[Solved] Object inspector has lost its components pane

[Wilko500]

I have been using LazFPC-37-323 on Mac OS for a while without problem.  Tonight in mid session object inspector lost its component pane.  I have no idea what caused this nor am I aware of having done anything other than normal use of the ide to edit /run my project.  Pic Two is what I would like to see, Pic one is what I have.

My suspicion is a "random" mouse click done by accident when mouse was moved????

If I uninstall AnchorDocking then the component pane is present and I could rearrange the windows as required. I had hoped that reinstalling the AnchorDocking would restore the previous arrangement but no, it does not.

I did have a backup copy of my config_lazarus folder which I restored over the "corrupted" folder but it made no difference.  I think that what is missing is the tiny gray dot that could be used to resize the panes.  Pic Three.

How can I restore the missing component pane?

[TRon]

Only here to state it is a known issue (I ran into this on several occasions myself). I solved it by manually manipulating the configuration file in which this is located (which is the reason why it re-occurs for your case).

Now, I have not documented which files and what I changed (i seem to remember removing the object inspector completely and re-configuring anchor-docking.

A better solution/suggestion on how to approach/solve this would be welcomed.

[zeljko]

I cannot even click onto component in object inspector. Properties ok, but component not. After clicking into SE and other stuff it is possible to select component in components tree

[Wilko500]

@Tron, thank you for confirming that it is indeed a known issue. I had wondered if I was loosing the plot 
I think I’ll do another install tomorrow and try doing a folder compare. See what I come up with.

[VisualLab]

This can be turned on/off in the IDE options: Tools -> Options, a dialog box will appear as in the attachment below. Select: Environment -> Object Inspector and on the right checkbox: "Show component tree". If that doesn't help, maybe some Lazarus settings file has become corrupted.


EDIT: I guess I didn't read that this is a more serious problem with the Object Inspector.

[Wilko500]

This can be turned on/off in the IDE options: Tools -> Options, a dialog box will appear as in the attachment below. Select: Environment -> Object Inspector and on the right checkbox: "Show component tree". If that doesn't help, maybe some Lazarus settings file has become corrupted.

I had just done a new install and reconfigured my IDE successfully.  Then I saw your post!!  Very late night and early start!!  Consequence of Very late night and early start.

Thank you. Thank you.  On Mac the setting is in Lazarus->Preferences.  The "Show component tree" was unchecked and checking it returned my IDE to its former glory.  I'm curious as to why it had become unchecked because Ive not been in Preferences at all, in it took me a moment or two to find it as was looking for it in Tools->Options.  That's Windows I guess.

 

[VisualLab]

...
On Mac the setting is in Lazarus->Preferences.  ... , in it took me a moment or two to find it as was looking for it in Tools->Options.  That's Windows I guess.

Yes. In Windows and Linux, Lazarus settings are available by clicking Tools -> Options in the main menu. I don't have (and never have) a Mac. This means that Lazarus for Mac has been adapted to Apple's design guidelines (look, feel).

... The "Show component tree" was unchecked and checking it returned my IDE to its former glory.  I'm curious as to why it had become unchecked because Ive not been in Preferences...

Perhaps you have indeed encountered some rare bug in the handling of the component tree in the Object Inspector.


Maybe it's time for the people developing Lazarus to separate the form component tree from the actual object inspector (table of properties and events). Currently, this panel is very extensive (overloaded with details) and therefore certainly has a complicated source code. In Delphi (which Lazarus is based on quite a lot), the form component tree is a separate panel, not related to the actual object inspector (table of properties and events). In Lazarus, there is a problem with displaying the content of the current object inspector on smaller screens. Extensive use of scroll bars is necessary both in the form component tree and in the properties and events table. This is quite frustrating. Their separation would be beneficial for both users and Lazarus developers, because:

• it would be easier to navigate in both separate panels,
• the source code of both panels would be separated.

[TRon]

Thank you. Thank you.  On Mac the setting is in Lazarus->Preferences.

By pure luck ran into this today with laz 3.6 and indeed I can also confirm that this solution works.

The "Show component tree" was unchecked and checking it returned my IDE to its former glory.  I'm curious as to why it had become unchecked because Ive not been in Preferences at all, in it took me a moment or two to find it as was looking for it in Tools->Options.  That's Windows I guess.

When pressing the  right mouse button in the object inspector component tree (when visible/accessible) a popupmenu appears which contains a few options that can be checked/unchecked. One of them is "show component tree". Very easy to uncheck by accident when switching between windows. The problem is that whenever the component tree is unchecked (not visible) this popup-menu does not appear anymore because it only pops up when pressing inside the component tree.

Thank you VisualLab !

[Wilko500]

@VisualLab

I don't have (and never have) a Mac. This means that Lazarus for Mac has been adapted to Apple's design guidelines (look, feel).

Indeed it has, in many ways.  My first very brief foray into Lazarus was to convert working legacy VB6 (Win7) apps but I was already on Mac hardware with virtual Win.  The migration from a VB6 (Win) environment into Lazarus on Mac has taken considerable effort not least in trying to adapt my way of thinking to the Apple way. 

When pressing the  right mouse button in the object inspector component tree (when visible/accessible) a popupmenu appears which contains a few options that can be checked/unchecked. One of them is "show component tree". Very easy to uncheck by accident when switching between windows. The problem is that whenever the component tree is unchecked (not visible) this popup-menu does not appear anymore because it only pops up when pressing inside the component tree.

Thank you VisualLab !

Thank you.  This makes sense and may well explain what happened

[tetrastes]

The problem is that whenever the component tree is unchecked (not visible) this popup-menu does not appear anymore because it only pops up when pressing inside the component tree.

Strange. At windows it pops up when pressing anywhere inside the oblect inspector.

[TRon]

Strange. At windows it pops up when pressing anywhere inside the oblect inspector.

Could perhaps be related to laz 3.6, gtk2, anchor-docking or linux/X in general (64 bit).

Because unable to popup and not mentally registered the object inspector setting in the options settings It appeared to be unsolvable other than manipulating config files. So I am already a happy camper 

edit: ah you meant inside the object inspector itself. yes that works for me as well (stupid me)