here running two SA-MP at the same time with Sandboxie.

http://puu.sh/d5euD/0cb2d5e659.jpg

Here using "Windowed Borderless Gaming" (http://westechsolutions.net/sites/WindowedBorderlessGaming/download) tool to achieve it's purpose:

http://puu.sh/d5fq1/57b81a49f8.jpg

The only "cons" about this in SA-MP would be the text getting really small and that your game won't pause when ALT+TABing!

Thank you a lot ThirteenAG, you have no idea how much I appreciate this.

Can I get permission to post this at LS-RP.com forums?

[ThirteenAG]

Yeah, sure, you're welcome.

[Lion4K]

Hi Would it be possible for me to have these files to use?
Tried using the link from sendspace but it was expired.
Thanks in advance!

[ThirteenAG]

It's included as an option in widescreen fix, there's no need to download anything from sendspace.

[Lion4K]

And to use it what should I do?

[ThirteenAG]

Activate it: https://github.com/ThirteenAG/WidescreenFixesPack/blob/master/data/GTASA.WidescreenFix/scripts/GTASA.WidescreenFix.ini#L17

[Lion4K]

no i mean, to install it. im kinda dumb for mods sorry

[ThirteenAG]

Follow the instructions on the page: https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#gtasa

[Lion4K]

i think it worked, because i've alt tabbed and I can still hear traffic noises on the back, thank you very much!

[Lion4K]

but for some reason the initial movie does not play, the one with the song and the credits.

[Lion4K]

not that i care much bc this installation is for SAMP only.

[Lion4K]

I have one final question.
is there a way to use the older style of the stats box?

This is how it used to be:

That's how it is now, see how the clock is overlapping the item box?

The older self felt nice with the rest of the HUD.

Thanks again!

[ThirteenAG]

No.

[Lion4K]

Thanks!

[Lion4K]

Is there a way to change the Brightness? while in window mode the game is too dark.

[ThirteenAG]

No, that's exclusive fullscreen feature.

[LSRP155]

In case anybody is looking here trying to find out how to run SAMP alt-tabbed without pausing, https://forum.ls-rp.com/viewtopic.php?f=222&t=425390 Has an excellent tutorial. If you were like me and confused as Fuck about what the hell an ASI even is. Download cleo 4 and it'll install the silent ASI loader for you, then just follow the directions for Widescreen HOR+ Support and
ThirteenAG's Widescreen Fix, then go to the forum post and it's simple. Now you can AFK to your hearts desires.