Unity Standalone build running in full screen blocks Charms Bar in Windows 8

Questions & Answers
1

Hi guys,

When I build a standalone version for Windows and run it on the Windows 8 desktop in full screen mode, it is not possible to access the Windows 8 charms bar by swiping from right to left on the right side of the screen.

An additional problem is that when you hit the Windows key on the keyboard, it opens up the Metro/Modern start menu of Windows 8. Normally, when you hit that key again, you should go back to your previously active application. However, for some reason the Unity standalone build does not get focus, so you end up on the desktop. To go back to the game, you need to click on it in the taskbar (or another possible method to switch programs).

All this behavior is not happening in a Windows Store App build.
The problem however is that we need to integrate the game in a shell. And opening a Windows Store App from the desktop requires fiddling with registry keys, which is not really an option for us.

My instinct tells me it might have something to do with the Unity Playback Engine that somehow blocks Windows 8 specific behaviour. Other full screen desktop applications do not seem to have this problem. I even installed an old (non-Unity) game to be sure it was not a Windows 8 issue where full screen applications can’t take advantage of the Windows 8 features.

Also I have gone over the Player Settings for the build in Unity and haven’t been able to find possible options there which could be creating the Windows 8 ignoring behavior.

I Googled all morning and haven’t been able to even find a vague answer to this problem. It’s a requirement we have this functionality working. I hope some of you here can help me out. Thanks in advance.

Sincerely,
Omnivision Studio

2

I have the same problem, actually I’m looking into SHGetPropertyStoreForWindow cause I found that link about it : link text

Of course I’m trying to do the opposite, just like you, but until now, I’m strugglin with SHGetPropertyStoreForWindow, but I can’t get it works, it just return “failure” (not OK value in this case).

I would like to know if you found a workaround!

EDIT : I found a way to call SHGetPropertyStoreForWindow properly, but now the problem is just that doesn’t work as expected : the property will be set but nothing happen, my standalone application doesn’t shows the charm bar.