Easy way to create a new ifc material at typical dropdowns

[theoryshaw]

Would be nice, anywhere this material dropdown occurs, that there's a button to create a new IFC material as well.

[Gorgious56]

This is a general purpose popup panel that is displayed every time the number of potential items in an enumerator is > 10.

IfcOpenShell/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/helper.py

Lines 190 to 201 in a101f46

	def prop_with_search(layout, data, prop_name, **kwargs):
	# kwargs are layout.prop arguments (text, icon, etc.)
	row = layout.row(align=True)
	row.prop(data, prop_name, **kwargs)
	try:
	if len(get_enum_items(data, prop_name)) > 10:
	# Magick courtesy of https://blender.stackexchange.com/a/203443/86891
	row.context_pointer_set(name="data", data=data)
	op = row.operator("bim.enum_property_search", text="", icon="VIEWZOOM")
	op.prop_name = prop_name
	except TypeError: # Prop is not iterable
	pass

I don't think it's a good idea to add functionality to this panel since it's already a very hacky feature (my own creation, not my proudest achievement :p).

So maybe we can brainstorm how to add this feature gracefully. Just so I understand, you want to be able to add a new MaterialLayerSet with a new IfcMaterial using a single click in this interface ? Because right now, you can add a new MaterialLayerSet but you have to use an existing material, and then you have to click several times in the interface to be able to change the underlying IfcMaterial ?

[theoryshaw]

Just so I understand, you want to be able to add a new MaterialLayerSet with a new IfcMaterial using a single click in this interface?

Correct.

But also from other areas where this material search pops up...

That is, to create a new IfcMaterial when in the following modes as well...

[Moult]

I think let's hold off from investigating this further until the new material and styles UI is designed.

[Moult]

Closing because you can now easily create new materials, and the material manager is directly below object material assignments.