As a new Blender enthusiast, you might find yourself missing a familiar feature from other 3D software like Maya or 3ds Max: a custom shelf or toolbar to organize and quickly execute your scripts. I faced the same frustration after learning Blender last week and was surprised that such a basic feature was missing.
Determined to fix this, I created a Custom Script Shelf Add-On—a solution that makes managing scripts in Blender easier, intuitive, and automated. This blog post will introduce the add-on, highlight its features, and provide an overview of how to install and use it.
Features at a Glance
Copy-Paste Simplicity for Scripts
Add scripts to your shelf by simply copying and pasting them. No need to mess with files, folders, or directory structures.
Organize Your Shelf Your Way
Reorder, rename, and move scripts across panels within Blender. You can organize scripts into subpanels for better categorization.
Edit Scripts Directly in Blender
Modify saved scripts from within Blender's text editor, streamlining your workflow.
Add Blender Built-In Items to the Shelf
Add frequently used Blender menu items directly to your shelf using a right-click context menu.
Remove Panels or Delete Scripts Easily
Clean up your workspace by removing panels or scripts with a click.
Backup Shelves Between Blender Installations
Safeguard your scripts and settings by saving the add-on folder (%appdata%\Blender Foundation\Blender\4.2\scripts\addons) and restoring it on new installations.
How to Use the Custom Script Shelf
Access the Shelf
Create or Manage Panels
Add a Script
Run or Edit Scripts
Add Blender Items
Reorganize Your Shelf
Conclusion
The Custom Script Shelf Add-On bridges a gap in Blender's functionality, giving you a powerful way to organize and manage scripts without dealing with the hassle of files and directories. Whether you’re automating repetitive tasks, running custom tools, or streamlining workflows, this add-on will become an indispensable part of your Blender setup.
Download it today and experience the convenience! If you encounter any bugs or have feature requests, feel free to share them. Let’s make Blender even better—one script at a time!