Outliner Sorting and Dragdrop #68502

New Issue

Currently, the way you sort items in the Outliner is rather unclear.

We include this option in the Filter popover:

But when you disable this, you cannot re-order objects manually - instead they are displayed in the order of creation.

Additionally, this toggle only affects objects, not Collections, which are always manually sorted.

We can make this a lot clearer and more consistent, like so.

Replace the Sort Alphabetically toggle with an enum for with different sorting methods:
Make it apply to everything: Objects, Bones & Collections.
When set to Free, you can then freely re-organize both Collections and objects manually.

Dragdrop is also closely related to sorting once we add custom sorting. We draw small black bars between items to indicate a sort dragdrop, and we shade the line dark when dropping into an item. We could improve on this.

Also, it would be good to allow object parenting without the shift modifier key.

Currently, the way you sort items in the Outliner is rather unclear. We include this option in the Filter popover: ![Screenshot 2019-08-10 at 12.34.35.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F7657375/Screenshot_2019-08-10_at_12.34.35.png) But when you disable this, you cannot re-order objects manually - instead they are displayed in the order of creation. Additionally, this toggle only affects objects, not Collections, which are always manually sorted. We can make this a lot clearer and more consistent, like so. - Replace the Sort Alphabetically toggle with an enum for with different sorting methods: ![Screenshot 2019-09-22 at 10.48.41.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F7768244/Screenshot_2019-09-22_at_10.48.41.png) - Make it apply to everything: Objects, Bones & Collections. - When set to Free, you can then freely re-organize both Collections and objects manually. --- Dragdrop is also closely related to sorting once we add custom sorting. We draw small black bars between items to indicate a sort dragdrop, and we shade the line dark when dropping into an item. We could improve on this. Also, it would be good to allow object parenting without the shift modifier key.

Added subscribers: @WilliamReynish, @0o00o0oo, @natecraddock

Added subscriber: @hadrien

Worth noting that currently bones can neither be sorted alphabetically, nor by hand. Would be super cool to have them benefit from all these enhancements, too !

Hadrien

Worth noting that currently bones can neither be sorted alphabetically, nor by hand. Would be super cool to have them benefit from all these enhancements, too ! Hadrien

Added subscriber: @simon_lusenc

Added subscriber: @Dogway

Added subscriber: @RainerTrummer

Added subscriber: @machieb

Added subscriber: @adreacooper

Added subscriber: @Cedch

Added subscriber: @TakingFire

Added subscriber: @Oskar3d

Added subscriber: @ckohl_art

Added subscriber: @KyleYoungblom

Added subscriber: @Peeeynk

Added subscriber: @thecooper8

Added subscriber: @Delano762

Added subscriber: @JanErik

This feature would be really helpful

Added subscriber: @krisjo01

Added subscriber: @stjerneidioten

Added subscriber: @SayantanChaudhuri

Added subscriber: @YegorSmirnov

Added subscriber: @adambelis

this would iprove UX a lot .

Removed subscriber: @machieb

Added subscriber: @Renderbicks

This is 3 years old and manual sort like possible with Collections would be a very useful feature.

Added subscriber: @somaistaken

Added subscriber: @TheRedWaxPolice

Added subscriber: @Dangry

Added subscriber: @llealloo

This is one of blenders worst remaining UX ticks.

Also, that bones of an armature are not sorted according to the selected sort method (and only strictly adhere to order of creation) seems like a UX bug in its current state

This is one of blenders worst remaining UX ticks. Also, that bones of an armature are not sorted according to the selected sort method (and only strictly adhere to order of creation) seems like a UX bug in its current state

I agree with @llealloo

Has there been any consideration on this issue in recent years?🙈

Having the possibility to freely move and place the objects in the ouliner will for sure improve organization and increase the wokflow efficency. Also when you work with scenes which contains a lot of objects, it would be really helpful to place the objects exactly where you want them instead of thinking about the object naming.

I agree with @llealloo Has there been any consideration on this issue in recent years?🙈 Having the possibility to freely move and place the objects in the ouliner will for sure improve organization and increase the wokflow efficency. Also when you work with scenes which contains a lot of objects, it would be really helpful to place the objects exactly where you want them instead of thinking about the object naming.

We really need this! As said above, to be able to organize all objects as needed in the outliner will increase workflow efficency and will save alot of time!

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Outliner Sorting and Dragdrop #68502