Curves Interactions in the Graph Editor #84901

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Maxime Casas · 2021-01-20T14:51:59+01:00

Maxime Casas commented

2021-01-20 14:51:59 +01:00

Curves manipulation in the graph editor

The aim of this design task is to write everything related to the changes that should be added in the graph editor regarding curves selection and manipulation. The functionalities described here are only some initial ideas that need to be debated.

Goal: to allow the users to manipulate keyframes more easily by the use of the computed curves themselves.
The actions performed through curves are nothing but quicker and more efficient ways to accomplish actions on the curves' keyframes.

Box selection (box, lasso, circle):

Box selecting a curve selects all the keyframes of the curve.
Ctrl + box selecting of the curve deselects all the keyframes of the curve.
Shift + box selecting of the curve extends the keyframe selection, adding all the keyframes of the curves that were just selected to the selection.
(I'm less sure about the usefulness of these twos:)
Alt + box selecting (this shortcut isn't mapped to anything yet) of curves OR keyframes restricts the visibility of the currently visible channels to only those that were selected (like if the user selects the curve and the presses h).
Alt + shift + box selecting of curves OR keyframes restricts the visibility of the currently visible channels to only those that were NOT selected (like if the user selects the curve and the presses shift+h).

Click selection:

Clicking a curve selects all the keyframes of the curve.
Shift + clicking a curve should behave the same way as the shift + click select of keys:
- If the curve currently has at least one keyframe that is not selected, then select all the unselected keyframes of that curve (a curve should be considered selected, in the sense of this operator, only if all its keyframes are selected).
- If all the keyframes of the curve are already selected, then unselect them all.

**Curves manipulation in the graph editor** The aim of this design task is to write everything related to the changes that should be added in the graph editor regarding curves selection and manipulation. The functionalities described here are only some initial ideas that need to be debated. **Goal**: to allow the users to manipulate keyframes more easily by the use of the computed curves themselves. The actions performed through curves are nothing but quicker and more efficient ways to accomplish actions on the curves' keyframes. **Box selection (box, lasso, circle):** - Box selecting a curve selects all the keyframes of the curve. - Ctrl + box selecting of the curve deselects all the keyframes of the curve. - Shift + box selecting of the curve extends the keyframe selection, adding all the keyframes of the curves that were just selected to the selection. (I'm less sure about the usefulness of these twos:) - Alt + box selecting (this shortcut isn't mapped to anything yet) of curves OR keyframes restricts the visibility of the currently visible channels to only those that were selected (like if the user selects the curve and the presses h). - Alt + shift + box selecting of curves OR keyframes restricts the visibility of the currently visible channels to only those that were NOT selected (like if the user selects the curve and the presses shift+h). **Click selection:** - Clicking a curve selects all the keyframes of the curve. - Shift + clicking a curve should behave the same way as the shift + click select of keys: - If the curve currently has at least one keyframe that is not selected, then select all the unselected keyframes of that curve (a curve should be considered selected, in the sense of this operator, only if all its keyframes are selected). - If all the keyframes of the curve are already selected, then unselect them all.

Maxime Casas commented

2021-01-20 14:52:00 +01:00

Added subscribers: @troopy28, @dr.sybren, @LucianoMunoz

Luciano Muñoz Sessarego commented

2021-01-25 10:33:45 +01:00

I agree with this, I think it's what we've been looking for in terms of handling the curves:

Though the "ALT" ones I don't think we want to implement just yet as the visibility functionality needs a major overhaul too to become fast and intuitive.

I agree with this, I think it's what we've been looking for in terms of handling the curves: Though the "ALT" ones I don't think we want to implement just yet as the visibility functionality needs a major overhaul too to become fast and intuitive.

Mike Nevins commented

2021-03-11 06:54:01 +01:00

Added subscriber: @kvick

Mike Nevins commented

2021-03-11 06:54:01 +01:00

Please add this, would be very much appreciated!

Adam Earle commented

2022-10-19 02:43:59 +02:00

Added subscriber: @AdamEarle

Adam Earle commented

2022-10-19 02:43:59 +02:00

Looking at this as an animator and coming from Maya I always thought the current keymap was good and very tidy.

Shift Selection of the curves is a good idea.

It would be good to get a side-by-side comparison of what it is now and the potential changes. This should help things to become more relevant and also help group ideas to together into the commonly performed task.

Looking at this as an animator and coming from Maya I always thought the current keymap was good and very tidy. Shift Selection of the curves is a good idea. It would be good to get a side-by-side comparison of what it is now and the potential changes. This should help things to become more relevant and also help group ideas to together into the commonly performed task.

Adam Earle commented

2022-10-19 02:55:44 +02:00

Re-reading and tinkering with Blender to find a current already available way for box-selecting curves, I can now see how this would be super handy.

Personally I nearly never use box select I am a Lassoo kinda guy.

If box selecting was to be supported than I would also say support every other method for selecting curves. Best to keep things consistent.

Re-reading and tinkering with Blender to find a current already available way for box-selecting curves, I can now see how this would be super handy. Personally I nearly never use box select I am a Lassoo kinda guy. If box selecting was to be supported than I would also say support every other method for selecting curves. Best to keep things consistent.

Maxime Casas commented

2022-10-19 04:01:03 +02:00

All area-based selection tools (including circle and lasso) should already work. They were added in D11181.
I noticed some people filed bug reports about inconsistencies in the selection behaviour though. Maybe this should be discussed sometime in a future meeting?

All area-based selection tools (including circle and lasso) should already work. They were added in [D11181](https://archive.blender.org/developer/D11181). I noticed some people filed bug reports about inconsistencies in the selection behaviour though. Maybe this should be discussed sometime in a future meeting?

Loïc DAUTRY commented

2022-10-19 23:32:01 +02:00

Added subscriber: @L0Lock

Loïc DAUTRY commented

2022-10-19 23:32:01 +02:00

Let me know if this isn't the right place for this:
Could there be an option so that channel selection automatically isolates the curves display?
It could be a simple checkbox in the view menu, like (sync channel selection to visibility). It would make it way more efficient to manage curves visibility, and it feels more inline with how animation editors only display selected elements' keys by default.

Likewise, it could also be used in the dope sheet.

Let me know if this isn't the right place for this: Could there be an option so that channel selection automatically isolates the curves display? It could be a simple checkbox in the view menu, like (sync channel selection to visibility). It would make it way more efficient to manage curves visibility, and it feels more inline with how animation editors only display selected elements' keys by default. Likewise, it could also be used in the dope sheet.

Maxime Casas commented

2022-10-20 00:34:24 +02:00

This task is specifically for the curve selection behaviour. For other features (I believe managing visibility is a separate feature from managing selection), it is probably better to create a separate task, or come to a meeting and propose your ideas.

Until then, the current way to manage visibility easily is to select the curves you are interested in and press shift+H (hide non-selected curves).

This task is specifically for the curve selection behaviour. For other features (I believe managing visibility is a separate feature from managing selection), it is probably better to create a separate task, or come to a meeting and propose your ideas. Until then, the current way to manage visibility easily is to select the curves you are interested in and press shift+H (hide non-selected curves).

Adam Earle commented

2022-10-20 03:29:36 +02:00

In #84901#1434599, @L0Lock wrote:
Let me know if this isn't the right place for this:
Could there be an option so that channel selection automatically isolates the curves display?
It could be a simple checkbox in the view menu, like (sync channel selection to visibility). It would make it way more efficient to manage curves visibility, and it feels more inline with how animation editors only display selected elements' keys by default.

Likewise, it could also be used in the dope sheet.

That's an interesting idea
3D space has local mode right by pressing the "Question mark" key. Perhaps the same could be done with the curves instead of the above suggestion

> In #84901#1434599, @L0Lock wrote: > Let me know if this isn't the right place for this: > Could there be an option so that channel selection automatically isolates the curves display? > It could be a simple checkbox in the view menu, like (sync channel selection to visibility). It would make it way more efficient to manage curves visibility, and it feels more inline with how animation editors only display selected elements' keys by default. > > Likewise, it could also be used in the dope sheet. That's an interesting idea 3D space has local mode right by pressing the "Question mark" key. Perhaps the same could be done with the curves instead of the above suggestion

Loïc DAUTRY commented

2022-10-20 18:24:19 +02:00

3D space has local mode right by pressing the "Question mark" key. Perhaps the same could be done with the curves instead of the above suggestion

Glad you find it interesting, but adding a local mode to curves is barely different from the current Shift H. And very different from the idea of "display only selected channel's curves".

This task is specifically for the curve selection behaviour.

Yeah, I had a doubt, the curve "interaction" and "manipulation" in the title and preamble seemed to encapsulate curve display to me, but the rest of the post only talked about selection, so I wasn't sure. Another topic then.

Just to be sure, can anyone make such new tasks like this, or should this be reserved to developers only?

> 3D space has local mode right by pressing the "Question mark" key. Perhaps the same could be done with the curves instead of the above suggestion Glad you find it interesting, but adding a local mode to curves is barely different from the current `Shift` `H`. And very different from the idea of "display only selected channel's curves". > This task is specifically for the curve selection behaviour. Yeah, I had a doubt, the curve "interaction" and "manipulation" in the title and preamble seemed to encapsulate curve display to me, but the rest of the post only talked about selection, so I wasn't sure. Another topic then. Just to be sure, can anyone make such new tasks like this, or should this be reserved to developers only?

Sybren A. Stüvel commented

2022-10-21 12:56:50 +02:00

@AdamEarle @L0Lock Please keep things on topic here. @troopy28 already indicated that this is off-topic; this is not a public discussion forum but a tracker for Blender development with a very specific purpose.

In #84901#1435089, @L0Lock wrote:
Just to be sure, can anyone make such new tasks like this, or should this be reserved to developers only?

This is reserved for module members. This is not a place where you can post feature requests. It's probably best to create a design for this on Right-Click Select (or help to improve one if there is already something about this topic, which I think there will be), then once the design is solidified, present it at a module meeting.

@AdamEarle @L0Lock Please keep things on topic here. @troopy28 already indicated that this is off-topic; this is not a public discussion forum but a tracker for Blender development with a very specific purpose. > In #84901#1435089, @L0Lock wrote: > Just to be sure, can anyone make such new tasks like this, or should this be reserved to developers only? This is reserved for module members. This is not a place where you can post feature requests. It's probably best to create a design for this on [Right-Click Select](https://blender.community/c/rightclickselect/) (or help to improve one if there is already something about this topic, which I think there will be), then once the design is solidified, present it at a module meeting.

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Curves Interactions in the Graph Editor #84901