Pallet/Context Menus Inconsistent?

[tlivingston]

Has anyone else noticed that sometimes when you right click on a diagram you get "Select a VI" and "User Libraries", and other times you do not?

I cant find any rhyme or reason for this and its driving me insane. I've tried selecting objects, deselecting object, etc but it still happens. In fact, sometimes i will right click, and the options will be missing, then i will right click again in the same spot and they will show up! Sometimes it seems like its the direction the mouse happens to be moving when I click, but its never repeatable as far as i can tell.

I use my user libraries heavily- sure would shave a few seconds off my day if I could use those nice handy features with a single click everytime!

[Megan B.]

Hi tlivingston,

This is a strange problem!  I've tried replicating the behavior you are describing in 8.0 and 8.0.1 and I haven't been able to see it.  I also haven't seen any reports of similar errors.  If you haven't upgraded to 8.0.1 then I would recommend giving that a try.  Also, have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling?  What operating system are you using?  You could also try changing the format of your Functions Palette by going to Tools>>Options>>Controls/Functions Palette to see if any of the formats change this behavior.

Thanks for letting us know about this!
Megan B.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[tlivingston]

I am running 8.0.1 on XP, and its done it since day one. Im pretty sure i've seen it on other computers, although I dont have another one handy to try at the moment.

My pallet is in text only mode, but im sure it was happening in icon mode as well.

Ill post pictures of the two version of the pallets- maybe one is a "short mode" or something that you guys might recognize.

There may be a reason for it that I just cant figure out.

[tlivingston]

I think i just ran into something....

Open up a brand new VI. go to the diagram and make it full screen. Right click toward the top. Notice the menu.
Now, right click toward the bottom of the screen- low enough such that the full menu would not fit. Does it truncate for you?

Im in windows XP "classic" theme if that makes a difference...

I noticed that on the full menu, there is a bottom edge to the menu window. On the truncated, there is NOT. it just cuts off cold. Infact, if I use my arrow keys, I can scroll down past the last showing item three more times before the cursor moves to the top of the menu.

If your not seeing this you must think im looney 🙂

[tlivingston]

This happens in "Replace>All Pallettes" as well, except that you have to start up much higher on the screen to get the full menu because "replace" is several items down on the main pallette.

I use replace all the time, and i cant replace with items out of my library if the menu is truncated...

[tlivingston]

This is definitely the problem i was seeing. Its 10% repeatable. If the menu options don't show up, I can raise my window higher on the screen and try again with success.

I wonder if it has something to do with my setup? Anyone else get this to happen?

[Megan B.]

Hi tlivingston,

I still haven't been able to see this myself!  I've tried following your steps by maximizing the block diagram and clicking further and further towards the bottom of the diagram, but it simply moves to functions palette higher when I right-click (i.e. expanding it upward from the click instead of downward).  I haven't seen it in the Replace menu either. 

Would you please check and make sure that all of your palettes are checked in the "Always Visible Categories".  Click on the View button on a pinned down function palette and then check the Always Visible Categories.  I'll feel pretty silly if that's the answer =).  If not, a good workaround might be to customize your palette so that these subpalettes appear higher up.  You can customize the palette in Tools>>Advanced>>Edit Palette Set.

Let us know how it goes!
Megan B.
National Instruments