Tools shortcut keys stop working if you click in the Colors window after hiding the Tools window

[Tactilis]

Bug Description:

The Tools shortcut keys stop working every time the Colors window is clicked on after the Tools window has been hidden (and optionally redisplayed) during the paint.net session.

 

Version tested: Paint.NET 5.0.12 on Windows 11

 

Initial Setup:
Ensure that the Tools and Colors windows are displayed then Exit paint.net.

Start paint.net   As expected, the Tools and Colors windows are displayed automatically.

 

Reproduction:
1. Confirm that the Tools shortcuts are working, for example:
  a. Press G   As expected, the Gradient tool is activated.

  b. Press S   As expected, the Rectangle Select tool is activated.

2. Click the icon to hide the Tools window.  This is a necessary precursor action to provoke the bug at step 5.

 

3. Click the icon to redisplay the Tools window.

 

4. Confirm that the Tools shortcuts are currently still working:
   a. Press G   As expected, the Gradient tool is activated.

   b. Press S   As expected, the Rectangle Select tool is activated.

 

5. Now click anywhere in the Colors window.  This is the action that causes the bug.

 

6. Observe that the Tools shortcuts no longer work:
   a. Press G   The Gradient tool is not activated.

   b. Press S   The Rectangle Select tool is not activated.

 

7. Click on the canvas.  This will temporarily restore the action of the Tools shortcuts.

 

8. Confirm that the Tools shortcuts are working again:
   a. Press G   As expected, the Gradient tool is activated.

   b. Press S   As expected, the Rectangle Select tool is activated.

 

9. Now repeat steps 5, 6 and 7.  Observe that the Tools shortcuts stop working every time you use the Colors window (until the canvas is clicked).

Note: It is actually the action of hiding the Tools window at step 2 that is the precursor to causing the shortcuts not to work when the Colors window is clicked. As demonstrated in this sequence, it is not necessary to redisplay the Tools window:

Setup, as before.

Step 1

Step 2

Don't do step 3, i.e don't redisplay the Tools window.

Step 4   As expected, the active Tool shown in the Tool Bar does change.

Step 5

Step 6   The Tools shortcuts no longer work and the active Tool shown in the Tool Bar does not change.
 

 

Expected behaviour:

Tools window shortcut keys should always work, regardless of the user's prior actions.

 

 

Background Notes:
I had encountered the problem of non-responsive Tools shortcuts several times previously but had never been able to identify the cause.

 

It was while working on an AutoHotkey script to hide/redisplay all the utility windows (the equivalent of the F5-F8 'four-finger salute') that I was able to provoke the problem more frequently and finally work out how to reproduce it.

 

@Rick Brewster It would be very helpful if this could be fixed for 5.0.13, if possible.

[Rick Brewster]

I don't think steps 2-3 are necessary. Also, it's not the case that this happens when clicking anywhere in the Colors window. Specifically it will happen if you click on the title bar, and in many other locations. But if you click on, say, the color wheel -- no problems.

[Tactilis]

17 minutes ago, Rick Brewster said:

I don't think steps 2-3 are necessary. Also, it's not the case that this happens when clicking anywhere in the Colors window. Specifically it will happen if you click on the title bar, and in many other locations. But if you click on, say, the color wheel -- no problems.

 

I have to disagree Rick.

Step 2 is a necessary precursor. And, having hidden (and optionally redisplayed) the Tools window, it is the case that clicking anywhere on the Colors window (e.g the window background, the primary/secondary colours, the colour wheel, the palette, the More button, etc) at step 5, causes the shortcut keys to stop working as I have described. It's 100% reproducible here.

 

The reason that the behaviour I have reported is particularly frustrating is that, once it has been triggered by step 2, it occurs every time that you use the Colors window.

 

I do agree with you that clicking on the title bar will stop the shortcut keys working until you click on the canvas - but I never do that and is not the bug I have described.

 

 

[Rick Brewster]

Alright, I've filed a bug for it, I'll have to allocate some time to investigate it deeper and figure out all the corner cases. I will likely look into this for the v5.1 release.

[Tactilis]

You are probably aware of this but I now realise that it is not just the Tools shortcut keys that stop working when you click in the Colors window. All of the single letter shortcuts are inhibited at step 5 above, i.e, all the Tools shortcuts, plus:

X  Colors window: Swap Primary and Secondary colours

C  Colors window: Switch active colour

A  Tool Bar: Cycle forward through shapes

,   Tool Bar: Start Cap style

.   Tool Bar: Line style

/   Tool Bar: End Cap Style

At least it's consistent throughout!

 

 

Is the above problem related in any way to the bug below?  If so, it would be great if they could both be swept up as part of the same fix.