Historical example · current configuration unverified Original context: Blender 3.1-era and PME 1.18.x, May 2022.
What it shows
Shared by Gregg_Hartley in post 4327, which combined two things: screenshots of an existing PME customization, and a separate request for a way to open an area at the bottom of the screen as well. When impacman asked how the buttons were made, Gregg_Hartley explained in post 4329 that PME distributed a few workspace controls around the Blender interface:
- buttons opened and closed left and right side areas;
- import and export actions sat above the Outliner;
- viewport-display controls lived in the 3D View header.
Each control sits next to the region it affects.
Why this can beat another shortcut
A shortcut is invisible until learned. A global menu is visible, but you have to map each entry back to the editor it affects. Here the location does that job:
| Control | Location | What the placement communicates |
|---|---|---|
| Import/export | Above the Outliner | The hierarchy and scene data are the target. |
| Viewport display | In the 3D View header | The visible viewport will change immediately. |
| Side-area toggle | Beside the owning workspace area | The adjacent area will open or close. |
You see what the control will change before you press it.
When to use which
Use a header button when seeing the target matters. Use a Pie for frequent actions that should appear under the pointer and vanish. Use a Popup Dialog for a small task with several temporary settings.
A header control earns its place when:
- it has an obvious relationship to one editor or panel;
- it is used often enough to stay visible all the time;
- its label or icon remains understandable without opening documentation.
Blender still looks like Blender; only your own controls are added.
Headers fill up quickly
If a header row wraps, pushes Blender’s own controls aside, or mixes unrelated jobs, move the less frequent actions into a Pie or Popup Dialog.
Keep destructive actions visually distinct; a tiny icon in a crowded header is a poor place for one.
What to borrow today
The exact area operators, header arrangement, and screenshots belong to the 2022 setup. They have not been reproduced with PME 2.1 and Blender 4.5+.
Rebuild one extension against your Blender version and use it before adding another. Interactive Panels can target compatible Blender panels, menus, and headers without making you find their identifiers first.
