Allow for searching to start the moment you click Shift A
Whenever you work with nodes, one of the features you use the most is Search. Currently searching for a specific node is done in 4 steps:
- Hit Shift A
- Move the cursor to Search
- Click on Search
- Start typing
I propose that you should be allowed to start typing immediately after you've hit Shift A. This simplifies searching for specific nodes down to:
- Hit Shift A
- Start typing
This reduces friction and makes working with nodes a lot more comfortable for the user.
The way it currently works is that by typing, you're going into the category with the name of the letter you type, e.g: Hit C - this brings up the Color nodes Hit G - you now get a gamma node
The downside of this system is that you need to be familiar with where the node lives, instead of simply knowing the name. Meaning, you need to know two pieces of information instead of one: Category and Name vs Name only.
In the video attached you can see how it currently works in Natron vs Blender.
21 Comments
Actually, I believe it would be great if any "Shift-A" menu by default would allow to type for search. Even in 3d view, when pressing shift+A allowing to type "cu" and then press enter to get a cube - I think it's a much more intuitive way than going around menus(or rememebering weird shortcuts).
Agreed!
You can just assign hotkey to search. But shift+A should stay consistent between editors. I use Ctrl+A for node tabber quick search (I use it oftener) and Shift+Ctrl+A for regular search. And shift+A still in use.
So new default hotkey for search is okay, but ruining old habitats of many ppl is not.
This would eliminate the single letter shortcuts which I use much more than the search function. For example, to add an image texture I press: Shift A, T, A In cases where I need to use the search function I press: Shift A, S, then start typing. If the proposed functionality were optional, I could get behind it, but I really don't want to see the single letter shortcuts get removed.
Wow! I never knew that one. Thanks! To me, search is more intuitive. I get the "T" for Textures, but where is the "A" for imAges coming from? I've been using Blender for 14 years and I never knew that. I think the argument could be made that instant search is far more user friendly than memorizing shortcut streams that don't make intuitive sense. For example, what's the shortcut for adding a color ramp? "C" for converter? No that's color... how could one find that out?
Just open the menu and have a look. The shortcut letter will be underlined. For a ColoRamp you'd press: Shift A, N, O. I agree that the logic behind the choice of letter can seem nebulous (I think it's assigned on a "first-come-first-served" basis) but even so, you only have to memorize 2 letters for any given node. I also find it more intuitive because I don't have to take my hand off the mouse to type out a complete search term.
It's been over a decade and this is the first time I've started seeing those underlines, lol. This is getting on a tangent, but when I click the first shortcut, the tooltip appears and blocks my view of the second one. If I move the mouse, the whole menu closes.
That aside, I'd still argue that these random shortcuts are less intuitive and harder to remember than just searching for the actual name of the node you're using.
If this were an option in preferences - I would have it turned on permanently.
Actually it works like this in Blender:
It's not the same, but is fast if you know it.
I think the key here is "if you know it." I've been using blender for over a decade and am learning this right now with your comment (thanks btw!).
Intuitive software gives of its functionality freely. So either the design should scream this "S" for search functionality, or search should happen without the extra click. That's my opinion at least!
Thanks again for sharing. Just goes to show how far you need to dig to find these basic gems.
You don't have to dig for this one. It's literally part of the interface, unless the underlines don't appear in certain circumstances of which I'm unaware. Different operating systems, perhaps.
The underlines are there! I'm just seeing them for the first time today. Call it oblivious artist or bad UI ;).
Either way, I could train myself and build some muscle memory for my most used nodes, but this method still requires reading through categories and finding the seemingly random shortcuts to particular nodes.
Subjectively, I think it's more user friendly to just shift+a and automatically search. Logically if I'm thinking I want a color ramp node, my brain is ready to type "co..." and there's color ramp!
As it is right now I hit shift A, scan for "converter" (if you know it's in there), press "N" for converter (of course). Next, the tooltip covers "coloramp", but if you happen to know it already you can press "O" for coloramp (if you move the mouse for the tooltip to unblock the way, the menu closes).
So naturally for color ramp you type in "N.O."
That's my opinion backed by use. I understand others use the software in different ways, and I'm glad you're sharing! For someone who's trained their brain with the existing workflow, I could see how this existing system is pretty convenient and fast.
You're right. Unfortunately there're several shortcuts that aren't documented. That's bad. Nevertheless Henning is right in asking for quicker and more intuitive ways to reach goals.
It is only more user friendly in the sense that it is easier to learn. But flexibility is also part of user friendliness. I recommend learning this shortcut system. It is increadibly useful and you will soon find other programs annoying which do not have this feature.
As for discoverability: It is consistent with other apps that use this system, like Firefox, but I agree that if you don't know it exits the underlines can be hard to detect.
Perhaps some better indicator - maybe high lighting the letter in question - would solve the problem.
pressing "shift - a,s" is almost as fast as "shift - a" so if you know about this system it is really not slower in any significant way than being able to search directly.
Regarding "pressing 'shift - a,s' is almost as fast..."
On my mechanical keyboard, when shifting my finger from A to S, if the A has not fully released, Blender does not register the S. I'm forced to slow down typing because of the placement of these two specific characters.
Point: Sometimes there are physical aspects to watch out for.
This is already possible in Blender.
Press Shift A and rightlick search, click assign shortcut, for example Shift S. Now use the shortcut you have assigned and you will be able to search for nodes in one click.
This still requires custom setup though. I believe my prosal should be in Blender by default.
Yeah, I agree, that would be nice! :)
I really don't like that in the alpha version they made it possible to start typing text immediately after pressing Shift+A, and then they removed this feature again and now I have to additionally press the space bar and only then start typing. Just an extra tap. I understand that it was convenient for someone to use the first letters of words to quickly select a parameter, but still a global search among all parameters is a more important function. Ideally, it should generally be a single button, like Tab as in Houdini
Looks like it is a duplicate of blender.community/c/rightclickselect/bMbbbc 😉
Not really the same idea though. You can't drag out from a node and search for another node that isn't associated. For example, you can't drag out from a principle bsdf and search for glass bsdf. You still need the search menu to search for glass bsdf. And the search menu with reduced clicks as proposed would be ideal