Contents of Help Menu disabled (Mac OS X)

[processing-bot]

Created by: vormplus

The content of the Help menu sometimes gets disabled on Mac OS X (see screenshot below). Pressing the backspace key in the Search field also doesn't work when the menu items are disabled.

[processing-bot]

In GitLab by @siochi on Aug 4, 2016, 00:40

thanks for opening this. while not a showstopper, it would be very helpful for my beginner students.

[processing-bot]

Created by: benfry

Any steps to reproduce this? That's a serious problem for students, but it's gonna be tricky since we don't have control over that menu (it's handled inside Java...)

[processing-bot]

In GitLab by @siochi on Aug 4, 2016, 18:45

I've been trying to determine what leads to it. No success so far but will post what I find.

[processing-bot]

Created by: REAS

I also see this from time to time, but haven't been able to figure out why yet.

[processing-bot]

Created by: benfry

I'd be looking for things like switching applications, opening/closing sketches, etc...

[processing-bot]

In GitLab by @siochi on Aug 5, 2016, 21:40

Steps to reproduce disabled help menu issue
environment: macbook pro retina mid 2012, MacOS 10.11.6, Processing 3.1.2

// this sequence shows that a sketch without any code ever typed in does not cause the issue
launch processing
run the blank default sketch
close the sketch code window
(processing now has only two menu items in the menu bar)
select file/new to create a new sketch
(help menu still has all choices available)
quit processing

// this sequence reproduces the issue. It also seems that it doesn't matter if you save or not
launch processing
type in point(50, 50);
run the sketch
close the sketch code window (not the running sketch)
when processing asks if you want to save the sketch, click "don't save"
(processing now has only two menu items in the menu bar)
select file/new to create a new sketch
click help menu
(now none of the menu choices are active)

[processing-bot]

Created by: benfry

Ugh, looks like it might be a Java problem: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/33786958/cant-re-enable-osx-menubar

[processing-bot]

Created by: benfry

Thanks for tracking down a way to reproduce the issue. I suspect it's something to do with how the modal "Save changes" dialog box is interacting with the single-menubar support that's specific to OS X. Now to figure out how to work around it.

[processing-bot]

In GitLab by @siochi on Aug 18, 2016, 14:18

you're welcome!
thank you for Processing!

[processing-bot]

Created by: jdf

https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/browse/JDK-8196655

[processing-bot]

Created by: jdf

https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=520176

[processing-bot]

Created by: benfry

Confirmed to still be broken with JDK 11.0.8 when using the (very helpful!) instructions from @siochi.

[processing-bot]

Created by: benfry

(Moving to Processing 4 repo because it's still broken in Java 17.)

[processing-bot]

Created by: benfry

Still a bug in Java on macOS as of January 2023, though unfortunately closed as not reproducible: https://bugs.openjdk.org/browse/JDK-8196655

For 4.1.2, added a workaround that hides the problem for now. The workaround is to add a space to the end of the menu name, which disables whatever macOS behavior is causing the problem.

When removing the workaround, the fastest way to reproduce the issue is a shortened version of @siochi's instructions:

1. launch Processing
2. type anything
3. close the sketch code window, and when prompted to save the sketch, click Don't Save
4. select File → New to create a new sketch
5. click Help menu, all menu items are disabled

[processing-bot]

Created by: github-actions[bot]

This issue has been automatically locked. To avoid confusion with reports that have already been resolved, closed issues are automatically locked 30 days after the last comment. Please open a new issue for related bugs.