Beautiful Tabs

Version: 1.0.0
Publisher: ScreamyCat
Asset Store: Get Beautiful Tabs on the Unity Asset Store

Beautiful Tabs modernizes Unity's native window management and docking system by introducing a fluid, browser-like tabbing workflow. Featuring an embedded native + button in the window dock area, fast keyboard shortcuts, fluid tab dragging, hotkey navigation, tab cycling via mouse scroll, and a categorized search overlay, it brings modern desktop window management directly into your day-to-day Unity workflow.

Key Features

1. Embedded Native "+" Button

Quickly open and dock new editor windows:

  • Seamlessly injects a discrete + button directly beside existing window tabs in any Unity DockArea.
  • Clicking the + button immediately summons the categorized window search menu to spawn new tabs in-place without manual window rearrangement.
  • Can be toggled on or off in the Beautiful Unity Hub settings.

2. Standard Browser Productivity Shortcuts

Manage your editor workspace at lightning speed with industry-standard hotkeys:

  • Ctrl + T (Windows) / Cmd + T (macOS): Opens the New Tab search overlay positioned right above the currently focused dock area.
  • Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) / Cmd + Shift + T (macOS): Reopens the most recently closed tab from your session history stack.
  • Ctrl + W (Windows) / Cmd + W (macOS): Instantly closes the currently active editor tab.
  • Menu Bar Integration: All shortcuts are also accessible via the top menu bar under Window > Beautiful Tabs.

3. Tab Navigation & Wheel Scrolling

  • Fast Tab Cycling (Shift + Scroll): Hold the configurable Scroll Modifier Key (default: Shift) while scrolling your mouse wheel over the tab bar to quickly cycle through open tabs.
  • Floating Windows (Ctrl + Drag): Hold the Floaty Modifier Key (default: Ctrl) while dragging a tab or component to immediately tear it off into an independent floating window.
  • Fluid Dragging: Enhanced drag-and-drop feedback when reordering or docking tabs across complex multi-monitor layouts.

4. Smart Search Window Categorization

Replaces tedious menu navigation (Window > ...) with an instant, structured search popup. When pressing Ctrl + T or clicking the + button, Beautiful Tabs opens a categorized popup grouping all available windows into logical categories:

  • General: Scene View, Game View, Inspector, Hierarchy, Project Browser, Console, Undo History, Progress Window, Test Runner, Device Simulator.
  • Animation: Animation Window, Animator Controller Tool, Animator Parameters, Timeline.
  • Analysis & Debugging: Profiler, Frame Debugger, Physics Debugger, Physics 2D Debugger, Memory Profiler, Profile Analyzer, UI Toolkit Debugger.
  • Settings & Tools: Project Settings, Package Manager, Build Settings, Preferences, Shortcuts, Search Window.
  • Graphics & Audio: Lighting Settings, Audio Mixer, Video Player, Render Pipeline Debugger.
  • 2D & AI: Sprite Editor, Sprite Library, Tile Palette, Navigation (NavMesh).
  • Extra Tools & VCS: Unity Version Control, Plastic SCM, Asset Store.

Configuration & Hub Settings

All settings for Beautiful Tabs can be customized in the Beautiful Unity Hub:

  1. Open Tools > Beautiful Unity Hub.
  2. Select the Settings tab and navigate to Beautiful Tabs.
  3. Available options include:
    • Enable Tabs: Master switch to enable or disable the Beautiful Tabs feature.
    • Enable Shortcuts: Toggle standard Ctrl+T, Ctrl+W, and Ctrl+Shift+T shortcuts.
    • Show '+' Button: Toggle the discrete plus button in dock headers.
    • Floaty Modifier Key: Choose the modifier key (Control, Shift, Alt, Command) for tearing off floating windows.
    • Scroll Modifier Key: Choose the modifier key (Shift, Control, Alt, Command) for wheel scrolling across open tabs.
    • Category Customization: Add, edit, remove, or reorder search window categories, assign custom icons and C# window type names, or click Reset Categories to Default.

Technical Specifications

Property Details
Unity Compatibility Unity 2021.3 LTS, 2022.3 LTS, Unity 6, Unity 6.5+
Render Pipelines Built-in, Universal RP (URP), High Definition RP (HDRP)
Namespace ScreamyCat.BeautifulTabs
Assembly Definition ScreamyCat.BeautifulTabs.Editor.asmdef (Editor-only)
Runtime Overhead Zero — Completely editor-only.
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