Answer
For a Popup Dialog menu, choose its Mode from how you want to use it:
| Choose | Use it when | Runtime behaviour |
|---|---|---|
| Pie Mode | A small, directional choice is faster than reading a form. | Draws the Popup Dialog in a pie-style presentation. |
| Popup Mode | You want a short-lived panel that should get out of the way. | Opens with automatic close enabled. |
| Dialog Mode | You need to inspect or adjust several controls without the dialog disappearing. | Opens as a persistent dialog with automatic close disabled. |
The forum question came from a menu that stayed open because it was configured as a dialog. Choose the mode deliberately; each one gives the same Popup Dialog a different interaction.
Steps
- Create or select the Popup Dialog menu you want to present.
- Open its extra settings and find Mode.
- Start with Pie Mode for a compact directional choice, Popup Mode for a quick temporary panel, or Dialog Mode for a form you need to keep open.
- Invoke it from the same hotkey and Blender editor where you will use it.
- Rearrange the controls after changing mode. A layout that is clear in a persistent dialog can be awkward in a pie-style presentation.
How to decide quickly
- “I know the direction by muscle memory.” → Pie Mode
- “I only need to touch one or two controls, then return to work.” → Popup Mode
- “I am comparing values, reading labels, or filling out several fields.” → Dialog Mode
Pitfalls
- These three choices change the presentation of a Popup Dialog; other PME editor types have their own behavior.
- Dialog Mode helps when several controls need to remain visible. If the layout still feels crowded, split unrelated controls into another menu.
- Popup Mode’s automatic close is useful for transient work, but it is the wrong fit for a form whose values you need to review before continuing.
- If the menu opens in the wrong Blender editor or mode, check its context or hotkey separately. Presentation mode changes how the dialog behaves after opening.
Related answers
- Group a large Popup Dialog into framed sections
- Add a Blender template widget to a Popup Dialog
- Start from a visible symptom