When importing windows from multiple InTouch applications into a combined application, existing “Show Window” animations can become associated with the wrong destination windows.

As documented in the support investigation, these animations reference internal window index numbers rather than window names. When source applications have overlapping window IDs, the import process does not reliably remap the animation references to the correct destination windows. New window IDs may be assigned during import, while animation links continue referencing the old IDs.

For example, after merging our Calcine 1 and Calcine 2 applications, a button on the Calciner #1 Kiln Detail window that originally opened SCAL1_CAL1_OPACITYTREND instead selected and opened SCAL2_CAL2_OPACITYTREND.

Testing and current limitations

The issue occurred when importing existing windows into a clean application. Reversing the import order shifted the incorrect links from one application’s windows to the other’s rather than resolving the problem. Merging directly into an existing application also failed to resolve all discrepancies. AVEVA subsequently tested modifying the indexes in WindowsInfo.json and confirmed that this did not correct the “Show Window” animation links.

Support identified this as a current design limitation under CR-166868 and reported the same issue in InTouch 2023 R2 SP1.

Impact and workaround limitations

This prevents reliable consolidation of existing HMI applications and requires extensive manual inspection, correction, and testing of navigation buttons. Incorrect links can open another process area’s window, creating a risk of operator confusion.

The remaining workarounds are to manually reselect the destination window in every affected “Show Window” animation or replace the animations with Action Scripts using window names. Both require substantial engineering effort and create a risk of missed references.

Replacing the animations with scripts also sacrifices the automatic reference updates provided by native window links when a window is renamed. Window names embedded as script strings must be located and updated manually, increasing ongoing maintenance effort and the potential for navigation errors.

Requested improvement

Please enhance the window import and application merge process to preserve the intended destination of every “Show Window” animation, including when source applications contain overlapping internal window IDs.

The process should:

• Reliably remap animation references to the correct destination windows when assigning new IDs.

• Preserve valid links in both existing and imported windows, regardless of import order.

• Retain native window-reference behavior, including automatic reference updates when windows are renamed.

• Identify and report unresolved or ambiguous references instead of allowing links to point to unintended windows.

The desired outcome is to merge existing InTouch applications without manually rebuilding navigation or converting native “Show Window” animations to scripts.