UI: Search in Preferences #118383

New Issue

Pablo Vazquez · 2024-02-16T15:38:08+01:00

Pablo Vazquez commented

2024-02-16 15:38:08 +01:00

Blender currently has a search filter in many editors and regions, but it's missing one of the most useful ones: Preferences.

Searching preferences is tricky because:

Looking inside add-ons (and their preferences) and keymaps can be difficult since they use a fairly ad-hoc system.
Category "tabs" are not real tabs internally.

Both issues could be either work-around or ignored for an initial implementation. If it is clearly communicated that searching is not supported in those areas.

Soon Blender will have Extensions, maybe this issue could be tackled by making the add-ons into real panels (not boxes), since design will change anyway perhaps it's a good moment to do so.

How Preferences looks in main at the moment:

Without re-designing the entire editor, Search could be integrated in the Preferences editor by adding a search field to the top of the left sidebar. Making this region darker (matching the background color of tabs in Properties editor) could help communicate that Search applies to these tabs and not conflict with search in other places.

Filtered by searching for "size" (not showing all results in this mockup):

If searching within add-ons and keymaps is not possible, we could dim those even further, or mark them as disabled so it's not possible to click unless the search filter is cleared.

Shortcuts would be the same as in the Properties editor:

Ctrl + F / Cmd + F to focus the search field
Alt + F to clear the field

The goal is to introduce this valuable feature with the least amount of friction possible, even if it might not work for add-ons or keymaps (both sections have their own search and in need for a re-design anyway).

Blender currently has a search filter in many editors and regions, but it's missing one of the most useful ones: Preferences. Searching preferences is tricky because: * Looking inside add-ons (and their preferences) and keymaps can be difficult since they use a fairly ad-hoc system. * Category "tabs" are not real tabs internally. Both issues could be either work-around or ignored for an initial implementation. If it is clearly communicated that searching is not supported in those areas. Soon Blender will have Extensions, maybe this issue could be tackled by making the add-ons into real panels (not boxes), since design will change anyway perhaps it's a good moment to do so. How Preferences looks in main at the moment: ![Preferences in main](/attachments/4e6927b5-7b82-4b3d-a20e-28e9aea9ff92) ---- Without re-designing the entire editor, Search could be integrated in the Preferences editor by adding a search field to the top of the left sidebar. Making this region darker (matching the background color of tabs in Properties editor) could help communicate that Search applies to these tabs and not conflict with search in other places. ![Preferences with search, default](/attachments/931ec6c1-6f1a-4c46-8e03-4ceda8335f7e) Filtered by searching for "size" (not showing _all_ results in this mockup): ![Preferences with search, filtered](/attachments/284fa555-e37a-4c07-8d67-334b0441aed7) If searching within add-ons and keymaps is not possible, we could dim those even further, or mark them as disabled so it's not possible to click unless the search filter is cleared. ![Preferences with search, filtered](/attachments/20952ff2-fffc-4585-a069-17fd3efe4103) Shortcuts would be the same as in the Properties editor: * Ctrl + F / Cmd + F to focus the search field * Alt + F to clear the field ---- The goal is to introduce this valuable feature with the least amount of friction possible, even if it might not work for add-ons or keymaps (both sections have their own search and in need for a re-design anyway).

00_preferences_search_main.png

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01_preferences_search_default.png

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03_preferences_search_filtered_sections_disabled.png

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02_preferences_search_filtered.png

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❤️ 3 🚀 7

Pablo Vazquez added the

Type

Design

label 2024-02-16 15:38:08 +01:00

Pablo Vazquez added this to the User Interface project 2024-02-16 15:38:11 +01:00

Kent Davis commented

2024-02-17 12:12:12 +01:00

Yes I agree with you finally your answer! that what I am look for on Preferences feature "Search".
For Example System Setting for MacOS there see picture on below.

Yes I agree with you finally your answer! that what I am look for on Preferences feature "Search". For Example System Setting for MacOS there see picture on below.

Screenshot 2024-02-17 at 4.06.10 AM.png

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