Short Description

This proposal suggests usability improvements to the Blender Preferences window, including:

1. Sticky Headers for easier navigation within long lists (Add-ons, Keymap, etc.).
2. A Global Search Bar across all Preferences sections.
3. A Ctrl + F Shortcut to instantly focus on the current search fields.

Problem

• Headers in Preferences panels scroll away when navigating long lists.

For example, in Add-ons or Keymap, when scrolling through large lists, the header (which contains the search box, filter options, and import/export buttons) disappears. Users must scroll all the way back to the top to access these controls again, which disrupts workflow.

• No quick shortcut to focus the search box.

Users have to manually click the search box every time they want to search, which slows down efficiency, especially when frequently toggling between filters or search queries.

• No global search for all Preferences settings.

Each section has its own search (Add-ons, Keymap, Themes...), but there is no unified search that can quickly locate settings across the entire Preferences window.

Proposed Solution

1. Sticky Headers in Preferences Regions

• Keep header areas (containing search fields, filter options, import/export buttons) pinned at the top while scrolling through long lists.
• Apply to sections such as:
  • Add-ons
  • Keymap
  • Themes
  • Interface Settings
• The behavior would be similar to fixed headers on websites, or sticky panels in modern IDEs.

2. Ctrl + F (Cmd + F on macOS) Shortcut to Focus Search

• Pressing Ctrl + F would immediately focus the search box and select all text in the search field for quick editing in the current active Preferences section.
  • If inside Add-ons, focus the Add-ons search.
  • If inside Keymap, focus the Keymap search box.
• Optional: If already focused, pressing Ctrl + F again could select all text in the search field for quick editing.

3. Global Search Bar Across Preferences

• Add a global search bar in Preferences, always accessible at the top bar or side panel.
• Allows searching across all Preferences sections at once, returning results such as:
  • Add-on names
  • Keymap entries
  • Interface settings
  • System options
• The search results could be displayed as a filter list, or clickable links that bring users directly to the corresponding section (similar to VSCode's Command Palette, or Unreal Engine's Preferences search).

Benefits

• Significantly improves workflow efficiency, especially for power users.
• Eliminates the need to scroll back and forth within long lists.
• Aligns Blender’s Preferences UI with modern UX standards found in other creative and development software.

Especially useful for:

• Managing large numbers of Add-ons.
• Customizing complex Keymaps.
• Quickly finding hidden or deeply nested settings.

Technical Feasibility

• Sticky Headers

  • Blender UI uses Region types. A fixed HEADER region, separate from the WINDOW scrollable region, can be implemented.
  • Flags such as RGN_FLAG_FIXED_SIZE can ensure the header region remains static while the content scrolls independently.

• Ctrl + F Shortcut

  • Blender supports custom keymaps and operators.
  • A new operator like PREFERENCES_OT_focus_search can focus on the appropriate search field depending on the active tab.

• Global Search Bar

  • Leverage Blender’s RNA API to scan settings across the Preferences.
  • Implement a Global Search Operator to return a list of matching settings, with clickable links or direct focus on results.

Mockup Suggestions

• Sticky Header Example

  • A fixed header remains visible while scrolling the list of Add-ons or Keymaps.

• Global Search Bar Example

  • A search bar accessible across all Preferences, potentially at the top or in a floating panel.

Conclusion

These usability improvements would:

• Solve long-standing workflow issues within Blender Preferences.
• Provide a faster, more intuitive interface for both new and advanced users.
• Be easily extensible as Blender transitions its UI to Vulkan in future versions (Blender 5.x).
• Bring Blender’s Preferences UI on par with other professional tools.