Add Keying Set and New Keyframes options to the Timeline Sidebar #57895

New Issue

William Reynish · 2018-11-17T18:31:42+01:00

William Reynish commented

2018-11-17 18:31:42 +01:00

In Blender 2.8, we made the Timeline simpler by moving many options into popovers.

However, there are a few advanced features that some users would like to be able to see at a glance without opening up the popover to check.

We can support this by adding these items to the Timeline Sidebar, which is currently empty.

The main options where this is relevant is the Keying Set option, as well as the New Keyframes setting.

With this solution, the Timeline can remain simple and uncluttered, but with added complexity if users open the Sidebar.

In Blender 2.8, we made the Timeline simpler by moving many options into popovers. However, there are a few advanced features that some users would like to be able to see at a glance without opening up the popover to check. We can support this by adding these items to the Timeline Sidebar, which is currently empty. ![Screenshot 2018-11-17 at 18.26.50.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F5604822/Screenshot_2018-11-17_at_18.26.50.png) The main options where this is relevant is the Keying Set option, as well as the New Keyframes setting. With this solution, the Timeline can remain simple and uncluttered, but with added complexity if users open the Sidebar.

William Reynish commented

2018-11-17 18:31:42 +01:00

Added subscribers: @WilliamReynish, @remotecrab131, @Thane5, @orvb, @brezdo, @iss, @0o00o0oo, @ideasman42, @RamiroCantu, @Regnas

Sebastian Koenig commented

2018-11-18 12:38:50 +01:00

Added subscriber: @sebastian_k

Sebastian Koenig commented

2018-11-18 12:38:50 +01:00

But why not simply use the available space in the header?
The timeline will usually be quite thin or even completely collapased to the header, like for example in the Animation, Motion Tracking and Video Editing workspaces.
So users would have to make the sidebar taller in order to use it.
Usually the timeline will be quite long, there is plenty of space left and right of the playback controls.
Why not put those menus there?

But why not simply use the available space in the header? The timeline will usually be quite thin or even completely collapased to the header, like for example in the Animation, Motion Tracking and Video Editing workspaces. So users would have to make the sidebar taller in order to use it. Usually the timeline will be quite long, there is plenty of space left and right of the playback controls. Why not put those menus there?

Regnas commented

2018-11-18 15:26:01 +01:00

In #57895#555078, @sebastian_k wrote:
But why not simply use the available space in the header?
The timeline will usually be quite thin or even completely collapased to the header, like for example in the Animation, Motion Tracking and Video Editing workspaces.
So users would have to make the sidebar taller in order to use it.
Usually the timeline will be quite long, there is plenty of space left and right of the playback controls.
Why not put those menus there?

I agree 100%.
Settings that are used very often should be available in the header. Makes no sense have those settings in the sidebar... totally no sense at all.
Things are becoming very hard to find for no reason imo.

> In #57895#555078, @sebastian_k wrote: > But why not simply use the available space in the header? > The timeline will usually be quite thin or even completely collapased to the header, like for example in the Animation, Motion Tracking and Video Editing workspaces. > So users would have to make the sidebar taller in order to use it. > Usually the timeline will be quite long, there is plenty of space left and right of the playback controls. > Why not put those menus there? I agree 100%. Settings that are used very often should be available in the header. Makes no sense have those settings in the sidebar... totally no sense at all. Things are becoming very hard to find for no reason imo.

Matjaž Lamut commented

2019-02-16 10:40:11 +01:00

Added subscriber: @lamoot

Matjaž Lamut commented

2019-02-16 10:40:11 +01:00

I agree with adding these items into the header. Putting them into the sidebar to keep the timeline clean, would make for a less clean workflow.

It also wouldn't solve the original cause of this issue, that the settings are not available at a glance, but need to be accessed through menus, submenus, panels, sidebars.

In my use case, I have the timeline editor completelly collapsed, other than its header. This way I can very easily and quickly access all of the required settings.

I agree with adding these items into the header. Putting them into the sidebar to keep the timeline clean, would make for a less clean workflow. It also wouldn't solve the original cause of this issue, that the settings are not available at a glance, but need to be accessed through menus, submenus, panels, sidebars. In my use case, I have the timeline editor completelly collapsed, other than its header. This way I can very easily and quickly access all of the required settings. ![timeline_header_items.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F6627754/timeline_header_items.png)

takeshi funahashi commented

2019-04-27 17:37:29 +02:00

Added subscriber: @TakeshiFunahashi

takeshi funahashi commented

2019-04-27 17:37:29 +02:00

I have used keying set for rig properties (which drive shape keys or bone transform)
Then hope blender 2.8 offer those keying-set menus in side bar of Time line, and Dope sheet ,with add more options.

(eg we need to use Scene property editor, to add keying- set, but it is for animation. maybe it cause no problem,if keying-set option are located in Timeline, Dopesheet right side bar too (at currrent there seems no menu) with option to filter visible keying-set.

Then at same time hope return simple keying set options,(add remove, and chose keyiing-set) with auto key , in header .( as same as 2.79) actually it is most often used and can access easy. I could easy understand, how it may work.

Though current drop down menu is good design, but actually it is not good place for key-ing set options I think.
(I serched around, where add keys for current keying set,, today,,) and I could not find the + and - icon replesenet button to set keys of keying set for a while.

I have used keying set for rig properties (which drive shape keys or bone transform) Then hope blender 2.8 offer those keying-set menus in side bar of Time line, and Dope sheet ,with add more options. (eg we need to use Scene property editor, to add keying- set, but it is for animation. maybe it cause no problem,if keying-set option are located in Timeline, Dopesheet right side bar too (at currrent there seems no menu) with option to filter visible keying-set. Then at same time hope return simple keying set options,(add remove, and chose keyiing-set) with auto key , in header .( as same as 2.79) actually it is most often used and can access easy. I could easy understand, how it may work. Though current drop down menu is good design, but actually it is not good place for key-ing set options I think. (I serched around, where add keys for current keying set,, today,,) and I could not find the + and - icon replesenet button to set keys of keying set for a while.

Alessio Monti di Sopra commented

2019-05-22 14:28:45 +02:00

Added subscriber: @a.monti

Alessio Monti di Sopra commented

2019-05-22 14:28:45 +02:00

I've tried to re-arrange the header in order to add back the keying sets.
I've tried to keep it balanced, without adding too much stuff; I'm not an animator though, do you think that something like this could work?

Ideally I would put the playback buttons in the middle like this, but I don't know how to do it, having a layout.separator_spacer both before and after doesn't work as I would expect.

I've tried to re-arrange the header in order to add back the keying sets. I've tried to keep it balanced, without adding too much stuff; I'm not an animator though, do you think that something like this could work? ![002208.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F7060857/002208.png) ![002207.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F7060859/002207.png) Ideally I would put the playback buttons in the middle like this, but I don't know how to do it, having a `layout.separator_spacer` both before and after doesn't work as I would expect. ![002208a.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F7060881/002208a.png)

Mateusz commented

2020-05-18 15:35:29 +02:00

Removed subscriber: @brezdo

Philipp Oeser removed the

Download

What's New

Blender Studio

Manual

Developers Blog

Documentation

Benchmark

Blender Conference

Development Fund

One-time Donations

Add Keying Set and New Keyframes options to the Timeline Sidebar #57895