Adding a text layer opens the Properties panel

[hellopaul4]

Steps to reproduce:

1. Close the Properties panel
2. Click the Type Tool icon, ready to add some text to a comp

 
Result: Properties panel re-opens

Expected: Properties panel to remember that I closed it. I know this panel received a lot of love from Adobe when it was introduced relatively recently and I'm sure they want to show it off to everyone, but if I close it, I want it to stay closed thankyou very much.
 
System info
    Application: After Effects (Beta) v24.5.0.46
    OS: Windows v10.0.19045, RAM: 127.91 GB GB, CPUs (logical): 32

[JohnColombo]

Hi @hellopaul4,

Thanks for reporting this. What you've described is the default behavior when the "Auto-Open Panels" checkbox is enabled in the toolbar for the Type tool. If you disable that checkbox, the Properties panel will no longer open when you select a Text layer. The same checkbox is present for the Shape/Pen tools, so you may want to disable it there as well.

Regarding the Properties panel itself, what scenarios do you find yourself closing it? Obviously, it doesn't need to be open all the time, but we would like to know more about your usage of it and what situations you might find it in the way.

Thanks again,

- John, After Effects Engineering Team 

[hellopaul4]

Aha - of course - thanks for reminding me about the "Auto-Open Panels" option!

I think I'm just old-fashioned (been using AE since the CoSA days etc etc) and am happy with the individual panels, especially for type, all expanded to their fullest so I can always see all the options. One scenario where I thought the Properties Panel would come in handy is in Shape Layers, but there is one disappointment there (I think I've done a bug report on it a while ago) - if I use the pen tool to draw a shape, then open the resulting shape layer and drag the Path, Stroke and/or Fill out of the Shape 1 group, I cannot access any of the shape's parameters in the Properties panel, rendering the Properties Panel useless. I often drag a path and stroke/fill out of its group, just to tidy things up a bit (if I don't have lots of shape groups in that shape layer).

[JohnColombo]

Thanks @hellopaul4! No worries, I understand the sentiment.

Regarding the current Shape layer experience, I'm tagging @Brianstorm, our designer, so he can see feedback and potentially weigh in on how this experience could be improved in a future version of the Properties panel. You aren't the only one who has told us they like to decouple the Fill/Stroke from the Shape Groups, and the current behavior is obviously not conducive to that workflow preference.

Thanks again,

- John, After Effects Engineering Team