Talk:Blender 3D: Noob to Pro/Blender Windowing System

User Preferences
I found the description of how to access the User Preferences pane rather difficult to follow at first. I'll try and think of a better way of putting it. TimTim 09:41, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

Question about Window headers section (moved from inline comment to this discussion page)
''Each of the windows we have discussed so far has a "header" that can optionally be displayed at the top or bottom of its window, or hidden altogether. The header area of the 3D Viewport, for example, shows the "View", "Select", and "Object" menus, as well as a variety of buttons and other controls. RMB in the header area, and a popup menu will appear, allowing you to change the location where the header is drawn, or whether it is drawn at all. As we have discussed, when Blender first starts up (using its default interface layout), the Blender screen is divided into 3 separate sections/windows: the 3D Viewport, User Preferences, and the Buttons Window. The topmost is the "User Preferences" window with its header (showing the "File" menu, among other controls) at the bottom but the bulk of its area "off screen" above the header. The 3D Viewport, on the other hand, has its header shown at the bottom. The Buttons Window has its header at the top of its area, so that it is adjacent to that of the 3D Viewport.''

If you turn off a header and later wish to make it reappear, RMB on the edge of the window in question and select "Add Header".

'''[Clarification requested: If you click the mouse on an edge shared by two windows. If neither has a header, which window is the header added to? (Similarly, if on an adjoining edge, and no header is chosen, which window is the header removed from?)]'''

''It is common for an edge to be shared by two windows. To select a specific window first move the cursor to the one that is to be operated on. No button is needed to be pressed at this time. Next move the cursor to the edge of the window and press the RMB to select the operation. Be careful not to allow the cursor to enter to far into the adjacent window. If you need to cancel the operation, press ESC. (drafted by hkb)''

Full-screen confusion.
As a total NooB, I first brought up this wikibook, and then installed and ran blender for the very first time. I'm a Linux user. Blender immediately ranm in full-screen mode, and there is no intuitive way to resize or minimize it to permit me to read the next step in the tutorial. This should be mentioned on this, the very first page that tempts a user to run blender for the first time. -68.110.230.28 (talk)
 * OK, I researched this and added a section. Will an experienced editor please review this? -68.110.230.28 (talk) 00:00, 24 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Done a major rewrite to avoid confusion between operating systems. Hope it helps.

section: Before you begin
You can use OS keyboard shortcuts to switch between applications: ALT+TAB (Linux&Windows) CMD+TAB (Mac); or to bring your desktop: CTRL+ALT+D (Linux), CMD+D (Windows), F3/F11 (Mac), but they show non-productive in short term.

This sentence is very poorly phrased, I'd suggest something like: You can use keyboard shortcuts for your operating system to switch between applications: .... or to return to your desktop / bring up your desktop ...

I'd probably scrap the last part of the sentence entirely. 121.222.155.117 (talk) 05:39, 24 September 2008 (UTC)

Red and Blue Boxes in diagrams
For the most other sections on this page, the boxes are close enough, but on the image dealing with a red and blue box outlining the command lines, the boxes are showing up on my screen as being too big, and are overlapping by half. The Red box surrounds both command lines, and the Blue surrounds part of the lower command line, and the button-box headers.

I knew it was a mistake (likely caused by my computer settings) when I saw it, and was able to determine what was happening by the text in the article section, but I figured I'd point out that the graphic should probably have the red and blue highlights incorporated into the graphic itself, instead of counting on everyone's browser displaying the overlay boxes the same way over the graphic over various platforms.

This computer is using IE-6 on Windows 2000, with the resolution set to 1280 by 1024 pixels, and Display font size set to "Small Fonts." I know it's outdated, it's my secondary computer, allowing me to keep doing other stuff while my primary machine is busy rendering, or.. as in this case, I can read the website tutorials fullscreen in one montior, and run Blender fullscreen in the other monitor. --Deadguy (talk) 17:17, 24 August 2009 (UTC)

Desktop Switching / Fullscreen issue
At least with Linux, there are as many ways to bring up windows or switch virtual desktops as there are desktop environment solutions, which are available in abundance. Switching between two adjacent virtual desktops would be an ideal way to go for this particular problem. For shortcuts to move between desktops, I like a CTRL+arrow keys kind of setup. Aziroshin (talk) 01:47, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

Outdated
The info on this page is written for version 2.49 and older. The only reason I came here was because I need to figure out how to use the 2.5x windowing system. It's not a big deal when a technique oriented tutorial doesn't get updated, since technique is the same even if the tools are different. But something as simple and fundamental as how to manipulate windows ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE KEPT UP TO DATE. 68.47.244.135 (talk) 12:29, 22 September 2010 (UTC)
 * Yes, such as right clicking on the border (as instructed) does not give an option to split the window. :( --24.18.6.93 (discuss) 00:56, 5 February 2011 (UTC)
 * Agreed. Before this page, it's largely common sense and simply facts mathematic facts, but when you're talking about important areas of the interface, it needs to be updated asap - especially as it appears to have been this way for some time! 94.193.244.164 (discuss) 18:38, 27 April 2011 (UTC)

I hope I'm not out of line here, but I updated the screenshot and icons under Window types for 2.59 --Redconfetti (discuss • contribs) 05:27, 22 August 2011 (UTC)

Buttons Window ?
I have the newest Version of Blender, and also just started using it. I'm confused about the step with the "Buttons Window" Menu. Was this menu replaced elsewhere, or am i just to blind to see it? Hope you can help me!


 * No, you're not blind; the Buttons window simply doesn't exist in the 2.5* version, that's why you can't find it. It used to exist in the 2.4* version. I've switched the Buttons to Timeline window; by doing this, i noticed that it is not mentioned that the header for the 3D View and Timeline window is at the BOTTOM of its window instead at the top as the name "Header" implies. Currently figuring out where to mention this. Kerina yin (discuss • contribs) 07:58, 6 October 2011 (UTC)


 * See here about the Buttons window and what it is now: Information for those using Blender 2.57. Kerina yin (discuss • contribs) 10:11, 6 October 2011 (UTC)

Hide header not possible for info window
"To hide the header completely, move the mouse to the edge of the header furthest from the edge of the window (i.e. the top edge of the header if it is at the bottom of the window, or vice versa)"

This prompted me to try and hide the header for the info window, but it didn't work because the info window is collapsed. This was not immediately apparent to me at first and confused me for a bit.

Updating images
Should the images in this section be updated? For a beginner, they mightt be very confusing (as the screenshots were taken in blender versions <2.8) Money-lover-12345 (discuss • contribs) 21:44, 17 December 2022 (UTC)