Can't get rid of dockable "Properties" tab

[rhenstenburg]

An errant right click and I suddenly had a dockable "Properties" tab (Note: NOT iProperties). 

Unlike the model tab, Vault tab etc., I cannot click the "X" and make it go away.  In addition, the panel is always empty (never shows any  information).  I don't know how I got it and I don't know how to make it go away.  I'm using InvPro 2020.4.2.  Any thoughts out there?

[SharkDesign]

I've had this a few times before, but not for maybe a year now. 

Have you tried closing Inventor and opening again?

Do you have all the latest service packs installed?

Can't remember how I solved it. 

[rhenstenburg]

This has persisted for about a week of use (opening and closing Inventor).  I guess you noticed that I am up to date.  I don't want to reset things because I have numerous customizations that I don't want to lose.  If you remember what you did, I would like to know. For now, I'm just leaving it there.

Pondering ... I'm planning to upgrade to 2022 in a few months.  I wonder if this will come over when I bring over my settings.

[SharkDesign]

I wouldn't have thought it will migrate to 2022.

[rhenstenburg]

I searched the forum before making this post and found nothing useful.  I just tried a Google search and found a similar thread.  No solution: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-customization/properties-tab-inventor-2020/td-p/8701876

[swalton · Accepted solution]

I,ve had this happen on IV2020.  I think it is related to starting an assembly level feature, then switching to a different component.

You might try starting an assembly feature and see if the properties tab becomes useful.  Once it is tied to a feature, you should be able to drag it away from the browser set and close it.

[rhenstenburg]

Awsome!  That was it.  Thanks.

[AndrewWiorek]

Is this issue ever going to get fixed? Seems like Autodesk knew about this back in 2019 based on other posts but yet they have done nothing about this. It is very frustrating as it seems to randomly happen when trying to use tools like hole, measure ect, but its not fixed.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Andrew,

The empty Properties panel behavior can happen in different ways. I did a quick search in our defect system. As of Inventor 2021, all of the known empty panel behaviors should have been fixed. What release of Inventor are you on?

Many thanks!

[AndrewWiorek]

I am using Inventor 2020.4.3. So I guess that explains why it isn't 'fixed' yet. But bugs like this should have been fixed on all version of Inventor it applies to not just the newest ones. Lots of companies do not update software versions every year as it is hard to migrate and switch everything over yearly.