Clicking and holding shape layer tool (Q) doesn't bring up other shape options

[andrew.hoeveler]

Steps to reproduce:

1. click on shape layer toolbar (Q) icon 
2.  hold mouse

Result: no drop down option
Expected: UI should drop down other shape options (I can only select these now by pressing Q key repeatedly)
 
System info
    Application: After Effects (Beta) v23.1.0.37
    OS: macOS v11.7.0, RAM: 64.00 GB GB, CPUs (logical): 32

[TimKurkoski]

Thanks for filing this, @andrew.hoeveler .

I'm not able to reproduce a problem with the Shape tools button in the toolbar. I tested in After Effects Beta v23.1x38 on Mac 11.6.8, Mac 12.6, and Windows 10.

Is there an additional step needed to cause the problem? Are you using a mouse, trackpad, or a pen? Is the toolbar docked in the usual place at the top of the workspace?

[andrew.hoeveler]

Hi Tim. Using a mouse - toolbar is docked in usual place. However I found this to be an intermittent issue. It was working about 20 minutes later in a different project.

[TimKurkoski]

OK, thanks, Andrew. Please let us know if you find clues as to how After Effects is getting into this state for you.

Things to keep an eye on at are which panel is focused when you select the tool, what is selected in that panel (if selection exists in that panel), which panels and extensions and scripts are open or docked, and what tool is active when you select the tool.

[andrew.hoeveler]

OK, I think I have one clue - see if this is the same for you. Opened an existing project, clicked in comp timeline, then click and hold on the selection tool (aka rectangle tool Q) - nothing happens the first time when I hold. Then I release and click and hold again and then the options show up. Is that expected behavior to ignore the click and hold the first time?

[TimKurkoski]

> Is that expected behavior to ignore the click and hold the first time?

No. Click and hold on the Shape tools should work every time.

Could you please make a screen recording of the problem in action? If you can repro consistently as you described in your last post, start the recording from launching After Effects and opening the project. You can DM it to me if you don't want to share publicly.

[andrew.hoeveler]

Hi Tim, maybe this recording will help. Actually I'll DM you since it's an active project. I didn't turn on any indicator to show when I'm clicking and holding, but when I roll over that button and pause, that's me clicking and holding. You'll see that it works sometimes and not others.

[TimKurkoski]

This issue is resolved in After Effects Beta v23.1.0.40.

There was an issue where the UI could slow down when an extension panel was open and if that extension made specific scripting calls, which caused clicks to sometimes not register as they should. The problem with the scripting call has been fixed in build 40 and later.