* Floating window problem

[Jessie 888]

(This problem started a couple of weeks ago in version 6.2 before my upgrade to 7 today. I use Windows 10.)

In the past, whenever I double-clicked a person in the Records Window it would automatically open up the Focus Window with the Property Box docked (which is how I like it). Now when I double-click, it automatically opens a floating window. I don't know what I did to cause that!

I know that from that floating window I can then click on Focus Window and Property Box but it's an annoying, unnecessary extra stage. It also happens the other way round so when I'm working on the Focus Window and click the Records Window, I've got to close the floating window again.

I'm a bit wary of selecting anything like restore default settings so I'm hoping there's an easy way out of whatever I've done. I've checked everything I can in the Preferences section and there was one thing in the Records Window section that says, 'Double-click on record in Record List does default record action'. That is ticked but I can't find where the default record action is listed to check what that is. Sorry I can't explain it more clearly than that!

[tatewise]

I don't recall double-clicking a Records Window record ever opening the Focus Window.
Anyway, it certainly does not do that in FH V6.2.7 (I've just checked) nor in FH V7.0.
It always opens the Property Box for the chosen record, which could be not just an Individual but any other type of record such as Source or Media, which cannot possibly open in the Focus Window.

To choose how the Property Box opens in each type of window use Tools > Preferences > Workspaces.

It is possible that installing FH V7.0 has altered some of your previous settings such as those Workspace options.

To discover what the Tools > Preferences options mean, please click the Help button on the same page.
In the case you mention, it explains the "default record action".

[Gowermick]

Miketate,
The census age query we discussed recently, suffers from the same. I.e. I have to Double-click the name to get property box to open. I need to look at the query ( not on PC at present), to see what the name column actually contains. That may give us a clue as to when double-clicking is needed. I’ll report back.
I know its not the records window, but …

[tatewise]

Mike, I don't understand what problem you are describing.
Double-click is the usual convention for opening something everywhere in Windows OS.
You double-click a filename in File Explorer to open the file in its default application.

In FH, you double-click any record in any window to open its Property Box, or double-click a box in a Diagram likewise.
Once the Property Box is open then a single-click on a record or box will update the contents of the Property Box.
As far as I recall, it has always been thus in FH.

Before the double-click, single-click selects the record (or records) for some other operation depending on context.
In the Query Window, there are Menu options that apply to selected records.

[NickWalker]

There may be a little bit of confusion regarding terminology in this thread BUT I too find the behaviour of the properties dialogue quite confusing and I don't remember finding it so confusing in the past. I find it disconcerting that when I'm on the focus window I have the properties dialogue docked on the right so I can select any individual (single click) and they immediately show in the properties., but then if I go to the records window or to queries I don't see the properties and have to double-click (rather than single click) to make the properties window appear. And then when it does appear it is floating rather than docked. I would guess this is what Jessie and Mick are referring to (apologies if I've misunderstood). As Mike said in his first post, this can all be controlled by the Tools->Preferences->Workspaces. By default it looks like this:

Workspaces Default.png (30.87 KiB) Viewed 504 times

But if you change it to this then the properties box will be docked and always there on the records and query windows too:

Workspaces Updated.png (32.6 KiB) Viewed 504 times

(I've found that I have to close FH after making these changes and reopen it because the records window is already open). You could make the same changes to other windows too if you wish.

Just to add that I do understand why Calico have done this - they're trying to maximise the space available on the screen to display the window, but personally I find it confusing. But they've provided the options to change those as described so that sorts out the issue for me.

[Gowermick]

Once the Property Box is open then a single-click on a record or box will update the contents of the Property Box.
As far as I recall, it has always been thus in FH.

But not always in queries, which depend on column data settings, even when property box is open!
In my "Missing Burials" query I Single-click on the name and it populates the property box
whereas in my "Census Ages" query, I have to Double-click to populate the property box

I now realise that in the Missing Burials query, I use %INDI% for the name which only needs a Single Click, but in Census Ages I use %INDI.NAME:SURNAME% and %INDI.NAME:GIVEN_ALL which needs a Double Click - Lesson learnt

[tatewise]

Sorry Mike, but that logic does not hold true.
The Query downloaded from Ages on Census uses %INDI% but that still needs a double-click to open the Property Box.
Similarly, the standard Query All Individuals uses %INDI% and needs a double-click to open the Property Box.
BUT, once the Property Box is open, a single-click on any %INDI% cell will update the Property Box.

Compare that with a cell such as %INDI.NAME% or %INDI.BIRT.DATE% that refers to a field within a record rather than the record itself. Those always need a double-click to update the Property Box. They also have a right-click option to Locate in Property Box or Locate in All Tab.

[Jessie 888]

As Mike said in his first post, this can all be controlled by the Tools->Preferences->Workspaces. By default it looks like this:

Workspaces Default.png

But if you change it to this then the properties box will be docked and always there on the records and query windows too:

Workspaces Updated.png

(I've found that I have to close FH after making these changes and reopen it because the records window is already open). You could make the same changes to other windows too if you wish.

Nick, thank you so much for such a clear explanation. It's much appreciated! I've tried out your suggestion which has made it much better. At least I've got rid of that floating window! It's not quite how it used to be because when I double-click in the Records Window, the Focus Window opens on the right then I need to just click on the magnifying focus icon. When I'm in the Focus Window and go back to the Records Window, then the Focus stays on the right and I just click to close it. That won't be a problem at all as soon as I get used to it so thanks again.

[tatewise]

Jessie, I think you are confusing the Property Box and the Focus Window, etc.

This is the Property Box, which may optionally appear docked to the right of any window or float anywhere.

PropertyBox.png (65.06 KiB) Viewed 412 times

This is the Focus Window, which may have the Property Box docked on the right or floating.

FocusWindow.png (183.79 KiB) Viewed 412 times

This is the Records Window, which may have the Property Box docked on the right or floating.

RecordsWindow.png (76.15 KiB) Viewed 412 times

Other windows such as the Query Window, Diagram Window, Report Window, Map Window behave much the same.

[Jessie 888]

Many thanks, Mike. Your help and patience is always greatly appreciated!