Skip to main content
Inspiring
November 7, 2012

P: Secondary Window blocks mouse clicks even when closed after switching desktop spaces

  • November 7, 2012
  • 33 replies
  • 2059 views

I've submitted an issue for this with Adobe but, perhaps because of some communication issues, they have reported that they are unable to reproduce the problem. My question to the community is - can anyone else verify the following - using my steps and explanation?

Environment: iMac 27" with only the single monitor.
OS 10.8.2.
Lightroom 4.2

Basic Description of Problem:

After invoking the window for a "second monitor" - which pops up on top of my main display screen, I can close the second window and click on items which were hidden under the second window. If, however, I switch to another "Desktop Space" on the Macintosh and switch back, the area where the second monitor window was located becomes a "dead space" where mouse clicks to select something no longer work.

My current workarounds:

1. Open and close the secondary window again - and the area "covered" by the window will start responding (problem is - you need to do this every time - a pain if you set up something like PhotoShop CS6 and Photomatix in different Desktop Spaces to switch to when processing).

2. Move the window as far as you can off the screen - so the area doesn't overlap anywhere you'd want to click. This works as long as Lightroom is running. If you quit, however, the window position coordinates are updated (even if the window is closed) so the entire window is located within a valid monitor area.

Step-by-Step (somewhat abbreviated since this isn't a QA report forum 😉

1. Launch Lightroom and - just to ensure you're really able to see the issue (and working the way I do) - make sure the display is mostly maximized to fill the monitor.
2. Switch to Library (if not there already) and switch to Grid view.
3. Either click on the icon to open the "secondary display" or - go to the menu option Window>Secondary Display>Show to open the window.
4. Just to make this obvious - if it happens - resize this new window (on top of your main display - remember - I have only the one display) - so large it covers many of the image previews displayed in "Grid" mode.
5. Close (Hide) the secondary window display. Either click the close button - or use the Window menu to deselect "Show".
6. At this point - I can click on images which were previously covered by the secondary window - and my mouse clicks select the images, etc.
7. Switch to another desktop. Use "control + right arrow" or something.
8. Switch back to the desktop space where Lightroom is located.
9. Try clicking on an image in the grid view which was previously covered by the secondary window.

Does it respond? In every case - my mouse clicks fail at this point. It's as if the secondary window - while "closed" - is now masking the main display after switching to another desktop and back.

This topic has been closed for replies.

33 replies

Participating Frequently
August 1, 2015
BTW I don't suppose you'll recreate this easily if you use multiple displays.
Participating Frequently
August 1, 2015
I've seen this on multiple MBPs, multiple versions of OS X and multiple versions of LR. It's hard to believe that this is hardware/device related. It seems more likely to be a software bug
wirrah
Known Participant
July 31, 2015
Follow up and just to confuse the issue...

I just tried this on my circa 2008 Macbook pro and had exactly the same issue. Used to pop up the window then closed it again with and the screen was dead where it was previously visible. Toggling again gave me access.

Yosemite 10.10.4, 2GB, NVIDIA geForce 8600M GT 256MB

It's a mystery and looks like it's only affecting earlier machines... maybe...

cheers

Greg
wirrah
Known Participant
July 31, 2015
Apologies for the delay in replying but I'm in a different time zone.

Anyway... Yes later 2009 iMac, 8gb, ATI Radeon HD 4850 512 MB. Single monitor and a single desktop. I have had this machine since 2010 but the issue didn't appear until LR 4

In answer to your question it doesn't seem to make any difference how I open or close the window. I am using and have always used a USB connected mouse and different brands at that.

If it is of any help changing the screen resolution back and forth resolves the issue.

I have a macbook pro but I have never run lightroom on it. I'll test it later today.

Greg
Rikk Flohr_Photography
Community Manager
July 31, 2015
All three of you are on iMacs. I don't have one with which to test so I can't say for sure but I am suspicious.
Rikk Flohr: Adobe Photography Org
Paul Tansley
Known Participant
July 31, 2015
Macbook Pro - Early 2013 - 15"

It doesn't happen. Can't reproduce it. Rikk - Think you might have hit on a possible cause. Wonder if the others are on iMacs too - as you have suggested.

Paul
Hampshire Wedding Photographer / Documentary Wedding Photographer
Paul Tansley
Known Participant
July 31, 2015
iMac here - 27" Mid 2011

Are you thinking its a graphics card issue?

I'll have a try on my Macbook Pro - see if it also happens there - will let you know.
Hampshire Wedding Photographer / Documentary Wedding Photographer
Rikk Flohr_Photography
Community Manager
July 31, 2015
Wesley, Paul and Greg,

I have been trying to duplicate this but cannot on either my MBPr nor my MBA. I am able to edit the area under the second screen window after dismissing.

Are you all using iMacs?
Are you using any tablets or pointing devices?
How are you closing the secondary display panel?
Rikk Flohr: Adobe Photography Org
wirrah
Known Participant
July 30, 2015
Just a follow up. I installed 6.1.1 (CC) last night and I can confirm it is still an issue!
Paul Tansley
Known Participant
July 30, 2015


Secondary Display Panel - if you call this up accidentally (Shift N) then close it - as you didn't want it. You are then unable to use brushes or any retouching etc. in the area that the panel covered. It's been a bug for a few versions of LR now - and still hasn't been fixed.
Hampshire Wedding Photographer / Documentary Wedding Photographer