Default Keymap Update: Preference to keys to activate tools instead of modal operators #83692

New Issue

Campbell Barton · 2020-12-12T04:57:56+01:00

Campbell Barton commented

2020-12-12 04:57:56 +01:00

Proposal

Add a preference for keys to enable the tool instead of starting modal operators. (G,R,S would set the tool instead of grab, rotate, scale - for example).

This would be disabled by default, keeping current behavior.

Open Topics

Some open question

This looses the ability to press R, R to rotate by track-ball. G, G to slide along edges. It wont work to support exactly these key bindings, however we could support similar functionality.
Would we support immediate access options? Space-G, or optionally tap Alt, G, as we do for tool access?

### Proposal Add a preference for keys to enable the tool instead of starting modal operators. (G,R,S would set the tool instead of grab, rotate, scale - for example). This would be disabled by default, keeping current behavior. ### Open Topics Some open question - This looses the ability to press `R, R` to rotate by track-ball. `G, G` to slide along edges. It wont work to support exactly these key bindings, however we could support similar functionality. - Would we support immediate access options? Space-G, or optionally tap Alt, G, as we do for tool access?

Campbell Barton commented

2020-12-12 04:57:56 +01:00

Added subscriber: @ideasman42

Campbell Barton self-assigned this 2020-12-12 04:58:17 +01:00

Campbell Barton commented

2020-12-12 04:58:17 +01:00

Changed status from 'Needs Triage' to: 'Confirmed'

TheRedWaxPolice commented

2020-12-12 07:15:31 +01:00

Added subscriber: @TheRedWaxPolice

Julien Kaspar commented

2020-12-14 14:53:25 +01:00

Added subscriber: @JulienKaspar

Julien Kaspar commented

2020-12-14 14:53:25 +01:00

This looses the ability to press R, R to rotate by track-ball. G, G to slide along edges. It wont work to support exactly these key bindings, however we could support similar functionality.

I wouldn't worry too much about this. The goal for this keymap is to use the Active Tools efficiently with full use of the keyboard shortcuts. The best way to access vertex/edge slide (usually GG) is to press G to switch to the Grab Tool (or alternatively use the Tweak Tool), initiate the Tool by click & dragging and then pressing G again to slide.
In fast succession this would still work just as well as pressing GG. The only downside is that the user could accidentally switch to the Grab Tool when using the Tweak Tool.
For RR it's the same thing or clicking directly on the Gizmo, which is quite big for the rotation Tool.

I think this needs to be communicated as best as possible via documentation, tooltips and ideally an official Blender Fundamentals Video on the keymap. Users still have access to all the same shortcuts to change the operator settings while they are dragging.

An alternative solution would be to merge the edge slide & vertex slide into one tools that is more context aware based on the current selection and nest it with the move tool.
For the Tools keymap we should take more advantage of cycling between nested tools with the same shortcut (W for selection tools, E for extrusion tools, S for scaling tools, etc). In this case users could then press GG and get the vertex/edge slide tool.
Using these cycling shortcuts can reduce the amount of shortcuts for some nested tools and make other nested tools like Bisect (Under Knife) more accessible.

Would we support immediate access options? Space-G, or optionally tap Alt, G, as we do for tool access?

That could be an option. So when using the Active Tools Keymap the user can use the Spacebar (or Shift + Spacebar) menu to execute modal operators. I just don't think many will use this since pressing the shortcut for the Tools more accessible. But if someone wants to do a one-off grab move or something similar without switching tools it can be useful.

> This looses the ability to press R, R to rotate by track-ball. G, G to slide along edges. It wont work to support exactly these key bindings, however we could support similar functionality. I wouldn't worry too much about this. The goal for this keymap is to use the Active Tools efficiently with full use of the keyboard shortcuts. The best way to access vertex/edge slide (usually GG) is to press G to switch to the Grab Tool (or alternatively use the Tweak Tool), initiate the Tool by click & dragging and then pressing G again to slide. In fast succession this would still work just as well as pressing GG. The only downside is that the user could accidentally switch to the Grab Tool when using the Tweak Tool. For RR it's the same thing or clicking directly on the Gizmo, which is quite big for the rotation Tool. I think this needs to be communicated as best as possible via documentation, tooltips and ideally an official Blender Fundamentals Video on the keymap. Users still have access to all the same shortcuts to change the operator settings while they are dragging. An alternative solution would be to merge the edge slide & vertex slide into one tools that is more context aware based on the current selection and nest it with the move tool. For the Tools keymap we should take more advantage of cycling between nested tools with the same shortcut (W for selection tools, E for extrusion tools, S for scaling tools, etc). In this case users could then press GG and get the vertex/edge slide tool. Using these cycling shortcuts can reduce the amount of shortcuts for some nested tools and make other nested tools like Bisect (Under Knife) more accessible. > Would we support immediate access options? Space-G, or optionally tap Alt, G, as we do for tool access? That could be an option. So when using the Active Tools Keymap the user can use the Spacebar (or Shift + Spacebar) menu to execute modal operators. I just don't think many will use this since pressing the shortcut for the Tools more accessible. But if someone wants to do a one-off grab move or something similar without switching tools it can be useful.

Ryan Inch commented

2020-12-18 00:20:13 +01:00

Added subscriber: @Imaginer

Ryan Inch commented

2020-12-18 00:20:13 +01:00

Just to be clear, you would only lose RR and GG when the preference is enabled, right?

Julien Kaspar commented

2020-12-18 11:54:31 +01:00

In #83692#1077751, @Imaginer wrote:
Just to be clear, you would only lose RR and GG when the preference is enabled, right?

Yes. This is an additional keymap option. If it's disabled it wouldn't change any behaviour.
But again: If enabled, you wouldn't lose RR and GG. You would instead press R, click & drag and while doing so press R again. Same with vertex/edge slide. So it's just changing it slightly.

> In #83692#1077751, @Imaginer wrote: > Just to be clear, you would only lose RR and GG when the preference is enabled, right? Yes. This is an additional keymap option. If it's disabled it wouldn't change any behaviour. But again: If enabled, you wouldn't lose RR and GG. You would instead press R, click & drag and while doing so press R again. Same with vertex/edge slide. So it's just changing it slightly.

RedMser commented

2020-12-20 00:01:35 +01:00

Added subscriber: @RedMser

Ryan Inch commented

2020-12-21 05:36:49 +01:00

Okay. Thanks for the clarification.

Hans Goudey commented

2021-09-21 18:26:54 +02:00

Added subscriber: @HooglyBoogly

Hans Goudey commented

2021-09-21 18:26:54 +02:00

Hi, I think this is a great development, nice job!

Is there a shortcut to go back to the select tool? For me that would increase the usability of this option a lot, since otherwise I feel "stuck" with the gizmos, and have to use the mouse to go back to the toolbar to go back to the select tool.

Hi, I think this is a great development, nice job! Is there a shortcut to go back to the select tool? For me that would increase the usability of this option a lot, since otherwise I feel "stuck" with the gizmos, and have to use the mouse to go back to the toolbar to go back to the select tool.

slowburn commented

2021-09-28 22:03:42 +02:00

Added subscriber: @slowburn

slowburn commented

2021-09-28 22:03:42 +02:00

Regarding the the G, G shortcut for edge slide, I'd rather have a generic edge constraint mode that works for both transforming methods. It would also make life easier for modal operators, because double-tapping G gets really tedious after you have to do it 20 times in a row.

Regarding the the `G, G` shortcut for edge slide, I'd rather have a generic edge constraint mode that works for both transforming methods. It would also make life easier for modal operators, because double-tapping G gets really tedious after you have to do it 20 times in a row.

Julien Kaspar commented

2022-05-13 09:23:35 +02:00

Changed status from 'Confirmed' to: 'Resolved'

Julien Kaspar closed this issue

2022-05-13 09:23:35 +02:00

Julien Kaspar commented

2022-05-13 09:23:35 +02:00

This has already been implemented so I'll just mark this as done.

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Default Keymap Update: Preference to keys to activate tools instead of modal operators #83692

Proposal

Open Topics