Help: Problem with Max 6 object inspector

The problem is that, on starting a new patch, I am unable to open the object inspector when I have an object selected. Pressing command I highlights the menu in which the object inspector option resides - but it doesn't open. Another wierd thing is that the object inspector works in any project I created as of a few eeks ago, but as of a few days ago, it does not work in any newly created patcher.

Thankfully the project I a working on was created a few months ago so the object inspector works. But if I am to work on a new patcher I have to either deal without the object inspector - or copy and paste objects between the newly created patcher and the old project to gain access to the object inspector menu.