Skip to main content
tbraxton
22-Sapphire II
tbraxton22-Sapphire II
22-Sapphire II
November 16, 2020
Question

Mapkeys creating flashing windows

  • November 16, 2020
  • 4 replies
  • 5521 views

I have begun evaluating Creo 7 and have noticed that any mapkey that imports a config file is creating flashing windows when executed. These same mapkeys did not cause flashing windows in Creo 4.

 

I have the config option  visible_mapkeys no this has no affect on the behavior of these windows in Creo 4 or 7 in the context of the mapkeys in question. Does anyone have any idea as to why the windows are now visible in Creo 7? Any ideas on how to not have mapkeys create any visible windows unless pausing for input?

 

This is the mapkey that is the root cause of the behavior. Every mapkey that has this nested into the definition causes flashing windows to appear.

 

!* Load config file
mapkey .ifcp @MAPKEY_NAMEImport config .pro;@MAPKEY_LABELRead config;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Select `main_dlg_cur` `appl_casc`;~ Close `main_dlg_cur` `appl_casc`;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Command `ProCmdRibbonOptionsDlg` ;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Select `ribbon_options_dialog` `PageSwitcherPageList` 1 `ConfigLayout`;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Select `ribbon_options_dialog` `ConfigLayout.ImportExportBtn`;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Close `ribbon_options_dialog` `ConfigLayout.ImportExportBtn`;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Activate `ribbon_options_dialog` `ConfigLayout.Open`;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Trail `UI Desktop` `UI Desktop` `DLG_PREVIEW_POST` `file_open`;

 

  

    4 replies

    Chris3
    Chris321-Topaz I
    21-Topaz I
    November 16, 2020

    I just ran your mapkey in Creo 4 and Creo 7 and the behavior appeared to be the same for me.

     

    I had visible_mapkeys set to no for both tests.

    tbraxton
    22-Sapphire II
    tbraxton22-Sapphire IIAuthor
    22-Sapphire II
    November 16, 2020

    Let me clarify some important context in that this mapkey run on its own is not the root cause.

    Every mapkey that has this (mapkey .ifcp) nested into the definition causes flashing windows to appear. The windows are opened and closed by the mapkey causing the flashing.

     

    Here is an example of it in context of a nested mapkey sequence. As you can see the window is invoked and closed in the sequence. Up to Creo 4 these windows are not visible when the nested mapkeys are run. I have not tested them in Creo 5 or 6.

    !*selection glow
mapkey $F4 @MAPKEY_LABELGlow Toggle;%.ifcp;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Input `file_open` `Inputname` `D:\\ProE Standards\\Config \
mapkey(continued) Calls\\on_glow.pro`;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Command `ProFileSelPushOpen_Standard@context_dlg_open_cmd` ;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Activate `ribbon_options_dialog` `OkPshBtn`;

     

    Chris3
    Chris321-Topaz I
    21-Topaz I
    November 16, 2020

    ok can confirm I see the same white windows briefly flash in Creo 7. I ran in Creo 7.0.2.0.

     

    I created a mapkey with your original mapkey and then created another mapkey that called importing that first mapkey file.

     

    Given that we can both see it, it is part of the software and likely not some configuration option. If you want to try your luck you will need to open a ticket with PTC although I wouldn't get your hopes up about them changing it back.

    tbraxton
    22-Sapphire II
    tbraxton22-Sapphire IIAuthor
    22-Sapphire II
    December 11, 2020

    This is the response I got back from R&D. No explanation of why the new behavior is now correct. I will add a request for enhancement but it will go nowhere without voting it up. Link to the idea:

    https://community.ptc.com/t5/Creo-Parametric-Ideas/Update-functionality-of-visible-mapkeys-config-option-to-work/idi-p/702915#M13886 

     

    R&D has added the following comments:

    The new behavior is correct and we do not currently have any option to hide UI during mapkey replay. If there are number of requests coming in from various customers ,we could always investigate such a possibility in more detail. Also we don't even know in how many cases UI wouldn't be shown in earlier releases– it may have been very machine and mapkey dependent and for some mapkeys it may be shown.

     

    In short, this will be considered in future based on the number of requests coming in from the customers. Let me know if you have any queries.

     

     

      tbraxton
      22-Sapphire II
      tbraxton22-Sapphire IIAuthor
      22-Sapphire II
      August 19, 2021

      PTC has a fix planned for Creo 9

      • Reported to R&D as SPR 11201949
      • Corrected in Creo Parametric 9.0.0.0
        L
        lockarde12-Amethyst
        12-Amethyst
        May 12, 2025

        I'm running Creo 10, and I still see the flashing windows - When you say "corrected in Creo 9", is there a config option, or is it just not supposed to happen anymore?

        tbraxton
        22-Sapphire II
        tbraxton22-Sapphire IIAuthor
        22-Sapphire II
        May 13, 2025

        No config option. Code is supposedly updated to resolve the issue. See article below. If you find that the issue has not been fixed, open a new call with PTC and reference this article. Also post here that you have opened a new call on this issue.

         

        https://www.ptc.com/en/support/article/CS334396 

        L
        llie17-Peridot
        17-Peridot
        February 3, 2022

        All,

         

        I am running our company mapkeys in Creo 7040 and do not see the flashing window. May be this happens when you load a file.

         

        Lance 

        tbraxton
        22-Sapphire II
        tbraxton22-Sapphire IIAuthor
        22-Sapphire II
        February 3, 2022

        @llie 

        The issue is not limited to mapkeys that load a config.pro file. I have numerous others that cause the issue.

         

        Your test case is probably not valid for this issue since your mapkeys are not calling UI elements that invoke the desktop windows manager in Win 10. What OS are you using for testing and do any of your mapkeys invoke UI windows? 

         

        I think you have missed some critical details on this issue. I just tested some mapkeys and it is still causing flashing windows in Creo 7.0.6. If you run a test case matching the root cause stated above and do not get any flashing windows then that is something for the community to review in detail.

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement