Showing keys in the status bar

Yes, but that is “after the fact”. It would be nice if it would always say [Ctrl] - Does this [Alt] - Does that.

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The problem with this is you end up having to expand a lot more of the key-map than fits in the status bar.

Maybe Ctrl-Shift ones one thing, Ctrl-Alt another, when each may do something different for left/right mouse buttons… etc.

Sure, but how is the user supposed to discover that otherwise? And how is the user supposed to remember all that?

(Especially when some shortcuts are backwards compared to the rest of the industry, like I’ve mentioned earlier in the thread.)

perhaps ctrl, shift, and alt should be added to the status bar like a nested menu when there are options available beyond the modifiers. with a ‘more’ or ‘+’ label.

Just as you hover your mouse over a button to to see it’s tool-tip, you can press modifiers to see what they do.

If we want to show current available keys we could - but we would need to use a lot more space.

I had not seen this thread, so I had written about this topic on papercut

Well, the problem is that user need to learn something in order to use program.
Program should not to give such simple advices every time user launches it.
There is a lot of things (like drivers) that cannot be described that way.

If you are modeller - you know about loops selection from manual or timelapses.
And yes - there will always be features, like layers, including addons functionality, you never heard about, because they need knowing “concept” instead of buttons pressing.
This is a common situation.

How peoples supposed to survive CG if they need constantly to see such basics on a screen?)

If you’re seriously asking, then I can say that there are many new users, or maybe the user has never used a particular tool before, or uses a lot of programs and forgets/confuses the most basic hotkeys.

I propose to show hints for the currently selected tool or operator, rather than some random or obvious (like that the RMB shows menu). And do not use icons, they are very noticeable and distracting, and also look like buttons that you can click.

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There are many users that don’t know how to properly use layers, snaps or NLA editor, they will always be the majority.
Is it a problem of software?

Also, for example, professional users turns RMB mouse menu off, replacing with pan, it’s a sign of growing up.
What should happen with hints?

Normally that users don’t know to use that parts of the software because they don’t use it.

Yes! Yes, that is absolutely a problem of the software UI design.

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Well, it seems it’s time to explain how things works.

Software - is representation of some mathematical abstractions.
To give that abstractions recognizable shape, peoples gives names™ to it.
For example, “crop image”, “rotation”, “booleans”, “fibermesh”, “PBR”, “BIM” etc.

Modern industry was formed as a result of 30 years of “feature run” of artist mass.
2002 “Oh, look 3dsmax have modeling and texturing! Everybody there!”
2012 “Oh, look Substance has got PBR! Everybody - leaving max for texturing!”

The features - is the way software survive. It can have horrible UI issues like Substance Painter, or Zbrush, but peoples will prefer them if they are doing things properly.
Stability is the only software’s problem.

And vice versa - If you can’t remember how to select loop, launch blender, turn on PC, or other basic things, being modeller, maybe CG is not for you, and being noob is your problem for, not software.

Like not being an athlete as a result of insufficient training.
If you can’t learn even basics, having internet, there will always be those who can do this to surpass you.

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Haha, but how do people know what “they are doing things properly” if these people can’t use the program because of the bad, confusing UI.

I can give a personal example, I looked at GIMP and bought Affinity Photo. I don’t even know what features GIMP has, just because the interface is bad and I can’t use it.

Yep, “turn on PC”, note that the power buttons always have a recognizable and understandable symbol. And you do not need to learn or remember anything because the interface is clear.

And you won’t believe it but I don’t know how to turn on/off my laptop, I just close the lid. LOL.
This is how a good interface works, you just do it intuitively and it works.

And finally, most importantly, what do you suggest? To remove the status bar? Or not to show the keys? Or is it just trolling?

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hihihi the snap system to be honest in blender is not the most comfortable… :upside_down_face:

That’s easy. Don’t overload UI with “Blender basics”.
It is already good at it.

Correction - Blender snap system it is almost perfect (one of the best) in organic modeling.
But it have serious issues in linear/CAD modeling.

of course, of course, I didn’t say it’s not good…
^ ___ ^

REad this guy, please. The icons are really hard to understand.

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