[Bf-funboard] layer grouping... & "layers are ok but..." Re: layers vs. groups

Luke Wenke bf-funboard@blender.org
Mon, 8 Dec 2003 01:10:37 +1000


Hi,
I've realized that for the way that I use Blender, layers seems like a
pretty good name. This is because I only put objects into single layers
rather than multiple layers because it is much less confusing that way. I
might put lights into multiple layers in the future though, since that would
be useful when I want a few layers to be lit at once (and not the others).
Like ph suggested I think there could just be better tooltips.
Like in the menu, it could say "Move to layer(s)" and when you click on that
it says "Move to layers(s)" in the pop-up box and if you hover the mouse
over a box it could say "shift-click to select multiple layers". (Or
something that sounds better)
For the lamp buttons it could say "Layers" or at least the tooltip could say
something like "Only affect the layers the lamp is in".
An annoying thing for me is that sometimes (or always?) when I create new
object in blender while multiple layers are selected, the new object's
location is set to all of those visible layers. Often I end up setting the
layer its in to a single layer. But I guess it would be hard for Blender to
choose a single layer to set a new object to when multiple layers were
currently visible... I guess when I create new objects I should just only
have 1 layer visible...

Part of the reason why I don't have so much of a problem with the term
"layers" now is because p_vertex_ in the forum talked about groups or sets
of layers... it seems better to call it "groups of layers" rather than "sets
of groups" or "groups of groups". And meta-groups sounds a bit funny. I
guess I am just going by what sounds "good". There is also the term
"presets"...
p_vertex_'s idea about groups of layers sounds like a fairly good idea...
assuming it is implemented in a good way.

My initial suggestion for this "groups of layers" idea is based on those
drop-down menus that have things like materials and textures in them. But
there would be some changes and I think it would make it quicker to use.
This is what it would look like:
[-] Name [x]
The left-side has a box that you use to show the drop-down menu. I think you
should be able to change the name simply by clicking on it and typing...
typing would cause the current text to disappear... and esc would abort and
put the old name back.
It should recognize stored layer groups. So if Group1 is layers 1, 3 and 5
turned on, then whenever those layers are turned on (with the others turned
off) then the appropriate name should be displayed in the box.
When you go have the layer visibilities set in an unrecognized way, the text
could say "(Untitled)" (This means that the current setting hasn't been
saved.)
If you want to add or remove some layers from a group, either there could be
an icon that means "save to group" or "update group" or you could delete the
old group, and click "(Untitled)" and type in that group's name again. Or
you could make it that you can just "save over" the old group name by
selecting what you want in the group, typing the name and pressing enter,
then a popup could say "Replace existing group?"

- Luke.

----- Original Message ----- 
> the usability of layers is crippled in other applications.
> we use 'layer' instead of the plural.
>
> ok, include better tooltips like 'move to layer(s)' and you are done.
>
> Peter Haehnlein