Trouble using Button Editor within CUI - Bug report & Work around (2015)

[llorden4]

I'm a non Ribbon Bar user, completely aligned with the old .MNU now .CUI icon menu system user/customizer.  I found a need to add a couple of new command buttons to my toolbars and ran into a rather annoying bug with the interface.  I was able to find work arounds so this is post is to make those aware and provide a means to complete the task until the bug gets fixed.

Upon opening the Button editor within the CUI window, I began having use/access problems  Once I edited one of the pixel's with a new color and let go of the mouse button, my mouse could no longer access the AutoCAD window.  I am using dual monitors on my setup with AutoCAD on monitor #2.  What I found was that this window does not work correctly unless the editor is located on the Primary Monitor.  I did have some success using ALT+TAB to scroll through open windows, return to the AutoCAD window, and then was able to drag this Button Editor dialog box to the primary screen, and was then able to use this editor normally.  While the cursor was behaving in this manner, I was not able to get my mouse cursor to move onto my secondary screen at all.  I don't know how far back this issue goes, but if you find yourself looking for a fix, this work around should let you complete your desired task.

[MCGUtilities]

And in 2021, it still isn't fixed. Sad. 

[pendean]

@MCGUtilities So your crippling issue is only the fact that "... this window does not work correctly unless the editor is located on the Primary Monitor..."?

If yes, you can let Autodesk know about your wishes and desires over here https://www.autodesk.com/company/contact-us/product-feedback

[rapidcad]

For years I have found issues with various dialog boxes in AutoCAD causing me problems when using projectors (early days) and now that many of us work from multiple docking setups we encounter new twists. It used to be that just the rarely used dialog boxes would be found off screen, but with the different motor setups I frequently use, I am starting to see all AutoCAD dialog boxes (windows) appearing two monitors away from my AutoCAD screen.  My tried and true method has been to use ALT+SPACEBAR followed by M then a right or left arrow held down until the missing box comes into view on one side or the other of my display array.  Often once I've touched one of the arrow keys I can move my mouse left or right and it will be locked on to to the wandering window and then he mouse can just be dragged to get it into view wherever I want.

I would love to see Autodesk put an option in AutoCAD to "Default pop up windows to open within AutoCAD window" so we could toggle this on when it happens. My fellow developer added this to our user interface control options in our own in-house developed programs so those don't happen with our AutoCAD add-on bundled programs.

[llorden4]

Get that on a Wish List post, get a few hundred people to up-vote to implement, then maybe...

[pendean]

@rapidcad dual-monitor setups have been the norm for many for quite some time, and at the moment I have CUI on my second non-primary monitor #2 with the button editor up after editing a new button then saving it, and I am not seeing any issues here in R2021.1.1 in Win10Pro and nVidia Quadro P4000/directx11.

Perhaps I am missing a step to replicate the issue of vanishing pop-ups and/or mouse cursor?

For your second paragraph, CUI command, select your workspace then click on CUTOMIZE WORKSPACE you can select all the other palettes and toolbars and use the PROPERTIES section to move/center/dock them in AutoCAD. then OK out and manually WSSAVE your workspace.

Some users have to close and restart AutoCAD, most do not, to see the changes.

HTH

[rapidcad]

@pendean I also have very few issues with this when I work with only one docking station model. However when moving between home and work using different monitors and resolutions and docks I run into more problems than most I suppose. I am well aware of the positioning that can be assigned to AutoCAD toolbars and palettes but there is no such control exposed for sub-dialog options like a dynamic block property table "Add parameter properties" selection within the block editor.

We addressed the problem when developing our own user interfaces for our automation so that our c#/.net user interface contains an option to either use the Windows  user focus to determine where the UI will appear or to keep the UI within the active AutoCAD window. There may be times that either one is preferred. Unfortunately, this control only applies to our UI window, not all the other native AutoCAD boxes which expose no such control.

@llorden4 , I took your advise and submitted a comment regarding this idea to add an option for this.