Fix: Make object properties tab selection more predictable

Fixes #271

Author: PierreRaybaut

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -53,6 +53,14 @@ See DataLab [roadmap page](https://datalab-platform.com/en/contributing/roadmap.
 * ROI bounding boxes are now properly clipped to image boundaries, and fully out-of-bounds ROIs return NaN statistics values
 * This fix is implemented in Sigima library (see [Issue #1](https://github.com/DataLab-Platform/Sigima/issues/1) - `ValueError` when computing statistics on ROI extending beyond image boundaries)
 
+**Object property panel tab selection:**
+
+* Fixed tab selection behavior in object properties panel to be more predictable and user-friendly
+* Properties tab is now always shown by default when switching between objects, providing consistent navigation
+* Creation, Processing, and Analysis tabs now appear automatically only once after their respective triggering events (object creation, 1-to-1 processing, or analysis computation), then revert to Properties tab for subsequent selections
+* This eliminates the confusing behavior where the tab would arbitrarily persist or change based on previous selections
+* This closes [Issue #271](https://github.com/datalab-platform/datalab/issues/271) - Improve object property panel tab selection behavior
+
 ## DataLab Version 1.0.1 ##
 
 This major release represents a significant milestone for DataLab with numerous enhancements across all areas. The changes are organized by category for easier navigation.

datalab/gui/panel/base.py

@@ -216,6 +216,13 @@ def __init__(self, panel: BaseDataPanel, objclass: SignalObj | ImageObj) -> None
         self.analysis_parameters.setReadOnly(True)
         self.analysis_parameters.setFont(font)
 
+        # Track newly created objects to show Creation tab only once
+        self._newly_created_obj_uuid: str | None = None
+        # Track when analysis results were just computed
+        self._fresh_analysis_obj_uuid: str | None = None
+        # Track when object was just processed (1-to-1)
+        self._fresh_processing_obj_uuid: str | None = None
+
         self.tabwidget.addTab(
             self.processing_history, get_icon("history.svg"), _("History")
         )
@@ -370,11 +377,16 @@ def __update_properties_dataset(self, obj: SignalObj | ImageObj) -> None:
         self.properties.get()
         self.properties.apply_button.setEnabled(False)
 
-    def update_properties_from(self, obj: SignalObj | ImageObj | None = None) -> None:
+    def update_properties_from(
+        self,
+        obj: SignalObj | ImageObj | None = None,
+        force_tab: Literal["creation", "processing", "analysis", None] | None = None,
+    ) -> None:
         """Update properties panel (properties, creation, processing) from object.
 
         Args:
             obj: Signal or Image object
+            force_tab: Force a specific tab to be current
         """
         self.properties.setDisabled(obj is None)
         if obj is None:
@@ -411,30 +423,56 @@ def update_properties_from(self, obj: SignalObj | ImageObj | None = None) -> Non
         self.processing_scroll = None
 
         # Setup Creation and Processing tabs (if applicable)
-        has_creation_tab = has_processing_tab = False
+        has_creation_tab = False
+        has_processing_tab = False
         if obj is not None:
             has_creation_tab = self.setup_creation_tab(obj)
-            has_processing_tab = self.setup_processing_tab(obj)
+            has_processing_tab = self.setup_processing_tab(obj)  # Processing tab setup
 
         # Trigger visibility update for History and Analysis parameters tabs
         # (will be called via textChanged signals, but we call explicitly
         # here to ensure initial state is correct)
         self._update_tab_visibility()
 
-        # Handle priority regarding the tab to set as current:
-        # 1. Analysis parameters if content exists
-        # 2. Creation tab if it exists
-        # 3. Processing tab if it exists
-        # 4. Properties tab
-        if has_analysis_parameters:
-            self.tabwidget.setCurrentWidget(self.analysis_parameters)
-        elif has_creation_tab:
+        # Determine which tab to show based on force_tab parameter:
+        # - If force_tab="creation" and Creation tab exists, show it
+        # - If force_tab="processing" and Processing tab exists, show it
+        # - If force_tab="analysis" and Analysis tab has content, show it
+        # - Otherwise, always show Properties tab (default behavior)
+        if force_tab == "creation" and has_creation_tab:
             self.tabwidget.setCurrentWidget(self.creation_scroll)
-        elif has_processing_tab:
+        elif force_tab == "processing" and has_processing_tab:
             self.tabwidget.setCurrentWidget(self.processing_scroll)
+        elif force_tab == "analysis" and has_analysis_parameters:
+            self.tabwidget.setCurrentWidget(self.analysis_parameters)
         else:
+            # Default: always show Properties tab when switching objects
             self.tabwidget.setCurrentWidget(self.properties)
 
+    def mark_as_newly_created(self, obj: SignalObj | ImageObj) -> None:
+        """Mark object to show Creation tab on next selection.
+
+        Args:
+            obj: Object to mark
+        """
+        self._newly_created_obj_uuid = get_uuid(obj)
+
+    def mark_as_freshly_processed(self, obj: SignalObj | ImageObj) -> None:
+        """Mark object to show Processing tab on next selection.
+
+        Args:
+            obj: Object to mark
+        """
+        self._fresh_processing_obj_uuid = get_uuid(obj)
+
+    def mark_as_fresh_analysis(self, obj: SignalObj | ImageObj) -> None:
+        """Mark object to show Analysis tab on next selection.
+
+        Args:
+            obj: Object to mark
+        """
+        self._fresh_analysis_obj_uuid = get_uuid(obj)
+
     def get_changed_properties(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """Get dictionary of properties that have changed from original values.
 
@@ -1490,6 +1528,16 @@ def add_object(
         obj.check_data()
         self.objmodel.add_object(obj, group_id)
 
+        # Mark this object as newly created to show Creation tab on first selection
+        # BUT: Don't overwrite if this object is already marked as freshly processed
+        # or has fresh analysis results (those take precedence)
+        obj_uuid = get_uuid(obj)
+        if (
+            obj_uuid != self.objprop._fresh_processing_obj_uuid
+            and obj_uuid != self.objprop._fresh_analysis_obj_uuid
+        ):
+            self.objprop.mark_as_newly_created(obj)
+
         # Block signals to avoid updating the plot (unnecessary refresh)
         self.objview.blockSignals(True)
         self.objview.add_object_item(obj, group_id, set_current=set_current)
@@ -2419,7 +2467,26 @@ def selection_changed(self, update_items: bool = False) -> None:
         """
         selected_objects = self.objview.get_sel_objects(include_groups=True)
         selected_groups = self.objview.get_sel_groups()
-        self.objprop.update_properties_from(self.objview.get_current_object())
+
+        # Determine which tab to show based on object state
+        current_obj = self.objview.get_current_object()
+        force_tab = None
+        if current_obj is not None:
+            obj_uuid = get_uuid(current_obj)
+            # Show Creation tab for newly created objects (only once)
+            if obj_uuid == self.objprop._newly_created_obj_uuid:
+                force_tab = "creation"
+                self.objprop._newly_created_obj_uuid = None
+            # Show Processing tab for freshly processed objects (only once)
+            elif obj_uuid == self.objprop._fresh_processing_obj_uuid:
+                force_tab = "processing"
+                self.objprop._fresh_processing_obj_uuid = None
+            # Show Analysis tab for objects with fresh analysis results
+            elif obj_uuid == self.objprop._fresh_analysis_obj_uuid:
+                force_tab = "analysis"
+                self.objprop._fresh_analysis_obj_uuid = None
+
+        self.objprop.update_properties_from(current_obj, force_tab=force_tab)
         self.acthandler.selected_objects_changed(selected_groups, selected_objects)
         self.refresh_plot("selected", update_items, False)
 

datalab/gui/processor/base.py

@@ -1122,6 +1122,9 @@ def _compute_1_to_1_subroutine(
                     )
                     insert_processing_parameters(new_obj, pp)
 
+                    # Mark object as freshly processed to show Processing tab
+                    self.panel.objprop.mark_as_freshly_processed(new_obj)
+
                     new_gid = None
                     if grps:
                         # If groups are selected, then it means that there is no
@@ -1417,6 +1420,8 @@ def compute_1_to_0(
                 rdata.append(adapter, obj)
 
                 if obj is current_obj:
+                    # Mark object as having fresh analysis results to show Analysis tab
+                    self.panel.objprop.mark_as_fresh_analysis(obj)
                     self.panel.selection_changed(update_items=True)
                 else:
                     self.panel.refresh_plot(get_uuid(obj), True, False)

doc/locale/fr/LC_MESSAGES/changelog.po

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ msgid ""
 msgstr ""
 "Project-Id-Version: DataLab \n"
 "Report-Msgid-Bugs-To: \n"
-"POT-Creation-Date: 2025-11-30 12:33+0100\n"
+"POT-Creation-Date: 2025-11-30 15:30+0100\n"
 "PO-Revision-Date: YEAR-MO-DA HO:MI+ZONE\n"
 "Last-Translator: FULL NAME <EMAIL@ADDRESS>\n"
 "Language: fr\n"
@@ -123,6 +123,24 @@ msgstr "Les boîtes englobantes des ROI sont désormais correctement limitées a
 msgid "This fix is implemented in Sigima library (see [Issue #1](https://github.com/DataLab-Platform/Sigima/issues/1) - `ValueError` when computing statistics on ROI extending beyond image boundaries)"
 msgstr "Cette correction est implémentée dans la bibliothèque Sigima (voir [Issue #1](https://github.com/DataLab-Platform/Sigima/issues/1) - `ValueError` lors du calcul des statistiques sur ROI s'étendant au-delà des limites de l'image)"
 
+msgid "**Object property panel tab selection:**"
+msgstr "**Sélection des onglets du panneau des propriétés des objets :**"
+
+msgid "Fixed tab selection behavior in object properties panel to be more predictable and user-friendly"
+msgstr "Correction du comportement de sélection des onglets dans le panneau des propriétés des objets pour le rendre plus prévisible et convivial"
+
+msgid "Properties tab is now always shown by default when switching between objects, providing consistent navigation"
+msgstr "L'onglet Propriétés est désormais toujours affiché par défaut lors du changement d'objet, offrant une navigation cohérente"
+
+msgid "Creation, Processing, and Analysis tabs now appear automatically only once after their respective triggering events (object creation, 1-to-1 processing, or analysis computation), then revert to Properties tab for subsequent selections"
+msgstr "Les onglets Création, Traitement et Analyse apparaissent désormais automatiquement une seule fois après leurs événements déclencheurs respectifs (création d'objet, traitement 1-vers-1 ou calcul d'analyse), puis reviennent à l'onglet Propriétés pour les sélections ultérieures"
+
+msgid "This eliminates the confusing behavior where the tab would arbitrarily persist or change based on previous selections"
+msgstr "Cela élimine le comportement déroutant où l'onglet persistait ou changeait arbitrairement en fonction des sélections précédentes"
+
+msgid "This closes [Issue #271](https://github.com/datalab-platform/datalab/issues/271) - Improve object property panel tab selection behavior"
+msgstr "Ceci clôture [Issue #271](https://github.com/datalab-platform/datalab/issues/271) - Amélioration du comportement de sélection des onglets du panneau des propriétés des objets"
+
 msgid "DataLab Version 1.0.1"
 msgstr "DataLab Version 1.0.1"