I would like to create a Mesh Specials context menu. For example, in edit mode, select a face then press w key for face specials menu, or select an edge press w to open edge specials and so on. I don’t like using Ctrl E/F/V for edge, face and vertex menus every time. I think only one dynamic menu can do the same thing. How can I do that? (An example script would be awesome.)
Thanks
Maybe the right question is “Is this possible with python or not?” :eyebrowlift2:
My principal answer is “YES”, meaning “it should be possible”… But what if a vertex and an edge are selected in the same time? The script is to respond by a “CANCEL”-message???
Something like the dynamic space bar menu? You can test for specific conditions in the draw method of the menu class and output the menu accordingly.
This time another sub-menu can be created like in Dynamic Spacebar Menu. Or menu appears only for the last selected component. Maya is capable of doing this, why not Blender?
(was a Maya user before. Sorry. :))
In scripts/startup/bl_ui/space_view3d.py it’s these babies
layout.separator()
layout.menu("VIEW3D_MT_edit_mesh_vertices")
layout.menu("VIEW3D_MT_edit_mesh_edges")
layout.menu("VIEW3D_MT_edit_mesh_faces")
layout.menu("VIEW3D_MT_edit_mesh_normals")
easy enough to check the current selection mode too, this sets them. checking is similar
# vertex
bpy.ops.wm.context_set_value(data_path="tool_settings.mesh_select_mode", value="(True, False, False)")
# edge
bpy.ops.wm.context_set_value(data_path="tool_settings.mesh_select_mode", value="(False, True, False)")
# face
bpy.ops.wm.context_set_value(data_path="tool_settings.mesh_select_mode", value="(False, False, True)")
this would check the current state, while in context
# if is face select mode
bpy.context.tool_settings.mesh_select_mode[:] == (False, False, True)
>> true
i’ll give it a swing lateron demohero, unless someone beats me to it.
Thank you zeffii.
I wish I had enough python knowledge. Using this in scripts/startup/bl_ui/space_view3d.py file would be great.
Btw, Blender already has context sensitive menus in Object mode. Select a camera and press w for example. When you select a lamp object, w specials menu changes for lamp properties. I think dynamic menus are very important for reducing keyboard shortcuts. Much more practical.
@ yeah, the principle of providing a context sensitive menu for the last selected item sounds fair… although it may not be exactly what the user thinks in the moment… but partially, it is a problem of the user(s) 
Heres an example, youll need to assign to a key to execute in different contexts.
import bpy
class SimpleCustomMenu(bpy.types.Menu):
bl_label = "Simple Custom Menu"
bl_idname = "OBJECT_MT_simple_custom_menu"
def draw(self, context):
layout = self.layout
if context.space_data.type == 'VIEW_3D':
if context.mode == 'EDIT_MESH':
layout.operator("wm.open_mainfile")
layout.operator("wm.save_as_mainfile")
elif context.mode == 'OBJECT':
layout.operator("object.shade_smooth")
elif context.space_data.type == 'IMAGE_EDITOR':
layout.operator("image.new")
else:
layout.label("No Context!")
def register():
bpy.utils.register_class(SimpleCustomMenu)
def unregister():
bpy.utils.unregister_class(SimpleCustomMenu)
if __name__ == "__main__":
register()
# The menu can also be called from scripts
bpy.ops.wm.call_menu(name=SimpleCustomMenu.bl_idname)
Thank you very much for this example Campbell.
But I don’t know how to assign a hotkey. How can I do that? Using keymap editor? Couldn’t find the operator named Simple Custom Menu?!
The following keymaps the menu to the “SPACE” bar
import bpy
class SimpleCustomMenu(bpy.types.Menu):
bl_label = "Simple Custom Menu"
bl_idname = "OBJECT_MT_simple_custom_menu"
def draw(self, context):
layout = self.layout
if context.space_data.type == 'VIEW_3D':
if context.mode == 'EDIT':
layout.operator("wm.open_mainfile")
layout.operator("wm.save_as_mainfile")
elif context.mode == 'OBJECT':
layout.operator("object.shade_smooth")
elif context.space_data.type == 'IMAGE_EDITOR':
layout.operator("image.new")
else:
layout.label("No Context!")
def register():
bpy.utils.register_class(SimpleCustomMenu)
km = bpy.context.window_manager.keyconfigs.active.keymaps['3D View']
kmi = km.keymap_items.new('wm.call_menu', 'SPACE', 'PRESS')
kmi.properties.name = "OBJECT_MT_simple_custom_menu"
def unregister():
bpy.utils.unregister_class(SimpleCustomMenu)
if __name__ == "__main__":
register()
# The menu can also be called from scripts
bpy.ops.wm.call_menu(name=SimpleCustomMenu.bl_idname)
To map it to j for instance change to
kmi = km.keymap_items.new('wm.call_menu', 'J', 'PRESS')Updated the previous script.
import bpy
class SimpleCustomMenu(bpy.types.Menu):
bl_label = "Simple Custom Menu"
bl_idname = "OBJECT_MT_simple_custom_menu"
def draw(self, context):
layout = self.layout
if context.space_data.type == 'VIEW_3D':
if context.mode == 'EDIT_MESH':
layout.operator("wm.open_mainfile")
layout.operator("wm.save_as_mainfile")
layout.separator()
props = layout.operator("wm.context_set_value", text="Vertex Mode")
props.data_path = "tool_settings.mesh_select_mode"
props.value="(True, False, False)"
props = layout.operator("wm.context_set_value", text="Edge Mode")
props.data_path = "tool_settings.mesh_select_mode"
props.value="(False, True, False)"
props = layout.operator("wm.context_set_value", text="Face Mode")
props.data_path = "tool_settings.mesh_select_mode"
props.value="(False, False, True)"
elif context.mode == 'OBJECT':
layout.operator("object.shade_smooth")
elif context.space_data.type == 'IMAGE_EDITOR':
layout.operator("image.new")
else:
layout.label("No Context!")
def register():
bpy.utils.register_class(SimpleCustomMenu)
km = bpy.context.window_manager.keyconfigs.active.keymaps['3D View']
kmi = km.keymap_items.new('wm.call_menu', 'SPACE', 'PRESS')
kmi.properties.name = "OBJECT_MT_simple_custom_menu"
def unregister():
bpy.utils.unregister_class(SimpleCustomMenu)
if __name__ == "__main__":
register()
# The menu can also be called from scripts
bpy.ops.wm.call_menu(name=SimpleCustomMenu.bl_idname)
a remix ( Using J key) :
import bpy
class SimpleCustomMenu(bpy.types.Menu):
bl_label = "Simple Custom Menu"
bl_idname = "OBJECT_MT_simple_custom_menu"
def draw(self, context):
layout = self.layout
if context.space_data.type == 'VIEW_3D':
if context.mode == 'EDIT_MESH':
layout.separator()
# if vertex mode
if bpy.context.tool_settings.mesh_select_mode[:] == (True, False, False):
layout.menu("VIEW3D_MT_edit_mesh_vertices")
# if edge mode
if bpy.context.tool_settings.mesh_select_mode[:] == (False, True, False):
layout.menu("VIEW3D_MT_edit_mesh_edges")
# if face mode
if bpy.context.tool_settings.mesh_select_mode[:] == (False, False, True):
layout.menu("VIEW3D_MT_edit_mesh_faces")
elif context.mode == 'OBJECT':
layout.label("object mode")
elif context.space_data.type == 'IMAGE_EDITOR':
layout.label("No Context! image editor")
else:
layout.label("No Context!")
def register():
bpy.utils.register_class(SimpleCustomMenu)
km = bpy.context.window_manager.keyconfigs.active.keymaps['3D View']
kmi = km.keymap_items.new('wm.call_menu', 'J', 'PRESS')
kmi.properties.name = "OBJECT_MT_simple_custom_menu"
def unregister():
bpy.utils.unregister_class(SimpleCustomMenu)
if __name__ == "__main__":
register()
or, if you use a variety of modes, sometimes combined like ‘faces+edges’ then consider
import bpy
class SimpleCustomMenu(bpy.types.Menu):
bl_label = "Simple Custom Menu"
bl_idname = "OBJECT_MT_simple_custom_menu"
def draw(self, context):
layout = self.layout
if context.space_data.type == 'VIEW_3D':
if context.mode == 'EDIT_MESH':
layout.separator()
current_mesh_mode = context.tool_settings.mesh_select_mode[:]
# allows multiple, simultaneous modes, f.ex edges+faces
# if vertex mode on
if current_mesh_mode[0]:
layout.menu("VIEW3D_MT_edit_mesh_vertices")
# if vertex mode on
if current_mesh_mode[1]:
layout.menu("VIEW3D_MT_edit_mesh_edges")
# if vertex mode on
if current_mesh_mode[2]:
layout.menu("VIEW3D_MT_edit_mesh_faces")
elif context.mode == 'OBJECT':
layout.label("object mode")
elif context.space_data.type == 'IMAGE_EDITOR':
layout.label("No Context! image editor")
else:
layout.label("No Context!")
def register():
bpy.utils.register_class(SimpleCustomMenu)
km = bpy.context.window_manager.keyconfigs.active.keymaps['3D View']
kmi = km.keymap_items.new('wm.call_menu', 'J', 'PRESS')
kmi.properties.name = "OBJECT_MT_simple_custom_menu"
def unregister():
bpy.utils.unregister_class(SimpleCustomMenu)
if __name__ == "__main__":
register()
This must be a dream. Thank you soooo much for all your help. :yes: