Implement user interface customization features and enhance metadata handling

src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/project/operator.py

@@ -1056,6 +1056,18 @@ class LoadProject(bpy.types.Operator, IFCFileSelector, ImportHelper):
         return tooltip
 
     def execute(self, context):
+        if (tool.Blender.get_addon_preferences().user_ui_customization 
+            and self.should_start_fresh_session 
+            and not self.is_advanced):
+            filepath = self.get_filepath()
+            metadata_path = Path(str(filepath) + ".metadata.blend")
+            if metadata_path.exists() and metadata_path.is_file():
+                try:
+                    bpy.ops.bim.load_blend_metadata_and_ifc(filepath=filepath)
+                    return {"FINISHED"}
+                except Exception as e:
+                    self.report({"WARNING"}, f"Failed to load metadata file, using regular load: {e}")
+        
         @persistent
         def load_handler(*args):
             bpy.app.handlers.load_post.remove(load_handler)
@@ -1748,6 +1760,13 @@ class ExportIFC(bpy.types.Operator, ExportHelper):
         if save_blend_file:
             bpy.ops.wm.save_mainfile(filepath=bpy.data.filepath)
         bim_props.is_dirty = False
+        
+        if tool.Blender.get_addon_preferences().user_ui_customization:
+            try:
+                bpy.ops.bim.save_blend_metadata_file()
+            except Exception as e:
+                settings.logger.warning(f"Failed to save blend metadata file: {e}")
+        
         bonsai.bim.handler.refresh_ui_data()
         self.report(
             {"INFO"},

src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/project/ui.py

@@ -331,18 +331,12 @@ class BIM_PT_project(Panel):
         col.prop(props, "ifc_file", text="")
         row.operator("bim.select_ifc_file", icon="FILE_FOLDER", text="")
 
-        # Blend metadata file UI
+        if tool.Blender.get_addon_preferences().user_ui_customization:
-        row = self.layout.row(align=True)
+            row = self.layout.row(align=True)
-        col = row.column()
+            col = row.column()
-        col.enabled = False
+            col.enabled = False
-        # Show blend metadata file as a label, not editable
+            metadata_filename = os.path.basename(props.ifc_file) + ".metadata.blend"
-        blendmetadata_path = ""
+            col.label(text=f"Saving session data to: {metadata_filename}")
-        if props.ifc_file:
-            blendmetadata_path = props.ifc_file + ".blendmetadata"
-        col.label(text=blendmetadata_path)
-        row.operator("bim.save_blend_metadata_file", icon="FILE_TICK", text="")
-        row = self.layout.row(align=True)
-        row.operator("bim.load_blend_metadata_and_ifc", icon="FILE_REFRESH", text="Load Metadata + IFC")
 
 
 class BIM_PT_new_project_wizard(Panel):

src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/operator.py

@@ -304,10 +304,14 @@ class LoadBlendMetadataAndIFC(bpy.types.Operator):
     bl_idname = "bim.load_blend_metadata_and_ifc"
     bl_label = "Load Blend Metadata and IFC"
     bl_options = {"REGISTER", "UNDO"}
+    filepath: bpy.props.StringProperty(name="IFC File Path", default="")
 
     def execute(self, context):
-        props = tool.Blender.get_bim_props()
+        ifc_file = self.filepath
-        ifc_file = getattr(props, "ifc_file", None)
+        if not ifc_file:
+            props = tool.Blender.get_bim_props()
+            ifc_file = getattr(props, "ifc_file", None)
+        
         if not ifc_file:
             self.report({"WARNING"}, "No IFC file path set.")
             return {"CANCELLED"}

src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/ui.py

@@ -702,7 +702,12 @@ class BIM_ADDON_preferences(bpy.types.AddonPreferences):
         description="Show mass and time units section in the new project wizard panel",
         default=False,
     )
-    
+        user_ui_customization: BoolProperty(
+        name="User UI Customization",
+        description="Enable user interface customization features (hide/show tabs and panels, bookmark panels) and save the session settings as part of the .metadata.blend file",
+        default=False,
+    )
+
     chain_filter_with_set_operations: BoolProperty(
         name="NEW filter mode: Enable chained filters with set operations",
         description="Enable chaining search filters with set operations: ADD (union: combine sets), SUBTRACT (difference: remove from set), FILTER (intersection: only elements in both sets), with autocomplete suggestions for filter values",
@@ -753,6 +758,7 @@ class BIM_ADDON_preferences(bpy.types.AddonPreferences):
         mass_time_units_in_wizard: bool
         chain_filter_with_set_operations: bool
         default_filter_with_set_operations_for_globalid_and_class: bool
+        user_ui_customization: bool
 
     def draw(self, context: bpy.types.Context) -> None:
         layout = self.layout
@@ -943,6 +949,7 @@ class BIM_ADDON_preferences(bpy.types.AddonPreferences):
         row = box.row(align=True)
         row.prop(self, "default_filter_with_set_operations_for_globalid_and_class")
         row.operator("bim.open_uri", text="", icon="HELP").uri = "https://community.osarch.org/discussion/comment/27030"
+        layout.prop(self, "user_ui_customization")
 
 
 # Scene panel groups
@@ -989,8 +996,8 @@ class BIM_PT_tabs(Panel):
             self.draw_tab_entry(row_left, "PACKAGE", "FM", True, aprops.tab == "FM")
         if get_tab_visibility("QUALITY"):
             self.draw_tab_entry(row_left, "COMMUNITY", "QUALITY", True, aprops.tab == "QUALITY")
-        if get_tab_visibility("BOOKMARK"):
+        if tool.Blender.get_addon_preferences().user_ui_customization and get_tab_visibility("BOOKMARK"):
-            self.draw_tab_entry(row_left, "SOLO_ON", "BOOKMARK", True, aprops.tab == "BOOKMARK")  # New BOOKMARK tab
+            self.draw_tab_entry(row_left, "SOLO_ON", "BOOKMARK", True, aprops.tab == "BOOKMARK")
         row_left.operator("bim.switch_tab", text="", emboss=False, icon="UV_SYNC_SELECT")
 
         row_left = col_left.row(align=True)
@@ -1010,16 +1017,17 @@ class BIM_PT_tabs(Panel):
         row_right = col_right.row(align=True)
         row_right.alignment = "RIGHT"
 
-        row_right.operator("bim.manage_tab_visibility", icon="PREFERENCES", text="")
+        if tool.Blender.get_addon_preferences().user_ui_customization:
+            row_right.operator("bim.manage_tab_visibility", icon="PREFERENCES", text="")
 
         row = self.layout.row(align=True)
         row.prop(aprops, "tab", text="")
 
-        # Add gear icons for all tabs except SWITCH_TAB
+        if tool.Blender.get_addon_preferences().user_ui_customization:
-        for tab in get_tab_names():
+            for tab in get_tab_names():
-            if get_tab_visibility(tab):
+                if get_tab_visibility(tab):
-                if aprops.tab == tab:
+                    if aprops.tab == tab:
-                    row.operator("bim.manage_tab_panels", text="", icon="PREFERENCES").tab_name = tab
+                        row.operator("bim.manage_tab_panels", text="", icon="PREFERENCES").tab_name = tab
 
         if bonsai.REINSTALLED_BBIM_VERSION:
             box = self.layout.box()