@HistoryBuff I must admit I am loosing track of these edit focus issues, especially since 5.2.0 was supposed to fix this for many cases yet I still see it occurring.
However the way the open in new window works it does not employ all the viewTemplate and other code on top of the tiddler, basically “open the text field in new window” would be more accurate, 90% of the time that may be fine.
new-windows.json (13.3 KB)
Try this package, it introduces two new buttons to a tiddler, one to open in new Window (With view Template applied, and edit in new window). It was designed a few versions ago but may contain code to address your current tissue.
On a related subject, As per the quicklist hack discussion, I have started exploring totally new ways to treat the content in tiddlers. I am currently exploring moving new views not only in the view template but into into the edit preview, and new window. Watch this space.
I think the key to solving your problem is to design a field edit template that you can apply just to the body. I will share something if I have the time.