Hello All,

There seem to be two situations of interest here: 1) Running ShopBot and another program like Aspire at the same time, in the situation where the ShopBot software is active, but not cutting a file; and, 2) Using another program like Aspire, at the same time that ShopBot is cutting a file.

1) In the current software (3.8.8 and later), you should be fine with situation #1. You should be able to start and run any program and have it be "on top" when your are using it -- then have ShopBot come up "on top" when you shift back to using it. This normal "Windows" behavior assumes you are not cutting a file or using the Keypad (both situations in which the tool is in motion or potentially in motion and the "STOP" button visible). As far as I know, the software behaves as described here with XP, W7, and W8 and you should not need to do anything extreme to make it happen.

* In most older versions of the software, ShopBot will similarly go into the background if you have switched it to Preview Mode (clicking the button or entering [SP]).

** I just noticed the issue with the small Spindle Speed window which is not behaving similarly/appropriately. We'll check that out and get it fixed.

2) In the case of ShopBot being active and in motion or cutting, the ShopBot software ~will attempt~ to maintain priority, to control focus and cursor position, and to stay on top. This is done for two reasons: first, for SAFETY -- we want anyone to be able to find that STOP button quickly, even if it is someone who has just come into the room and knows little about ShopBot; second, we want to give SHOPBOT PRIORITY on the communication bus -- we want to do everything we can to prevent disruption of USB streaming of motion to ShopBot. Processors today have no problem with high rates of number crunching and motion planning, but there can still be bottlenecks in allotting time on the underlying hardware bus. You don't want to take the chance of your tool starting to choke and stutter because Windows has decided it is more important to fuss with updating your graphics file on a disk drive than to keep the tool moving smoothly.

And, somewhat related, note that with the 3.8.8 software, the tool will itself remember its location as long as it is not shut off. You can start and stop the software, go in and out of preview mode, etc ... And your location will be absolutely remembered. {If you turn off power to the the tool, the software will remember ~a~ location, but since the tool might physically move slightly with the power off, there is no guarantee that this latter position is accurate.}

Hope this is clarifying ...

Ted Hall, ShopBot