My question is: how to make BrowseForFolder() come to the foreground?

I have a sneaking suspicion that you simply don't :) I read about it a long time ago on MSDN and I don't recall the details very well :| you might search if you're interested, but I find MFC/Win32 very tiresome :)

But basically you can only ask the desktop to raise the window, but you can't force it, you can't steal the focus / force it upon a user -- users don't like surprises (all of a sudden you're typing a letter and BLAMMO, you're selecting OK on some evil button)

Code example:

I can tell just by looking that doesn't compile

But basically you can only ask the desktop to raise the window, but you can't force it,

Not correct. Like I said in the OP, GetOpenFileName() and GetSaveFileName(), for example, pop up and show at the foreground, on top of all other existing windows. So why should BrowseForFolder() be different? It's the same type of window/interaction.

I can tell just by looking that doesn't compile

Not correct. That code compiles fine.

Not correct.

How do you know?

Like I said in the OP, GetOpenFileName() and GetSaveFileName(), for example, pop up and show at the foreground, on top of all other existing windows. So why should BrowseForFolder() be different? It's the same type of window/interaction.

It isn't. Neither one will pop up if they (the parent, the app) don't have focus (aka permission ) to pop up -- they simply flash on the taskbar

Not correct. That code compiles fine.

Oh really?

$ perl
$InputDir = Win32::GUI::BrowseForFolder( -root => $TopDir, -includefil
+es => 1,
                                        -title => 'Select directory fo
+r parameter file',
                                        -text =>'text Selext directory
+ for parameter file',
                                        -size => [50/100*$dw, 50/100*$
+dh], -addexstyle => WS_EX_TOPMOST,);

^Z
Undefined subroutine &Win32::GUI::BrowseForFolder called at - line 1.
[download]

Really?

use Win32::GUI;
use warnings;
$InputDir = Win32::GUI::BrowseForFolder( -root => $TopDir, -includefil
+es => 1,
                                        -title => 'Select directory fo
+r parameter file',
                                        -text =>'text Selext directory
+ for parameter file',
                                        -size => [50/100*$dw, 50/100*$
+dh], -addexstyle => WS_EX_TOPMOST,);
__END__
Name "main::dh" used only once: possible typo at - line 6.
Name "main::InputDir" used only once: possible typo at - line 3.
Name "main::dw" used only once: possible typo at - line 6.
Name "main::TopDir" used only once: possible typo at - line 3.
Use of uninitialized value $dw in multiplication (*) at - line 3.
Use of uninitialized value $dh in multiplication (*) at - line 3.
Use of uninitialized value in subroutine entry at - line 3.
[download]

How do I post a question effectively? , Basic debugging checklist , How (Not) To Ask A Question