Complete list of examples are not always shown

[akash73]

Describe the problem

At the first launch, the built in examples and the library examples menu is correctly shown.
after selecting a random sketch from the examples list, then the menu shows only the built in examples

First launch:

same menu after opening any sketch:

To reproduce

1. Go to File -> Examples (all examples are displayed)
2. Click on any examples
3. Go to File -> Examples (only built-in examples are displayed)

Expected behavior

Examples for all globally installed libraries and the "platform bundled" libraries of the currently selected board are always shown in the "Examples" menu.

Arduino IDE version

Not specified

Operating system

macOS 10.15.7

Additional context

The symptom reported here also occurs in #2640. However, #2640 only occurs after the initial installation of a boards platform, whereas in this report the symptom occurs after opening a new sketch, so they are distinct defects.

Additional reports

• https://forum.arduino.cc/t/ide-2-1-0-has-lost-library-examples/1138810/1
• https://forum.arduino.cc/t/ide-2-1-0-has-lost-library-examples/1138810/5
• https://forum.arduino.cc/t/user-review-of-ide-2-0-0-rc3/948177
• https://forum.arduino.cc/t/test-ide-2-0-rc2-extended-example-is-empty/935666
• https://forum.arduino.cc/t/examples-go-missing/965479

Workaround

Issue checklist

• I searched for previous reports in the issue tracker
• I verified the problem still occurs when using the latest nightly build
• My report contains all necessary details

[kittaakos]

Did you select a board, @akash73? You have to select a board to see the examples.
Here is a related question: #192 (comment)
Let me know if you cannot see the examples after selecting a board.

[akash73]

@kittaakos thanks .

after selecting the board,

The first time I select File -> Examples , the full list is not displayed.
The 2nd time , selecting again File-> Examples to see the full list.

[tigoe]

A note on this: it seems that the full list only appears if you have a board and port selected.

To reproduce:

1. unplug all boards
2. Quit
3. restart
4. Check examples menu.

In this case, you'll see only the core examples, not the libraries examples. I expect to see the libraries examples as well. I get that they are filtered by board, but I think that filtering could happen after you pick the board, not before.

[ubidefeo]

@tigoe

I get that they are filtered by board, but I think that filtering could happen after you pick the board, not before.

I can't remember why it is this way, but I'll check what can be done 👍🏼

[tigoe]

My guess would be that the menus are context sensitive to the board type. But in the old ide there's never a time when you don't have a board type, because the Uno is the default. So the error never occurred.

…

On Tue, Mar 30, 2021, 2:13 PM Ubi de Feo ***@***.***> wrote: @tigoe <https://github.com/tigoe> I get that they are filtered by board, but I think that filtering could happen after you pick the board, not before. I can't remember why it is this way, but I'll check what can be done 👍🏼 — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#262 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAC45HZOHBIQZ54B2GF2NF3TGIIGDANCNFSM4ZW6AFKQ> .

[per1234]

I have a lot of libraries installed and it takes about a minute between selecting a board and the library examples showing in the File > Examples menu.

[tigoe]

@per1234 You might be outside the norm for a beginner. You might even be outside the norm for an advanced user. It takes about two seconds for me, and I thought I had a lot of libraries. Many teachers count on the libraries showing up in the list as they did in IDE 1.0, so I would suggest finding a way to make it work even when you don't have a board selected. Perhaps a list item saying "Pick a board to see matching examples from your installed libraries"

…

On Tue, Mar 30, 2021 at 8:01 PM per1234 ***@***.***> wrote: I have a lot of libraries installed and it takes about a minute between selecting a board and the library examples showing in the *File > Examples* menu. — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#262 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAC45H5ECHS4J7HDRU5W3M3TGJQ57ANCNFSM4ZW6AFKQ> .

[per1234]

the full list only appears if you have a board and port selected.

Fixed by 68af4c3
The examples for globally installed libraries in the sketchbook are now always shown in the File > Examples menu.

The examples for platform bundled libraries (e.g., SPI) will still only be shown when a board is selected, because these libraries are board-dependent. Other than the fact that it does not produce a state where no board would be selected, the classic Arduino IDE has the same behavior.

The frequency of having no board selected has been reduced by c86d82d

The loss of the board selection when opening the example could have been the cause of this sequence pre-68af4c3:

#262 (comment)

1. Go to File -> Examples (all examples are displayed)
2. Click on any examples
3. Go to File -> Examples (only built-in examples are displayed)

However, I am still able to reproduce this reliably with 2.0.0-beta.12 and the current nightly build:

#262 (comment)

after selecting the board,

The first time I select File -> Examples , the full list is not displayed.
The 2nd time , selecting again File-> Examples to see the full list.

It still occurs even with only a small number of installed libraries. There just isn't such a long delay as when I have a large number of libraries installed.

[SofiaEngvall]

I off course want to see all the examples all the time. If this is not the default behavior there should be an option for it. I am currently looking at examples to decide what more boards to buy. I don't want to go through all models of boards (200+ I believe) installed to be able to see all examples! As a workaround I installed an older version of Android studio (1.6.5) and there I can see everything. This should not be necessary, right? Thank you! :)

[per1234]

@SofiaEngvall there seems to be a misunderstanding. The intended behavior of Arduino IDE 2.x is exactly the same as 1.6.5. The unresolved component of this issue is a BUG that causes library examples to occasionally not be shown under the File > Examples menu. The solution is to fix the bug, not to add an option. If you experience the bug, simply open a new window. That almost always fixes the problem for me.

I don't want to go through all models of boards (200+ I believe) installed to be able to see all examples! As a workaround I installed an older version of Android studio (1.6.5) and there I can see everything.

Since you mention going through boards, it seems you are reacting to the statement I made above:

The examples for platform bundled libraries (e.g., SPI) will still only be shown when a board is selected, because these libraries are board-dependent. Other than the fact that it does not produce a state where no board would be selected, the classic Arduino IDE has the same behavior.

As I said already, Arduino IDE 1.6.5 has the same behavior as Arduino IDE 2.x. If you are seeing differences between the two IDE versions in the number of examples shown, that is the result of a BUG, not an intentional design.

[SofiaEngvall]

@SofiaEngvall there seems to be a misunderstanding. The intended behavior of Arduino IDE 2.x is exactly the same as 1.6.5. The unresolved component of this issue is a BUG that causes library examples to occasionally not be shown under the File > Examples menu. The solution is to fix the bug, not to add an option. If you experience the bug, simply open a new window. That almost always fixes the problem for me.

Thank you for clarifying. The reason I reacted as I did was since you used the word solution instead of workaround. Great that you're aiming for a full solution.

I'm actually writing a new bug report now and I'm curious how this version could be the suggested download on the Arduino web page it there are these much basic functionality bugs? It really seems like it's not ready yet. I'm still typing there but I'm thinking maybe I could contribute?