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Area Switcher

by Nikita Akimov·Workflow

Images © Nikita Akimov. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Area Switcher earns its place in the superhive library by trimming a routine step in Blender: the menu selection normally needed to change an area type. It's released under the GPL license and is currently at version 1.3.0.

What is Area Switcher?

Area Switcher is a Blender add-on built for quickly switching work areas. In Blender, changing an area normally means pressing a button that opens a menu and then choosing the area type you want. Some areas get swapped back and forth far more often than others, such as the Outliner with Properties or the 3D View with the Shader Editor, and Area Switcher lets you switch these at a single button click without going through the menu.

The add-on is fully customizable. You set which workspace the switch starts from and which one it moves to in the add-on properties, and you can configure the switching of several work areas one after another. Switching is triggered from a button in the header of the area, or with the ctrl+shift+d keyboard shortcut.

Area Switcher supports Blender 2.83 through 3.4, is currently at version 1.3.0, and is released under the GPL license. Documentation is included, and a demo video is available.

Who is Area Switcher best for?

Area Switcher is best for blender users who frequently switch between the same paired work areas and want to skip the menu selection.

How much does Area Switcher cost?

Area Switcher is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Single-click switching between work areas without opening the menu
  • Configurable source and destination areas, set in the add-on properties
  • Sequential switching of several work areas one after another
  • ctrl+shift+d keyboard shortcut for switching
  • Switch button located in the header of the area
  • Documentation included

Tags

#Blender#add-on#workflow#workspace#area switching#interface#productivity

Frequently asked questions

Which Blender versions does Area Switcher support?

Area Switcher lists support for Blender 2.83, 2.90, 2.91, 2.92, 2.93, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4, covering a wide span of releases from the 2.8 series through to the early 3.x versions. If you run one of these versions, the add-on should fit your setup. For any version outside this list, or to confirm the latest compatibility details, check the developer's page before installing.

How do I switch areas with Area Switcher?

Area Switcher switches work areas from a button placed in the header of the area, so you can change area types without opening a menu and picking the type each time. You can also trigger a switch with the ctrl+shift+d keyboard shortcut. Both routes carry out the switching you have configured, which makes swapping between frequently paired areas a single action rather than a menu selection.

Can I choose which areas Area Switcher switches between?

Area Switcher is fully customizable, so you decide which workspace the switching starts from and which one it moves to, all set in the add-on properties. You can also configure the switching of several work areas one after another, chaining more than one change together. This lets you tailor the add-on to the area pairs you move between most, such as Outliner with Properties or 3D View with Shader Editor.

Is Area Switcher free, and what license does it use?

Area Switcher is listed as free in this catalog, and it's released under the GPL license. Licensing and availability can change over time, so for the current terms it's best to check the developer's page directly. There you can also confirm the current version, which is 1.3.0, and review any details before you download. Pricing shown elsewhere may differ from what's listed here, so treat the developer's page as the reference for what applies now.

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