Windows: allow windows to span multiple monitors #104438

Harley Acheson · 2023-02-07T21:52:42+01:00

Harley Acheson commented

2023-02-07 21:52:42 +01:00

On the Windows platform allow Blender windows to be created that are
spread over multiple adjacent monitors.

On Windows we are quite feature-complete and stable for the creation and placement of multiple (non-temp) Blender windows. We correctly do so across multiple monitors no matter their arrangement, resolution, and scale.

However, there is another way that Blender could use multiple monitors - suggested by a core dev - which is to size a window so that it comprises multiple monitors. There are some advantages to this way of working because the one window remains constantly active and in focus. It also allows a single region (like a node editor) to be as large as possible.

But this way of working is not currently possible. That is because during window creation we constrain them to fit within the confines of the nearest single monitor. This has mostly been done for simplicity and safety. We don't want to restore a saved window to a position where it cannot be seen or used.

This patch addresses that. It allows windows to span multiple monitors, and does so safely by constraining the four corners of the window to be within the working area of any active monitor. This means it allows the creation of single windows as shown below in blue (left two), but does not allow the one in orange (right):

Note this has been previously (before gitea) reviewed and approved by Brecht.

On the Windows platform allow Blender windows to be created that are spread over multiple adjacent monitors. --- On Windows we are quite feature-complete and stable for the creation and placement of multiple (non-temp) Blender windows. We correctly do so across multiple monitors no matter their arrangement, resolution, and scale. However, there is another way that Blender could use multiple monitors - suggested by a core dev - which is to size a window so that it comprises multiple monitors. There are some advantages to this way of working because the one window remains constantly active and in focus. It also allows a single region (like a node editor) to be as large as possible. But this way of working is not currently possible. That is because during window creation we constrain them to fit within the confines of the nearest single monitor. This has mostly been done for simplicity and safety. We don't want to restore a saved window to a position where it cannot be seen or used. This patch addresses that. It allows windows to span multiple monitors, and does so safely by constraining the four corners of the window to be within the working area of any active monitor. This means it allows the creation of single windows as shown below in blue (left two), but does not allow the one in orange (right): ![image.png](/attachments/b2a9dfca-d54c-467a-ab95-717df3b25051) Note this has been previously (before gitea) reviewed and approved by Brecht.

image.png

20 KiB

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Ray molenkamp was assigned by Harley Acheson

2023-02-07 21:52:42 +01:00

Harley Acheson changed title from ~~WIP: Win32 Allow Windows to Span Multiple Monitors~~ to Win32: Allow Windows to Span Multiple Monitors

2023-02-07 21:59:12 +01:00

Brecht Van Lommel changed title from ~~Win32: Allow Windows to Span Multiple Monitors~~ to Windows: Allow Windows to Span Multiple Monitors

2023-02-09 12:43:57 +01:00

Brecht Van Lommel changed title from ~~Windows: Allow Windows to Span Multiple Monitors~~ to Windows: allow windows to span multiple monitors

2023-02-09 12:44:22 +01:00

Brecht Van Lommel approved these changes 2023-02-09 12:44:29 +01:00