Why am I getting multiple hotkey entries in my key configuration file?

Support Basics & Interface
1

I have many copies of the same hotkeys in my key configuration file. Like this:

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I understand that some scripts assign hotkeys like this:

create the mode switch menu hotkey

km = kc.keymaps.new(name=‘3D View’, space_type=‘VIEW_3D’)
kmi = km.keymap_items.new(‘wm.call_menu’, ‘Q’, ‘PRESS’, alt=True)
kmi.properties.name = ‘mode.switch_menu’
kmi.active = True
addon_keymaps.append((km, kmi))

Why do I have ten or eleven copies of the same key in my key file? Is it the ‘append’ method doing it? So whenever I toggle an addon on and off I get another copy of the hotkey in my key file?

2

It sounds like the addon just blindly adds its hotkeys when it gets enabled, regardless of whether they exist or not, and/or it doesn’t bother to remove them when it gets disabled.

3

each time you import a config it adds its keys…

4

That makes sense. It makes a mess of the key config file. It there a way to fix it globally, or does each script have to check if the entry already exists in the key config file?

5

I get this all the time.
I’ve been harping on the state of the Hotkey Editor (/engine). Both function and design. It’s a big roadblock in successfully remapping/maintaining keys, especially for those new to Blender.
This should be high on the task of fixing things.

Unfortunately this is not just a matter of fixing, this definitely needs a thorough thought out redesign that goes a little deeper than just concerning direct keys to commands. Specifically for instance, the navigation across all Editors/Windows should be set on one global level. (there can be an advanced option for those adventurous who want to navigate each window in a different fasion).

6

I think I figured out my problem with the key file. I had been exporting my key file each time I make changes to my hot keys. But all I really need to do is Save User Settings, which I had been doing all along. But I had also been exporting the key file on top of the existing key file that I had already exported.

But Save User Settings saves everything including keys into the userpref.blend file, so the key changes are saved.

I should use Export Key File for backups only. And I should not write on top of an existing key file because scripts just append their key settings to the existing file. I was ending up with key files nearly 3000 lines long.