[Bf-funboard] Object manager update (Luke)

[Thorsten Wilms]

On Wed, Jan 28, 2004 at 01:38:28PM +1000, Luke Wenke wrote:
> 
> I agree that "groups" is a better metaphor for what blender calls "layers".
> But what about the existing layer buttons? Maybe they could be called group
> buttons? And do those non-locked layer/group buttons override the
> visibility, etc, settings in the subgroups and individual items? (When the
> layer buttons aren't locked they have their own local settings rather than
> global settings) I guess the non-locked layer buttons should only over-ride
> the global layer/group settings, but not the subgroups or objects in the
> groups.

The known layer button array could be integrated by assigning those buttons 
to items in the hierarchy. It might be interesting to allow other functionality 
to be associated with the buttons (and the number shortcuts).
I think it would be better to remove the layer locking. The only use for it 
I can think of is using one window with locked/scene buttons for setting up 
things for rendering, while using an unlocked window for editing. No need for 
that with seperate rendering option.
If some people realy need seperate visibility options for single 3d views, 
it would be better to have an 'Add Visibility Set' or something like that 
in the menus.

As an alternative to the button array there could be something like the  
toolbar from 3ds max in the headers. 
http://wrstud.urz.uni-wuppertal.de/~ka0394/en/blender_ui/layers/3dsmax_6/index.html
For people like me, who love to work in a single, big 3d view, there 
could be an mamnagement panel. A bit like the current 'Transform Properties'.

 
> http://www.creativecow.net/articles/dewar_john/light_spill/pic22.gif
> In After Effects at least, I think it isn't such an attention magnet, partly
> because the eye isn't as clear as it could be - the left side is open, and
> the eyebrow is close to the eye. For rendering, maybe that grayscale icon
> for scene (F10) could be used. I think that should only be used as the
> rendering icon... and the existing scene icon should be changed to something
> else (since a scene in blender isn't a rendered scene - it is a collection
> of objects that may or may not be visible in the render).

Ok, it's not that problematic, but I would still like to have icons on the 
same level of meaning.


> If something is locked, can it be selected? If so, then you could replace
> the locked icon with editable (and uneditable). Maybe locked items could be
> made active, but not selected... that way you could make the locked items
> parents or track-to targets of the selected items.

I lean towards making locked objects non-editable, but selectable. But I 
would like to hear other peoples opinion on this.


> About selected and active things... it could be handy to let people select
> and make things active independently. Some things, such as movement or
> scaling, apply to the selected items (not the active item if it isn't
> selected) - and the active item is used for track-to, parent, etc, and the
> selection. If the active item is also selected then you can do things with
> it as well (scale, etc) - as well as editing, parenting, etc. I think the
> active item should be show in the object manager with contrasting border
> around it. Then the colour inside the border shows if the active item is
> selected or not. The active item could be chosen somehow in the object
> manager without selecting it... e.g. you could do it using the RMB menu...
> or maybe shift-LMB-clicking it after first selecting it and making it active
> (using LMB [to deselect the others] or shift-LMB [to keep others selected])

No way, introducing even more complexity to the selection business would 
be very bad. Selection in the hierrarchy should work like in 3d views. 
For the sake of consistency and to help establish a mental link between the 2.
But using other means to indicate active item in the hierarchy is something 
I'm already thinking about. 3ds may uses checkmarks for that, we could use 
some icon in an extra column for that, or a border like you mentioned. 
Allthough the icon would need extra space, and the border could interfer 
with readability (or require larger spacing ...).


---
Thorsten