PME Treasure

PME Editor Types Overview

4 min read

PME Editor Types Overview

PME provides several “editor” types, each designed for different customization needs. This guide explains when to use each one.

Quick Reference

EditorBest ForTrigger Method
Pie MenuQuick access to commandsHotkey press
Regular MenuTraditional dropdown menusHotkey press
Popup DialogForms with multiple optionsHotkey press
MacroCombining operationsHotkey press
Stack KeyMultiple actions on one keySequential presses
Sticky KeyHold-to-show menusHotkey hold
Modal OperatorInteractive adjustmentsHotkey + mouse
Property EditorExpose hidden settingsVia other menus
Panel GroupSidebar organizationAlways visible

Pie Menu Editor

Best for: Quick access to frequently used commands

How it works: Press a hotkey and a radial menu appears. Move mouse toward an option and release.

Use cases:

  • Transform tool selection (Move/Rotate/Scale)
  • Mode switching (Object/Edit/Sculpt)
  • Selection methods
  • View angles

Example: Create a pie menu with W key for selection modes in Edit Mode.

Browse: Pie Menu Posts (1,820 posts)

Regular Menu Editor

Best for: Traditional dropdown menus like Blender’s built-in menus

How it works: Press a hotkey and a vertical dropdown menu appears. Works like standard Blender menus.

Use cases:

  • Long lists of options that don’t fit in a pie layout
  • Hierarchical menus with submenus
  • Familiar menu interface for users
  • When you need more than 8 items (pie menu limit)

Example: Create a menu with all your favorite addons and tools organized in categories.

Browse: Regular Menu posts (not yet tagged - see Todo below)

Regular Menu vs Pie Menu

Choose Regular Menu when you need many items in a linear list, or when the radial layout of pie menus isn’t ideal.

Best for: Forms with multiple controls and options

How it works: Press a hotkey and a dialog window appears with buttons, sliders, and checkboxes.

Use cases:

  • Custom export settings
  • Material setup wizards
  • Batch operations with options
  • Complex parameter adjustment

Example: Create a popup with all Boolean modifier settings.

Browse: Popup Dialog Posts (723 posts)

Macro Editor

Best for: Combining multiple operations into one action

How it works: Define a sequence of Blender operators that execute together.

Use cases:

  • “Duplicate and Mirror” in one click
  • “Apply transforms and triangulate”
  • Custom workflow automation
  • Repetitive task chains

Example: Create a macro that duplicates, applies scale, and moves to a new collection.

Browse: Macro Posts (767 posts)

Stack Key Editor

Best for: Cycling through related options with one key

How it works: Press the same key multiple times to cycle through different actions.

Use cases:

  • Cycle through view angles (Front → Side → Top)
  • Cycle through transform orientations
  • Toggle through shading modes
  • Sequential command execution

Example: Press Numpad 1 to cycle: Front → Back → Front → Back…

Browse: Stack Key Posts (78 posts)

Sticky Key Editor

Best for: Temporary menus that disappear on release

How it works: Hold a key to show a menu, release to activate the highlighted item.

Use cases:

  • Quick tool palette
  • Temporary overlay controls
  • Fast context switching
  • Hold-to-preview menus

Example: Hold Q to show sculpt brushes, release on desired brush.

Browse: Sticky Key Posts (25 posts)

Best for: Interactive tools with real-time feedback

How it works: Activate with a hotkey, then use mouse movement or additional keys to adjust parameters.

Use cases:

  • Custom brush size adjustment
  • Interactive value tweaking
  • Real-time preview adjustments
  • Complex parameter modification

Example: Create a modal to adjust bevel segments with mouse movement.

Browse: Modal Operator Posts (86 posts)

Property Editor

Best for: Exposing hidden or deep Blender settings

How it works: Creates accessible controls for Blender properties that are hard to reach.

Use cases:

  • Quick access to render settings
  • Expose hidden object properties
  • Scene setting shortcuts
  • Addon preferences access

Example: Create a property to toggle Auto Smooth with a single click.

Browse: Property Editor Posts (50 posts)

Panel Group Editor

Best for: Organizing the N-panel/sidebar

How it works: Creates custom panels in Blender’s sidebar with your preferred controls.

Use cases:

  • Consolidate scattered controls
  • Create workflow-specific panels
  • Organize addon settings
  • Custom tool shelves

Example: Create a panel with all your most-used modeling tools.

Browse: Panel Group Posts (82 posts)

Choosing the Right Editor

Do you need a menu?
├── Yes, with radial layout (≤8 items) → Pie Menu
├── Yes, with linear list (many items) → Regular Menu
├── Yes, with form controls → Popup Dialog
└── No
    ├── Need multiple commands at once? → Macro
    ├── Need to cycle options? → Stack Key
    ├── Want hold-to-show? → Sticky Key
    ├── Need interactive adjustment? → Modal Operator
    ├── Want to expose a property? → Property Editor
    └── Want persistent UI? → Panel Group

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