* Customize Citation Window Problem

[tatewise]

I have the FH V7.0.9 popular pair of yellow Source Citation floating windows as configured by the posting that explains how to Mimic FH V6 Source Citation Pane in FH V7 (20233).

To adjust the Citation Window fields, I use the cog Menu > Customize Citation Window... option.
Almost any changes involving the View/Edit button cause the floating Citation List pane to become docked on the right of the Propery Box.

The yellow scroll Show Sources icon then no longer does anything.

One fix is to close and re-open FH and the Citation List pane is then floating again.
However, closing FH often raises the message "Save changes to <project name>?" even though no data has changed.

Is it just me or do others get those symptoms?

If others have this problem I will report it to CP.

[LornaCraig]

Yes, I can replicate those symptoms.

[BillH]

I discovered this problem during beta testing for FH 7. After FH 7 was released I opened a ticket, 385459, on Feb 2, 2021. I followed up in June and they had not yet looked into it and didn't know when they would.

Bill

[tatewise]

Oh dear, that is a sad state of affairs, because customising the Citation Window to allow variable height Text From Source and Note fields is crucial to mimicking the FH V6 Sources For pane.
It also avoids the need to visit the Text From Source and Notes tabs, where the user must repeatedly select the same drop-list options if they are dedicated to Method 1 'Source Record Only' mode, or similarly for Method 2 'Citation-specific Only' mode.

The question is should I report it again?

[BillH]

This problem and the fact that the floating windows kept closing and having to be reopened are the reasons I quit using this setup and decided to just use the floating citation window.

Probably wouldn't hurt to report it again. If they get another report it might light a fire under them a bit.

Bill

[BillH]

This is the problem that I reported.

I am currently running version 7.0.5.

In preferences I have both options for the preferred position for citation list pane set to "Open in New Window".
I have my windows laid out as in image1.jpg attached.

If I use the Customize Citation Window... option and add or delete a field, the Citation List Pane does not stay as a separate window. Rather it gets docked back next to the property box. See image2.jpg attached.

The Citation List Pane should remain as a separate window.

The only way I can get back to my preferred layout is to close Family Historian and re-open it.

I just discovered that if I use the Customize Property Box... option and add or delete a field it also causes the same problem.

[BillH]

I discovered this problem during beta testing for FH 7.

Just to correct what I initially said. I looked back at my notes and realize that I actually didn't discover this during beta testing. I discovered it in January 2021 after FH 7 was released while trying to figure out a way to make FH 7 look more like FH 6.

Bill

[tatewise]

There is an associated problem in FH V7.0.9 that I had not noticed before.
In the Records Window, open the Sources tab, and open any Source record Property Box.
Use the cog Menu > Customize Property Box... option and check the Customize Property Box dialogue
It is actually the Customize Citation Window dialogue, with Tab: Main (generic) and Main (template), and Available Items: include all the Citation Details fields. The Selected Items list the content of the Citation Window.
If you edit any of the Selected Items then the Citation Window gets customized instead of the Source record

Can anybody else replicate those symptoms?

[LornaCraig]

Yes, but I think it has always been the case (since beta testing) that the same dialog is used to customise both windows. And I can't imagine a scenario in which I would want the Source Property Box to look different from the Source pane of the Citation Window.

The FH Help says:

The Customize Property Box dialog is the same dialog that is used for Customize Citation Window. The only difference is that when customizing the Citation Window, the record type is always Source whereas when customizing the Property Box, any record type may be used. Also, the "Citation Details" fields (which appear when the Record Type is Source) are only relevant to the Citation Window, and not also to the Property Box.

EDIT: That's why in Customising V7 to use V6 (Simple) Style Sources it says "Following these instructions will also customise the Citation Window."

[ColeValleyGirl]

There is an associated problem in FH V7.0.9 that I had not noticed before.
In the Records Window, open the Sources tab, and open any Source record Property Box.
Use the cog Menu > Customize Property Box... option and check the Customize Property Box dialogue
It is actually the Customize Citation Window dialogue, with Tab: Main (generic) and Main (template), and Available Items: include all the Citation Details fields. The Selected Items list the content of the Citation Window.
If you edit any of the Selected Items then the Citation Window gets customized instead of the Source record

Can anybody else replicate those symptoms?

I've always thought it's a feature not a bug.

And I can't imagine a scenario in which I would want the Source Property Box to look different from the Source pane of the Citation Window.

Ditto.

[tatewise]

Wow! I had not realised that both dialogues always get customized via either command.

I misunderstood your "Following these instructions will also customise the Citation Window." to mean that if you use the Customize Citation Window command and follow the same instructions then similar changes can be performed.
I didn't realise it meant that both dialogues get customized simultaneously via either command including the Citation Details.
Perhaps "Following these instructions will simultaneously customise the Citation Window." is better?

If you primarily worked via the Source records Main tab and wanted to limit the size of the Citation Window, then it would be useful to be able to remove the Source Record fields, or at least the Text From Source and Notes fields, from the Citation Window as the latter can be managed via their respective tabs when necessary. Currently, that is not possible.

[tatewise]

There is an anomaly in the Customize Citation Window and Source record Customize Property Box dialogues.
There is no Available Items entry for Note, i.e. the local Note field.
Every other Customize Property Box dialogue has a Note entry (if it is valid) so why not Citation Window/Source record?

I will report that along with the Citation List pane disruption.

[BillH]

I was just notified of a fix for this problem in version 7.0.10. I did some testing and it does seem to be fixed.

I got the new release attached to the email, but it looks like it is also available on the FH website using the Download Family Historian button.

Bill

[Mark1834]

Yes, it looks like the usual low profile “soft release”. If nothing breaks over the next few days, we’ll get Jane’s announcement and list of upgrades and fixes...