2024+ SME setfocus issue

[68451]

Hello.

I have a function that "clicks" Menu items in Slate Material Editor by sending windows.postMessages (Alt > arrows > enter... etc.). The purpose of the script is to disable "Auto Open Nodeslots" feature. I didn't find any other way to disable it.

Here is the code that worked fine before Autodesk moved Slate to QT in 2024. Now the code doesn't work in max 2024 and 2025.

	fn SmeToggleautoOpenNodeslots sme_hwnd =
	(
		(SME.GetMainframe()).SetFocus()
		windows.postMessage sme_hwnd 0x104 0x12 0x20380001
		windows.postMessage sme_hwnd 0x105 0x12 0xC0380001

		for i=1 to 4 do
		(
			windows.postMessage sme_hwnd 0x100 0x27 0x114D0001
			windows.postMessage sme_hwnd 0x101 0x27 0xD14D0001
		)

		windows.postMessage sme_hwnd 0x100 0x28 0x11500001
		windows.postMessage sme_hwnd 0x101 0x28 0xD1500001

		for i=1 to 2 do
		(
			windows.postMessage sme_hwnd 0x100 0x1B 0x10010001
			windows.postMessage sme_hwnd 0x101 0x1B 0xD0010001
		)

		windows.sendMessage sme_hwnd 0x201 0 0
		windows.sendMessage sme_hwnd 0x202 0 0

		windows.sendMessage sme_hwnd 0xC752 0 0
		windows.postMessage sme_hwnd 0xC752 1 0
		windows.processPostedMessages()

		(SME.GetMainframe()).SetFocus()

		windows.sendMessage sme_hwnd 0x111 40050 0
		windows.processPostedMessages()
	)

It looks like SetFocus just doesn't work in Slate anymore, or maybe postMessages don't, I'm not sure.

Can someone proof it or even help me to fix the issue please? Thanks.

[MartinBeh]

Best guess: the window handles (0x20380001 etc.) have changed?

[denisT.MaxDoctor]

To use such scripts, you need to understand how they work. Otherwise your question will sound as strange as "why last year the same train came at 12.39 and this year at 12.50?", and the answer is obvious: "Because the timetable has changed".

[68451]

Thanks, Denis.
I'm not sure what exactly you mean by "understand how they work". I specified that script sends postMessages to simulate keypresses in order to disable "Auto Open Nodeslots" option in top SME menu.

So basically: click Alt (key down, key up), 4 times click right arrow, etc. to navigate in menu to find "Auto Open Nodeslots" and hit Enter on it.

If there is a better way to disable "Auto Open Nodeslots" I would be happy to hear it.

[denisT.MaxDoctor]

A "simulation of the UI interaction" solution is not perfect, but sometimes it's the only option. It is important to realize that UI changes are likely from version to version. If you know what to do, just remember that the Slate Editor window is now a Qt Dialog. Everything else is the same, unless the menu items have changed in number or order.

[68451]

Yeah, I understand that it's QT now and something has changed obviously. I have little knowledge in this area (windows messaging and QT).

Maybe QT windows just don't accept these windows.postMessages and I need to simulate UI navigation in a different way?
Or maybe you could advise some tool like dnSpy that recognizes qt windows so I could check what's going on when I navigate in menu?