I’ve been experimenting with keymaps and found a way to combine select-through and box select into one button in vanilla blender. Good option for those who are stuck at work without ability to install custom builds:
Setup:
- Go into into 3D View → 3D View (Global) category of keymap and scroll down until you find B - Box Select and disable it (not actually necessary if you plan to use other hotkey, but order matters for this):
- Scroll to bottom of category and add these keymap entries:
Key: B
Key_mode: "Press"
Identifier: wm.context_set_boolean
Context: space_data.shading.show_xray
Value: "True"
This forces you into x ray mode while key is held down. Amount of x ray transparency is controlled in viewport shading settings, no change here so set it to 1.0 manually.
Key: B
Key_mode: "Click Drag"
Identifier: view3d.select_box
Uncheck: "Wait for Input"
While holding B you now can left click drag to set selection.
Key: B
Key_mode: "Release"
Identifier: wm.context_set_boolean
Context: space_data.shading.show_xray
Value: "False"
This forces you out of x ray mode on B key release.
Demo:
If you want alternative, more “aggressive” version that forces you into wireframe shading mode instead x ray of current mode it looks like this:
Aggressive method
Key: B
Key_mode: "Press"
Identifier: wm.context_set_enum
Context: space_data.shading.type
Value: WIREFRAME
Key: B
Key_mode: "Click Drag"
Identifier: view3d.select_box
Uncheck: "Wait for Input"
Key: B
Key_mode: "Release"
Identifier: wm.context_set_enum
Context: space_data.shading.type
Value: SOLID
Demo: