Program Settings: ENABLE HOT KEYS
 

In another thread, Jim brought up an issue that I believe is important to fix before 3.1 is finalized.

I understand that it's apparently late in the "release cycle", and everybody is anxious to get 3.1 out the door.

But since Jim brought up this obvious issue, I don't think it should wait a long time.

I understand that's a drawback of all Hot Keys.

Your reasoning is, obviously, solid. I had not thought of that.

Now that you've mentioned the reason, I'm sure there should be some way to turn off all of MA3's Hot Keys. (And turn them on).

Some (for instance W and P) could be really more annoying than changing the frame rate.

Please implement a check box in Program Settings to "Enable Hot Keys".

Maybe.

Thanks. If done, I suggest default to "Enable Hot Keys" UNchecked, CTRL-R likewise. (That is, Hot Keys OFF)

The Space Bar could follow that, or could be enabled all the time - I can see reasons both ways.

No matter what one does with the "hotkeys", it can be undone through the various Setting screens, except "wireframe mode" and the "statistics" display, as far as I can see.

Both automatically re-set if you exit MA and then start it up again.

Just an observation.

True - but I'm not sure I understand where you're going with that.

Consider someone who buys MA3 and installs it, and sees the "Settings" screen once for setup - but has no idea about anything else. MA3 works fine, and she gets used to how it looks.

4 months later, while she is out of the room, her kitten walks across her keys. MA3 does some strange things. She restarts it, but it's still doing a few of those strange things. Oh, well.

2 months later, it happens again..... and that nice music stopped playing, too. (zero volume).

Hmmm. This thing is really flakey - I guess I won't recommend it to my brother.

Jim's statement: "Too much chance for ugliness caused by little fingers (or paws)" applies whether it's temporary (until re-start), or permanent (until flddled with).

And why would you want Hot Keys until you've read the Users' Guide (or at least the "About" and "Program Settings" panels).

Going nowhere.

Just making an observation.

Considering it.

Hmm...

disabling "all" of the hotkeys, and turning off "Exit on Mouse Move" may make it a little difficult to Exit the program.

Just another observation.

That's one of the reasons it is taking some consideration. Esc and some non-destructive keys (like left-right arrow keys) would probably be exempt.

Edit: OK, I've considered it and decided that the only really ugly thing that could accidentally happen is Wireframe mode. So, I've decided against the hotkey lock, but will make the Wireframe only work for 10 seconds afer pressing the W key.

OK, thanks for considering it. And I think the wireframe change is a good idea, anyhow. [Perhaps a bit longer than 10 seconds though?]

Footnote: it was your idea, after all. :)