PHX7: Plots – Transparent background no more supported

Phoenix Certara Forums Phoenix WNL basics
1

Dear all,

in previous versions I routinely set the background of plots to transparent. If such a plot-object is re-executed (or even the object is just clicked on) in PHX 64 (7.0.0.2535) on Win7 Pro I got an error:

Message:
Phoenix has encountered an unexpected error.
You can continue but it is suggested that you do not save over your originally loaded projects to prevent data loss.

Details:
The control element does not support transparent background colors.

Stack Trace:
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.set_BackColor(Color value)
at System.Windows.Forms.TextBoxBase.set_BackColor(Color value)
at Pharsight.WinNonlin.Plugins.Plotting.UI.Settings.TitleSettingsPanel.SetupFormForObject(Object obj) in c:\jenkins\workspace\PhoenixCompile\PHX\MAIN\Phoenix\App\Plugins.Plotting\UI\Settings\TitleSettingsPanel.cs:line 65.
at Pharsight.WinNonlin.Plugins.Plotting.UI.PanelBase.set_DisplayObject(Object value) in c:\jenkins\workspace\PhoenixCompile\PHX\MAIN\Phoenix\App\Plugins.Plotting\UI\PanelBase.cs:line 69.
at Pharsight.WinNonlin.Plugins.Plotting.UI.OptionsPanelBase.set_DisplayObject(Object value) in c:\jenkins\workspace\PhoenixCompile\PHX\MAIN\Phoenix\App\Plugins.Plotting\UI\OptionsPanelBase.cs:line74.
at Pharsight.WinNonlin.Plugins.Plotting.UI.PlotOptionsControl.setOptionsControl(Object obj, PanelBase displayControl) in c:\jenkins\workspace\PhoenixCompile\PHX\MAIN\Phoenix\App\Plugins.Plotting\UI\PlotOptionsControl.cs:line 228.
at Pharsight.WinNonlin.Plugins.Plotting.UI.PlotOptionsControl.setOptionsControl(Object obj, Type type) in c:\jenkins\workspace\PhoenixCompile\PHX\MAIN\Phoenix\App\Plugins.Plotting\UI\PlotOptionsControl.cs:line 207.
at Pharsight.WinNonlin.Plugins.Plotting.UI.PlotOptionsControl.SetupFormForObject(Object obj) in c:\jenkins\workspace\PhoenixCompile\PHX\MAIN\Phoenix\App\Plugins.Plotting\UI\PlotOptionsControl.cs:line 126.
at Pharsight.WinNonlin.Plugins.Plotting.UI.PanelBase.set_DisplayObject(Object value) in c:\jenkins\workspace\PhoenixCompile\PHX\MAIN\Phoenix\App\Plugins.Plotting\UI\PanelBase.cs:line 69.
at Pharsight.WinNonlin.Plugins.Plotting.UI.PlotObjectOptionsPanel.SetupFormForExecutable() in c:\jenkins\workspace\PhoenixCompile\PHX\MAIN\Phoenix\App\Plugins.Plotting\UI\PlotObjectOptionsPanel.cs:line 60.
at Pharsight.Phoenix.Forms.PropertyPanels.ExecutablePropertyPanelBase.doSetDisplayObject(IObject value)
at Pharsight.Phoenix.Forms.PropertyPanels.ExecutablePropertyPanelBase.setDisplayObject(IObject value)
at Pharsight.Phoenix.Forms.PropertyPanels.ExecutableTabPropertyPanelBase.SetupFormForExecutable()
at Pharsight.Phoenix.Forms.PropertyPanels.ExecutablePropertyPanelBase.doSetDisplayObject(IObject value)
at Pharsight.Phoenix.Forms.PropertyPanels.ExecutablePropertyPanelBase.setDisplayObject(IObject value)
at Pharsight.Phoenix.Forms.PropertyPanels.ExecutablePropertyPanelBase.doDelaySetDisplayObject(Control control)
at System.EventHandler.Invoke(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnHandleCreated(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmCreate(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

That’s nasty.

Workaround: Change “Transparent” to “None”. Note that even after re-execution you cannot change any other of the seetings of the plot object (e.g., axes, lines, markes, etc.). You have to navigate to another object and then return to the plot…

IMHO, this calls for a quick fix!

BTW, in the named colors “Transparent” is still available as an option. Do not use it!

In one of my validation projects I had to modify 40 plots…

2

Hi Helmut,

Thank you for reporting this. It is odd because the error only occurs for this control, and not, for example, for the two color controls right below it. I have logged the defect as QC 16359, and it will be fixed for the next version.

Regards,

Linda Hughes

Principal Software Engineer

Certara

3

Hi Linda,

THX for the reply.

It is odd because the error only occurs for this control, and not, for example, for the two color controls right below it.

This is odd indeed!

I have logged the defect as QC 16359, and it will be fixed for the next version.

I know that Pharsight/Certara is aiming at faster release cycles but IMHO this calls for an intermediate patch. I hardly can imagine that in a regulated environment crashing old projects are acceptable.

4

Hi Helmut,

I’ll bring up this defect in a meeting later this week with the UI developers, and see if they have any suggestions.

Thanks,

Linda

5

Hi Helmut,

I wanted to follow up and let you know that the issue you reported (QC 16359) has been fixed for the next release of Phoenix. “Transparent”, which is actually unsupported by the plotting tool for chart background color under certain circumstances, will be changed to the supported “None” when loading pre-existing projects. For new projects, “Transparent” has been removed from the chart background colors, and “None” can be used instead.

We apologize for the inconvenience this issue has caused you.

Regards,
Linda Hughes

Principal Software Engineer

Certara

6

Hi Linda,

THX!

When will the version be released – or can we hope for an intermediate patch?

7

Hi Helmut,

I’m sorry, we do not have a release date for the next version at this time, but you are correct that Certara is working on faster release cycles. We discussed a patch, but are not planning one primarily for three reasons. One, the defect does have a workaround. Two, unfortunately I think you are the only user who used this option because the issue has not been reported by anyone else. Three, even though the time to fix is small, we have to follow regulated processes for all releases including patches, which means that even patches are time-consuming; hence we need to reserve patches for critical issues so that we can continue to make progress on our next release. I think you will find the features planned for our next release very interesting!

If we can support you in some other way besides a patch, e.g., maybe using PHX 1.4 for these existing projects, I would be glad to have the Support department contact you.

Best,
Linda Hughes
Principal Software Engineer
Certara

8

Helmut, you probably saw this already but as I am cleaning spam on all these posts ;0)

The next release, Phoenix 8.0 will be launched in October.

https://support.certara.com/forums/topic/1100-phoenix-8-is-launching-on-october-3-2017/