nsis installer opens in background

is there a way to make sure it opens in front of other open windows?

How about providing some useful info?

How are you starting the installer?
Are you using any plugins?

My apologies. I will try to answer as best as possible. I have inherited this from a previous employee and i am trying to learn and fix at the same time.

The script is built using a web interface on a server we have and uses a .build file and an nsi file to create the installer. the installer is downloaded from the web and opens on the users computer - again i apologize if i am stating the obvious.

!include WordFunc.nsh
!include LogicLib.nsh
!include nsisXML.nsh
!include EnvVarUpdate.nsh
!include MUI.nsh

those are the plugins that are included.

Includes are not plugins, they are header files (nsh = nsis script header). Plugins are what's called like PluginName::PluginFunction. Search for those in your script.

Here's an extremely easy way to find out what's causing your problem:
- Remove half of the code (functionality) from your installer, compile, and run.
- If it still happens, remove another half.
- Keep removing code until the problem disappears. Then slowly re-add code until you find the command / commands that cause the installer to start out-of-focus.

So, you click a link in a browser and then choose open?

yes.