Bforartists: 3D View - Hotkey only Operator - Transform Axis Target on lights has no UI entry

[Draise14]

Issue

The SHIT+T operator "transform Axis to Target" when selecting a light has no UI entry, not in the Right Click specials menu nor in the light context sensitive menu. it's a hotkey only operator.

bpy.ops.object.transform_axis_target()

Task

Needs an icon
Needs to be placed both in the context based light selection operators and double right click Specials menu

[ReinerBforartists]

I can have a look, but as far as i remember it's a mouse operator.

[Draise14]

Even so.. never knew it existed. Could we still add it to the UI so it's easier to manage it's hotkey and know that the feature exists? With a tooltip to say it's an under mouse operation.

Maybe we can show these kinds of mouse only operators in the UI with the tooltip and a little asterisk in the name saying it's there to know it exists, learn about it, understand it - but it's use is hotkey recommended.

Like this:
Transform Axis to Target*

_I literally have used Blender and sometimes BFA for years before finding out the hotkey exclusive operators - and one of the reasons I use BFA is because you've added many to the UI again._

[ReinerBforartists]

As told, i can have a look. But no promises.

I have a section for the hotkey only functionality in every editor chapter in the first chapter of it. And i think this entry is listed there. If not then we need to add it there.

[ReinerBforartists]

Hm, the context menu is mouse position dependant. Here we could definitely add the operator.

[ReinerBforartists]

Now what to do with the regular UI entry. The object menu would be a place for it, when a lamp of the correct type is selected. We would need to add a hint towards hotkey only functionality then.

[iyadahmed]

hmmm, should we edit the hint message?
we actually should because it says it works for cameras too, but it seems it deosn't

[ReinerBforartists]

Hm hm hm, never tested with a camera object. But yeah, does not work.

The functionality would be of interest for the camera too though. That's the point where one would have to start some investigation in the Blender manual ^^

[iyadahmed]

indeed, the camera doesn't seem to work

maybe I should check the source of the operator

[iyadahmed]

hmmm

[iyadahmed]

found a nicer name for the menu entry

[iyadahmed]

also this explains why it works only for these light types
and clearly doesn't work for cameras
source/blender/editors/object/object_transform.c

[ReinerBforartists]

I have somehow the feeling that this operator is deprecated. It does not appear in the operators list. And it is buggy -.-

Hm. the new name is a bit misleading. It is meant to point a light towards an object. You need to shift select the object, then the light. That the functionality is a bit awkwards is typical Blender design ^^

[ReinerBforartists]

Ah, there it is. Good catch. So scratch the camera from the tooltip.

We should also add a note how to use this tool. Something like this:

Select object, hold down shift, select camera, perform tool.

[iyadahmed]

great, will add the note to the hint while at it

[ReinerBforartists]

One of those rare cases where it makes sense to expand the original issue ...

Still think about the tool name here. What about Light track to ? Or light transform to. Or simply use the original Blender operator name. Either way, the cursor is not involved.

[iyadahmed]

agree, the name came from the name property of the operator, indeed "cursor" might be misleading, it refers to the mouse cursor instead

[ReinerBforartists]

Yeah it points to the mouse. But through the target object. Makes it difficult to choose a good name here :)

[ReinerBforartists]

Ah, you have removed the ctrl part from the tooltip. But i think this part is vital. With holding down ctrl too you can move the light and it still tries to point towards the target object. I would suggest to add this part back. It works, just tested ..

So much to consider here ^^

[iyadahmed]

indeed, so tooltip needs to change again

Ah, there it is. Good catch. So scratch the camera from the tooltip.

We should also add a note how to use this tool. Something like this:

Select object, hold down shift, select camera, perform tool.

btw should I enable the camera to be target-able?, I couldn't get it to work without enabling it

[ReinerBforartists]

No. As told, i think this operator is simply deprecated. It has a lousy usability anyways.

[iyadahmed]

ok will edit back the tooltip