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Quickly add Reroute when connecting nodes

I propose a shortcut that could be used to add a Reroute node while in the process of creating a connection (after you left-clicked a socket and started dragging the line around).

Here's a gif representing the proposal:

In this example I'm showing how this would work in conjunction with the " popover proposal " which is being added to Blender already here .
I also presented it in the reverse direction, which is not as common, but would work in either direction.

The shortcut could be RightClick while dragging, but since this is used everywhere in blender to Cancel the operation (as is "ESC"), then maybe another shortcut is better to not break consistency.
An option would be pressing "R" while the line is being dragged.

The current cumbersome workflows are either:
• Create the complete connection, then start Rerouting the line with Shift+RightClick
-Requires the start and end nodes to be present from the start, in order to create the first connection.
-You have to navigate around the other nodes in order to redirect only the correct line with shift+rightclick.

• Add a Reroute point/node with Shift+A>Layout>Reroute then duplicate it, position, and connect them all.
-Duplicating a Reroute node loses it's color, and you can't use "F" to connect two Reroute nodes/sockets of different colors ( confirmed as bug )
-Connecting Reroute nodes in reverse breaks the previous connections (shown in the gif above)
-You have to position every Reroute node and make every connection manually in the right direction each time.

So both of the current workflows are neither as convenient or quick as rerouting while dragging .

Complementary proposals:
Add E to "extrude" reroute node from a reroute node
Reroute Node Platform

EDIT: While this could be integrated into an "extrude" operation with the shortcut "E", there's a difference. The "Reroute while connecting" of my proposal would be to position a Reroute node while in the process of dragging a line with Left-Click, and the node is positioned without letting go of L-Click, so the line is still being dragged around with the mouse. The extrude operation is useful in the case you have selected a Reroute node and want to extend it, it's a different scenario, but it should be possible that while extruding, when you are dragging the extruded node, for you position Reroute nodes along the way, as the proposal suggests.

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Development Status: Open

Upvote 35 Downvote 0
EvandroCosta
16 Jul 2020

8 Comments

jfranmatheu

I will look at this :)

4
EvandroCosta Author

* @J. Fran Matheu * You are just too nice!! Thanks :)

EvandroCosta Author

Rethinking it, while this could be integrated into an "extrude" operation with the shortcut "E", there's a difference. The "Reroute while connecting" of my proposal would be to position a Reroute node while in the process of dragging a line with Left-Click, and the node is positioned without letting go of L-Click, so the line is still being dragged around with the mouse. The extrude operation is useful in the case you have selected a Reroute node and want to extend it, it's a different scenario, but it should be possible that while extruding, when you are dragging the extruded node, for you position Reroute nodes along the way, as the proposal suggests.

jfranmatheu

* @Evandro Costa * Yeah, both are good, this one is a nice extension, but I will prefer the actual patch to be committed as it will be easier later to merge.

1
johnpdelacruz26

What is keymap E used for in node editor?

How about using it as a default shprtcut? Consistent with extrude function.

2
EvandroCosta Author

* @johnpdelacruz26 * Edit: rethinking it, these are different operations or proposals, check my message above to J. Fran. Matheu. The "quickly add reroute node" could be also available during an Extrude operation, but they are separate ideas.

2
IIIFGIII

...pressing "R" while the line is being dragged. +1

1
thinsoldier

How about the dots on the nodes themselves are already reroute nodes and you can single click a dot to select it and from there press e to extrude or ctrl+right click like in the 3d viewport to create another reroute node or g to move it directly?