Windows 7 Common Dialog Boxes display hyperlinks vs. static text

[klocksin]

I have an application that calls Windows API functions to display the Common
Dialog boxes (e.g. Print Dialog, File Save As..., etc.). The Common Dialog boxes
display correctly on my own network, but I have a client who is running my
application on a Windows Server 2008 R2 application server (same code-base as
Windows 7) running terminal server accessed via Citrix. ALL entries in the
Common Dialog boxes are displayed as hyperlinks (as opposed to standard "static"
text) and as soon as a user "clicks" on a different printer (for example) in the
printer selection section of the Print Dialog box, the dialog box closes and the
user is never given the option of clicking on either the PRINT or CANCEL buttons
that are standard on this common dialog box. Personally, I've never seen this
type of behaviour before this and I really need to be able to disable this
apparent "extension" or "alteration" to the Common Dialog boxes so that they
work the way my client users expect them to. Has anyone ever seen this type of
behaviour occur in the Windows Common Dialog boxes and, if so, do you have any
insight as to what might be causing this?

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you are encountering an unexpected behavior with the Common Dialog boxes in your application when it's running on a Windows Server 2008 R2 application server accessed via Citrix. The behavior you described, where all entries are displayed as hyperlinks and the dialog closes when selecting a printer, does seem unusual and not standard. Here are a few insights on what might be causing this behavior and how you can address it: 1. Citrix Environment Interaction: - Citrix environments can sometimes introduce display or interaction issues due to the way applications are virtualized and presented to users. It's possible that the Citrix environment is somehow intercepting or modifying the behavior of the Common Dialog boxes. 2. Permissions and Settings: - Ensure that the user permissions and settings on the Windows Server 2008 R2 are correctly configured to allow the proper functioning of the Common Dialog boxes. Restricted permissions or misconfigurations could lead to unexpected behavior. 3. Compatibility Mode: - Check if your application is running in compatibility mode on the Windows Server 2008 R2. Running in compatibility mode can sometimes alter how the application interacts with system components like Common Dialog boxes. 4. Update Windows Server 2008 R2: - Ensure that the Windows Server 2008 R2 and Citrix environment are fully up-to-date with the latest patches and updates. Sometimes, updates contain fixes for compatibility issues that could affect the behavior of Common Dialog boxes. 5. Debugging and Logging: - Implement detailed logging and debugging in your application to track the sequence of events leading up to the abnormal behavior. This can help pinpoint the exact moment or code path where the issue occurs. 6. Testing on a Clean Environment: - Test your application on a clean Windows Server 2008 R2 environment without Citrix to see if the issue persists. This can help determine if the problem is specific to the Citrix environment. 7. Consult Support Forums: - Check support forums, developer communities, or Microsoft documentation for similar issues encountered by other developers. There might be specific workarounds or solutions provided by others who have faced similar problems. By investigating these aspects and potentially making adjustments based on the findings, you can work towards resolving the unexpected behavior of the Common Dialog boxes in your application running on the Windows Server 2008 R2 environment accessed via Citrix.