Support for keeping preferences of disabled add-ons #71451

New Issue

Gaia Clary · 2019-11-09T16:11:08+01:00

Gaia Clary commented

2019-11-09 16:11:08 +01:00

System Information
Operating system:
Graphics card:

Blender Version
Broken: (2.82 Alpha)
Worked: (not sure about if it ever worked)

Note: in 2.7 and earlier F8 reloads the Addons while preserving the preferences. Since F8 no longer works, the issue started getting serious for me at least.

Short description of error

see title

Exact steps for others to reproduce the error

Simple example Addon for testing: addon_do_nothing.py

install any addon that has one or more addon preferences defined.
enable the addon
set the preferences to something different from default values
store user preferences
restart Blender
Check that the addon preferences are preserved
Disable the Addon
Enable it again
See that the Addon preferences are reset to their default values
furthermore (if Auto save is enabled) the previously stored user preferences have been overwritten by the default settings.

**System Information** Operating system: Graphics card: **Blender Version** Broken: (2.82 Alpha) Worked: (not sure about if it ever worked) Note: in 2.7 and earlier F8 reloads the Addons while preserving the preferences. Since F8 no longer works, the issue started getting serious for me at least. **Short description of error** see title **Exact steps for others to reproduce the error** Simple example Addon for testing: [addon_do_nothing.py](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8004079/addon_do_nothing.py) - install any addon that has one or more addon preferences defined. - enable the addon - set the preferences to something different from default values - store user preferences - restart Blender - Check that the addon preferences are preserved - Disable the Addon - Enable it again - See that the Addon preferences are reset to their default values - furthermore (if Auto save is enabled) the previously stored user preferences have been overwritten by the default settings.

Gaia Clary commented

2019-11-09 16:11:08 +01:00

Added subscriber: @GaiaClary

Robert Guetzkow commented

2019-11-09 18:12:29 +01:00

Added subscriber: @rjg

Robert Guetzkow commented

2019-11-09 18:12:29 +01:00

You can still reload scripts like in 2.79, it's just not in the default keymap. You can either use F3 (or Edit > Operator Search) to search for Reload Scripts or add the shortcut to your [keymap ]]. Preferences will not be affected by reloading through [ https:*docs.blender.org/api/current/bpy.ops.script.html#bpy.ops.script.reload | bpy.ops.script.reload()

You can still reload scripts like in 2.79, it's just not in the default keymap. You can either use F3 (or Edit > Operator Search) to search for *Reload Scripts* or add the shortcut to your [keymap ]]. Preferences will not be affected by reloading through [[ https:*docs.blender.org/api/current/bpy.ops.script.html#bpy.ops.script.reload | `bpy.ops.script.reload()` ](https:*blender.stackexchange.com/questions/155247/add-shortkey-for-reload-scripts-in-blender-2-80)

Gaia Clary commented

2019-11-09 21:02:06 +01:00

Yes, i figured out already :) and have added back F8 for me. However i am still a bit concerned about this issue.

For example, when i work with Visual Studio Code and with Jacques Lucke's Blender plugin, every restart of the Addon (F1 -> Reload Addons) resets the presets. this is uncomfortable.

When users update to a newer version of the Addon, they sometimes need to disable the addon, and enable it again, and loose user preference data without any warning. The reload Scripts would help a bit, but you need to know how to find it.

Maybe it is possible to at least add some sort of second choice, so when auto save is enabled, then disabling comes with a small warning like:

"You will loose all presets in the current Blender session when you disable the Addon now. Are you sure about that? If you want to keep your Addon preferences for later, then cancel, disable auto save, then try again. Only then disabling the Addon will do no harm to your preferences. However even then enabling the adodn again still won't add back the user preferences immediately. You will have to restart Blender for that! So are you sure you still want to disable the Addon?"

Ok, ok... You see its a bit uncomfortable as it is right now :)
Is there any chance for improving this ?

Yes, i figured out already :) and have added back F8 for me. However i am still a bit concerned about this issue. For example, when i work with Visual Studio Code and with Jacques Lucke's Blender plugin, every restart of the Addon (F1 -> Reload Addons) resets the presets. this is uncomfortable. When users update to a newer version of the Addon, they sometimes need to disable the addon, and enable it again, and loose user preference data without any warning. The reload Scripts would help a bit, but you need to know how to find it. Maybe it is possible to at least add some sort of second choice, so when auto save is enabled, then disabling comes with a small warning like: "You will loose all presets in the current Blender session when you disable the Addon now. Are you sure about that? If you want to keep your Addon preferences for later, then cancel, disable auto save, then try again. Only then disabling the Addon will do no harm to your preferences. However even then enabling the adodn again still won't add back the user preferences immediately. You will have to restart Blender for that! So are you sure you still want to disable the Addon?" Ok, ok... You see its a bit uncomfortable as it is right now :) Is there any chance for improving this ?

Jacques Lucke commented

2019-11-10 14:15:08 +01:00

Added subscribers: @ideasman42, @JacquesLucke

Jacques Lucke commented

2019-11-10 14:15:09 +01:00

I agree with @GaiaClary here. I don't see a good reason for resetting user preferences when disabling and enabling an addon. Maybe there is some implementation detail that makes this difficult, I don't know.

@ideasman42 how hard is it not to reset the preferences of an addon when it is disabled/enabled?

I agree with @GaiaClary here. I don't see a good reason for resetting user preferences when disabling and enabling an addon. Maybe there is some implementation detail that makes this difficult, I don't know. @ideasman42 how hard is it not to reset the preferences of an addon when it is disabled/enabled?

Campbell Barton commented

2019-11-11 07:45:31 +01:00

Currently disabling the add-on remove it from the list of add-ons, freeing it's preferences too.

We can change this behavior, either by keeping the preferences at run-time without saving them. Or, keep a list of disabled add-ons which will be used when enabling an add-on - so the preferences aren't lost.

If we always save preferences we will probably want a way to remove unused add-ons preferences, as well as a way to reset the preferences - which will be useful in any case.

Setting this as a TODO.

Currently disabling the add-on remove it from the list of add-ons, freeing it's preferences too. We can change this behavior, either by keeping the preferences at run-time without saving them. Or, keep a list of disabled add-ons which will be used when enabling an add-on - so the preferences aren't lost. If we always save preferences we will probably want a way to remove unused add-ons preferences, as well as a way to reset the preferences - which will be useful in any case. Setting this as a TODO.

Campbell Barton changed title from ~~disable/reenable an Addon resets its preferences back to factory~~ to Support for keeping preferences of disabled add-ons

2019-11-11 07:46:48 +01:00

Campbell Barton commented

2019-11-11 07:48:23 +01:00

Changed status from 'Open' to: 'Archived'

Campbell Barton closed this issue

2019-11-11 07:48:23 +01:00

Campbell Barton self-assigned this 2019-11-11 07:48:23 +01:00

Campbell Barton commented

2019-11-11 07:48:23 +01:00

Closing, opened a design task for this #71486 (Support for keeping preferences of disabled add-ons).

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Support for keeping preferences of disabled add-ons #71451