Properties editor "forgets" selected tab and always resets to Object properties tab when switching between objects or editors #82668

New Issue

Ross Baldwin · 2020-11-12T17:21:53+01:00

Ross Baldwin commented

2020-11-12 17:21:53 +01:00

System Information
Operating system: Windows-10-10.0.18362-SP0 64 Bits
Graphics card: GeForce GTX 1050/PCIe/SSE2 NVIDIA Corporation 4.5.0 NVIDIA 456.71

Blender Version
Broken: version: 2.92.0 Alpha, branch: master, commit date: 2020-11-12 09:12, hash: fb4113defb
Worked: 2.91.0 beta and before

Short description of error
In earlier versions, the Properties editor always "remembered" the currently selected tab, so for example if the Physics tab was selected, switching to another object (e.g. in the outliner) would show the physics tab for that new object, and similarly for other tabs in common such as Material. This was true even if the area was switched to a different editor then back to the properties editor, making comparisons and working with multiple objects very quick and easy. However, in the latest 2.92.0 alpha, the editor always resets to the Object Properties tab, both when switching to another object and when changing to another editor and back. This is extremely frustrating, e.g. when working on multiple objects in the Rigid Body or Fluid domain, since you have to switch back to the appropriate tab every time you change between objects.

Could this be an accidental side-effect of the new Display Filter facility? (I am reporting another issue with this separately).

I'm guessing this is an introduced bug, but if it is intended behaviour instead, I'd be grateful for advice on how to provide feedback to the devs, as I think it will have a very negative impact on productivity. I did find the "UI papercuts" forum but that seems to be inactive.

Exact steps for others to reproduce the error

Open Blender 2.92.0 with the default general scene, and the standard layout workspace showing the Outliner and Properties editor areas.
In the Outliner, click the Cube object to select it and show its properties in the properties editor, with the Object properties tab selected by default.
In the Properties editor, click the Physics properties tab (or any other common tab such as constraints or textures) to display physics properties
Back in the Outliner, click the Light object to select it

Notice that in the Properties editor, the Light object is now shown but the tab has been reset to the Object properties tab. In version 2.91 and earlier, the Physics tab would have remained selected and would now show the Physics properties for the camera (or whatever other object had been selected). See screenshots below.

Thanks, Ross

These screenshots show 2.91 preserving the selected tab after switching objects, but 2.92 always resetting the tab to the Object properties.
{F9266164}

**System Information** Operating system: Windows-10-10.0.18362-SP0 64 Bits Graphics card: GeForce GTX 1050/PCIe/SSE2 NVIDIA Corporation 4.5.0 NVIDIA 456.71 **Blender Version** Broken: version: 2.92.0 Alpha, branch: master, commit date: 2020-11-12 09:12, hash: `fb4113defb` Worked: 2.91.0 beta and before **Short description of error** In earlier versions, the **Properties editor** always "remembered" the currently selected tab, so for example if the Physics tab was selected, switching to another object (e.g. in the outliner) would show the physics tab for that new object, and similarly for other tabs in common such as Material. This was true even if the area was switched to a different editor then back to the properties editor, making comparisons and working with multiple objects very quick and easy. However, in the latest 2.92.0 alpha, the editor always resets to the **Object Properties** tab, both when switching to another object and when changing to another editor and back. This is extremely frustrating, e.g. when working on multiple objects in the Rigid Body or Fluid domain, since you have to switch back to the appropriate tab every time you change between objects. Could this be an accidental side-effect of the new **Display Filter** facility? (I am reporting another issue with this separately). I'm guessing this is an introduced bug, but if it is intended behaviour instead, I'd be grateful for advice on how to provide feedback to the devs, as I think it will have a very negative impact on productivity. I did find the "UI papercuts" forum but that seems to be inactive. **Exact steps for others to reproduce the error** - Open Blender 2.92.0 with the default general scene, and the standard layout workspace showing the Outliner and Properties editor areas. - In the Outliner, click the Cube object to select it and show its properties in the properties editor, with the Object properties tab selected by default. - In the Properties editor, click the Physics properties tab (or any other common tab such as constraints or textures) to display physics properties - Back in the Outliner, click the Light object to select it # Notice that in the Properties editor, the Light object is now shown but the tab has been reset to the Object properties tab. In version 2.91 and earlier, the Physics tab would have remained selected and would now show the Physics properties for the camera (or whatever other object had been selected). See screenshots below. Thanks, Ross These screenshots show 2.91 preserving the selected tab after switching objects, but 2.92 always resetting the tab to the Object properties. {[F9266164](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F9266164/Blenderbug1.PNG)}![Blenderbug2.PNG](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F9266167/Blenderbug2.PNG)

Ross Baldwin commented

2020-11-12 17:21:53 +01:00

Added subscriber: @essercizi

Ross Baldwin commented

2020-11-12 17:40:05 +01:00

I've realised that 2.91 also has the new Display Filter but doesn't show this problem, so it looks like it's not a direct result of the Display Filter change.

Ross Baldwin commented

2020-11-12 19:57:43 +01:00

I've discovered some additional behaviour that may help:

If multiple property editors are open (and they're unpinned), only the first editor gets reset to the Object tab when selecting a new object in the outliner. For example, open two property editors, then select Object A in the outliner so it's shown in both property editors. Change both editors to show e.g. the physics tab. Now click on Object B in the outliner. Both property editors switch to the new object as expected, but only the first one gets reset to the Object tab, the other correctly stays on the physics tab.
If a properties editor has been pinned to a specific object and a tab such as physics is selected, selecting a different object in the outliner doesn't alter the properties editor or selected tab, which is as expected because it's been pinned - only any unpinned property editors would switch. However, simply clicking back on the same object in the outliner (i.e. the one that is pinned) causes its properties editor to reset back to the Object Properties tab, as in the original problem I described above, even though it's pinned. (I haven't checked whether only the first of multiple pinned editors is affected, but I guess it would be, as for unpinned ones described above)

I've discovered some additional behaviour that may help: - If multiple property editors are open (and they're unpinned), only the *first* editor gets reset to the Object tab when selecting a new object in the outliner. For example, open two property editors, then select Object A in the outliner so it's shown in both property editors. Change both editors to show e.g. the physics tab. Now click on Object B in the outliner. Both property editors switch to the new object as expected, but only the *first* one gets reset to the Object tab, the other correctly stays on the physics tab. - If a properties editor has been pinned to a specific object and a tab such as physics is selected, selecting a *different* object in the outliner doesn't alter the properties editor or selected tab, which is as expected because it's been pinned - only any unpinned property editors would switch. However, simply clicking back on the *same* object in the outliner (i.e. the one that is pinned) causes its properties editor to reset back to the Object Properties tab, as in the original problem I described above, even though it's pinned. (I haven't checked whether only the first of multiple pinned editors is affected, but I guess it would be, as for unpinned ones described above)

Germano Cavalcante commented

2020-11-12 20:28:02 +01:00

Added subscriber: @mano-wii

Germano Cavalcante commented

2020-11-12 20:28:02 +01:00

This change was intentional, see 0e47e57eb7
It is not a bug.

It was discussed in #63991 (Outliner/Properties syncing)
You can continue the discussion there even though it is closed.

This change was intentional, see 0e47e57eb7 It is not a bug. It was discussed in #63991 (Outliner/Properties syncing) You can continue the discussion there even though it is closed.

Germano Cavalcante commented

2020-11-12 20:28:27 +01:00

Closed as duplicate of #63991

Germano Cavalcante closed this issue

2020-11-12 20:28:27 +01:00

Ross Baldwin commented

2020-11-12 22:12:16 +01:00

Thanks Germano, apologies for not seeing this in the release notes.

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Properties editor "forgets" selected tab and always resets to Object properties tab when switching between objects or editors #82668