From e6d5297a86cf16140b50048d3b10a3d5f5dac2e0 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Egon 5000 <210198019+elZanco@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:16:36 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 1/2] UI: the menu bar browses from the press until the release

A title opens on the press and the menus follow the cursor while the button is held: hovering a category opens its submenu and releasing over an entry picks it. An outside press or a focus loss closes the open menu again.
---
 crates/ui-egui/src/menu_keys.rs  |  39 ++++++++-
 crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs      | 134 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++---
 crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_menus.rs | 128 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 3 files changed, 289 insertions(+), 12 deletions(-)

diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/menu_keys.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/menu_keys.rs
index 39738530..9477e142 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/menu_keys.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/menu_keys.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 //! shortcuts and the panels don't see them (Space must not start a preview).
 
 use egui::containers::menu::{MenuState, SubMenu, find_menu_root};
-use egui::{Context, Event, Id, Key, Modifiers, Popup, Pos2, Response, Ui};
+use egui::{Context, Event, Id, Key, Modifiers, Popup, Pos2, Rect, Response, Ui};
 
 /// An entry of an open menu as drawn this frame.
 #[derive(Clone, Copy)]
@@ -39,6 +39,12 @@ pub struct Nav {
     tops: Vec<(Id, Id)>,
     /// Open menus by depth: the top-level menu, then each open submenu.
     levels: Vec<Level>,
+    /// The titles and open menus drawn this frame: a press outside them is an outside press,
+    /// which closes the menu (native behaviour; the press itself still reaches what's under it).
+    rects: Vec<Rect>,
+    /// A title press opened (or kept) the menu this frame: releasing the button over an entry
+    /// chooses it (After Effects' press-and-browse).
+    browsing: bool,
 }
 
 /// What to highlight once a menu opened from the keyboard has been drawn: the first entry of the
@@ -73,6 +79,37 @@ impl Nav {
         self.tops.push((button.id, Popup::default_response_id(button)));
     }
 
+    /// The rect `rect` (a menu title or an open menu) holds, so a press there doesn't close.
+    pub fn cover(&mut self, rect: Rect) {
+        self.rects.push(rect);
+    }
+
+    /// Whether `pos` is inside a title or menu drawn this frame.
+    pub fn covers(&self, pos: Pos2) -> bool {
+        self.rects.iter().any(|r| r.contains(pos))
+    }
+
+    /// A title press is in progress (its button still held): see [`Nav::browsing`].
+    pub fn set_browsing(&mut self) {
+        self.browsing = true;
+    }
+
+    /// Whether the menu bar is mid press-and-browse (a title was pressed this pointer-down and
+    /// hasn't been released yet): releasing over an entry then chooses it.
+    pub fn browsing(&self) -> bool {
+        self.browsing
+    }
+
+    /// The popup of the open top-level menu (only one can be open), if any.
+    pub fn open_popup(&self, ctx: &Context) -> Option<Id> {
+        self.tops.iter().find(|(_, p)| Popup::is_id_open(ctx, *p)).map(|(_, p)| *p)
+    }
+
+    /// The position in the bar of the open top-level menu, if any.
+    pub fn open_index(&self, ctx: &Context) -> Option<usize> {
+        self.tops.iter().position(|(_, p)| Popup::is_id_open(ctx, *p))
+    }
+
     /// An entry drawn at `depth` (0: a top-level menu) in the menu `ui`. Hovering an entry moves
     /// the keyboard highlight to it, and a highlighted entry scrolls into view.
     pub fn entry(&mut self, ui: &Ui, depth: usize, r: &Response, submenu: bool) {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
index b1eba4f0..dbdd32e3 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
@@ -1974,32 +1974,118 @@ fn handle_shortcuts_impl(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context, tab_only
     }
 }
 
+/// The id under which [`menu_bar`] remembers which of its menus was open at the end of the last
+/// frame (its title's open look, and the hover that switches between the titles).
+fn open_menu_id() -> egui::Id {
+    egui::Id::new("menu-bar-open")
+}
+
+/// The id under which [`menu_bar`] remembers a title press still in progress (press-and-browse).
+fn browse_menu_id() -> egui::Id {
+    egui::Id::new("menu-bar-browse")
+}
+
 /// Draw the in-window menu bar (the engine's AE menu tree).
+///
+/// The titles open on the press, not the release (native menu bars): while one is held the menus
+/// can be browsed by moving onto them, and releasing over an entry chooses it. Hovering another
+/// title switches the open menu to it, and the open one closes on a press outside it or when the
+/// window loses focus. The pointer leaving the window — onto the OS title bar, directly above the
+/// bar — closes nothing, however long: the platform forwards none of the title bar's clicks to
+/// egui (only the cursor leaving), so there is no click to close on and a graze must not drop the
+/// menu. The closing press itself still reaches the widget under it, as a click does in After
+/// Effects.
 pub fn menu_bar(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui) {
     let ctx = ui.ctx().clone();
     let mut clicked: Option<(String, Value)> = None;
     let mut nav = crate::menu_keys::Nav::default();
+    // The open menu as of the last frame: the titles are drawn before this frame can open or
+    // close anything, and what happened last frame is what they must react to.
+    let open_prev: Option<usize> = ctx.data(|d| d.get_temp(open_menu_id())).flatten();
+    if ctx.data(|d| d.get_temp(browse_menu_id())).unwrap_or(false) {
+        nav.set_browsing();
+    }
+    let mut drawn = 0;
     ui.horizontal_centered(|ui| {
         ui.add_space(6.0);
         egui::MenuBar::new().config(egui::containers::menu::MenuConfig::new().style(crate::widgets::menu_style)).ui(ui, |ui| {
             for node in effectcraft_engine::menus::menu_bar() {
-                if let MenuNode::Submenu { label, children } = node {
-                    let r = ui.menu_button(crate::i18n::label(app, "", label), |ui| {
+                let MenuNode::Submenu { label, children } = node else { continue };
+                // The open title takes the open button's look while its menu is up (as in AE).
+                let inactive = ui.style().visuals.widgets.inactive;
+                if open_prev == Some(drawn) {
+                    ui.style_mut().visuals.widgets.inactive = ui.style().visuals.widgets.open;
+                }
+                let mut response = ui.add(egui::Button::new(crate::i18n::label(app, "", label)));
+                ui.style_mut().visuals.widgets.inactive = inactive;
+                // A press on a title opens its menu at once (a second press on the open one closes
+                // it), and while it is held the menus below are browsable. The keyboard and the
+                // accessibility activation report `clicked` without the primary button (the press
+                // then happened somewhere else), and toggle the menu. Hovering another title
+                // switches to it once the pointer has moved: merely resting there must not take a
+                // keyboard-driven menu over.
+                let moved = ctx.input(|i| i.pointer.delta() != egui::Vec2::ZERO);
+                // With the button down elsewhere nothing is hovered, so the title under the
+                // pointer takes the highlight by hand: the hover-switch to it shows, one frame
+                // later like egui's own hover (the open title keeps its open look).
+                if moved && response.contains_pointer() && open_prev.is_some_and(|p| p != drawn) {
+                    response = response.highlight();
+                }
+                let pressed = ctx.input(|i| i.pointer.button_pressed(egui::PointerButton::Primary)) && response.hovered();
+                let cmd = if pressed {
+                    nav.set_browsing();
+                    Some(egui::SetOpenCommand::Bool(open_prev != Some(drawn)))
+                } else if response.clicked() && !response.clicked_by(egui::PointerButton::Primary) {
+                    Some(egui::SetOpenCommand::Toggle)
+                } else if moved && response.enabled() && response.contains_pointer() && open_prev.is_some_and(|p| p != drawn) {
+                    Some(egui::SetOpenCommand::Bool(true))
+                } else {
+                    None
+                };
+                let inner = egui::Popup::menu(&response)
+                    .close_behavior(egui::PopupCloseBehavior::IgnoreClicks)
+                    .style(crate::widgets::menu_style)
+                    .open_memory(cmd)
+                    .show(|ui| {
                         ui.set_min_width(if label == "Effect" { 200.0 } else { 280.0 });
                         crate::widgets::menu_scroll(ui, |ui| menu_nodes(app, ui, children, &mut clicked, &mut nav, 0));
                     });
-                    nav.top(&r.response);
-                    app.auto.add(&format!("menu.{label}"), r.response.rect, label);
+                nav.top(&response);
+                // The titles and the open menus: a press inside them is not an outside press.
+                nav.cover(response.rect);
+                if let Some(inner) = &inner {
+                    nav.cover(inner.response.rect);
                 }
+                app.auto.add(&format!("menu.{label}"), response.rect, label);
+                drawn += 1;
             }
         });
     });
     crate::menu_keys::handle(&ctx, &nav);
+    // egui leaves the closing to us (`IgnoreClicks`), so the menus close here: at once on a press
+    // outside them (the press itself still reaches the widget below) and when the window loses
+    // focus. The pointer leaving the window closes nothing: moving onto the OS title bar fires
+    // the cursor-left event and the platform forwards none of its clicks to egui, so there is no
+    // click to close on — and a graze or a stay must not drop the menu, as in native apps.
+    if let Some(top) = nav.open_popup(&ctx) {
+        let focus_lost = ctx.input(|i| i.events.iter().any(|e| matches!(e, egui::Event::WindowFocused(false))));
+        let outside_press = ctx.input(|i| i.pointer.any_pressed() && i.pointer.interact_pos().is_some_and(|p| !nav.covers(p)));
+        if focus_lost || outside_press {
+            egui::Popup::close_id(&ctx, top);
+        }
+    }
     if let Some((id, params)) = clicked
         && let Err(e) = invoke(app, &ctx, &id, if params.is_null() { json!({}) } else { params })
     {
         app.ui.status = e;
     }
+    // What the next frame starts from: the open title, and a title press still in progress.
+    let open = nav.open_index(&ctx);
+    let browsing = open.is_some() && nav.browsing() && ctx.input(|i| i.pointer.primary_down());
+    ctx.data_mut(|d| {
+        d.insert_temp(open_menu_id(), open);
+        d.insert_temp(browse_menu_id(), browsing);
+    });
 }
 
 /// The entries of top-level menu `name` (the Effect menu is the Effect Controls panel's context
@@ -2051,9 +2137,10 @@ fn menu_nodes(
                         Some(t) => r.on_hover_text(t),
                         None => r,
                     };
+                    let r = browse_hover(nav, r);
                     app.auto.add(&format!("menu.{name}.{i}"), r.rect, &e.label);
                     nav.entry(ui, depth, &r, false);
-                    if r.clicked() {
+                    if r.clicked() || browse_pick(nav, ui, &r) {
                         *clicked = Some((e.command.clone(), e.params.clone()));
                         ui.close();
                     }
@@ -2065,19 +2152,27 @@ fn menu_nodes(
                 // every other submenu goes through the menu catalog.
                 let shown = crate::i18n::effect_category(children, label)
                     .unwrap_or_else(|| crate::i18n::submenu(app, label, effectcraft_engine::menus::submenu_label(&app.session, label, &dyn_ctx(&ws, &[]))));
-                let r = ui.menu_button((gutter(false), shown.as_str()), |ui| {
+                let browsing = nav.browsing();
+                let egui::InnerResponse { inner, response } = ui.menu_button((gutter(false), shown.as_str()), |ui| {
                     ui.set_min_width(if children.len() > 30 { 200.0 } else { 240.0 });
                     crate::widgets::menu_scroll(ui, |ui| menu_nodes(app, ui, children, clicked, nav, depth + 1));
                 });
-                nav.entry(ui, depth, &r.response, true);
-                if r.inner.is_some() {
-                    nav.opened(depth, &r.response);
+                let response = browse_hover(nav, response);
+                nav.entry(ui, depth, &response, true);
+                if inner.is_some() {
+                    // `ui.menu_button` drops the popup's own response on the floor: read it back,
+                    // so that a press inside this submenu doesn't count as an outside press.
+                    let sub = egui::containers::menu::SubMenu::id_from_widget_id(response.id);
+                    if let Some(resp) = ui.ctx().read_response(sub) {
+                        nav.cover(resp.rect);
+                    }
+                    nav.opened(depth, &response);
                 }
             }
             MenuNode::Item(e) => {
-                let r = menu_entry(app, ui, e);
+                let r = browse_hover(nav, menu_entry(app, ui, e));
                 nav.entry(ui, depth, &r, false);
-                if r.clicked() {
+                if r.clicked() || browse_pick(nav, ui, &r) {
                     *clicked = Some((e.command.clone(), e.params.clone()));
                     ui.close();
                 }
@@ -2086,6 +2181,23 @@ fn menu_nodes(
     }
 }
 
+/// The row `r` highlighted while the bar is mid press-and-browse: with a button down egui reports
+/// nothing as hovered — which would leave browsing with no hover feedback at all — so the row
+/// under the pointer takes the highlight by hand. It reads as the hover look one frame later,
+/// exactly egui's own hover latency; disabled rows ignore it (`Noninteractive`), as in native
+/// menus. Context menus use their own [`crate::menu_keys::Nav`], where the bar never browses.
+fn browse_hover(nav: &crate::menu_keys::Nav, r: egui::Response) -> egui::Response {
+    if nav.browsing() && r.contains_pointer() { r.highlight() } else { r }
+}
+
+/// Whether a press-and-browse (a menu-bar title still held down) releases over entry `r`, which
+/// then chooses it like a click does. egui reports neither for it: the release is far from the
+/// press, so there is no click, and nothing but the pressed widget is hovered while a button is
+/// down, so the row has to be tested by the pointer being over it.
+fn browse_pick(nav: &crate::menu_keys::Nav, ui: &egui::Ui, r: &egui::Response) -> bool {
+    nav.browsing() && r.enabled() && r.contains_pointer() && ui.input(|i| i.pointer.button_released(egui::PointerButton::Primary))
+}
+
 /// The menu bar's submenu at `path` (`["File", "Interpret Footage"]`) in a panel's context menu,
 /// with the menu bar's labels, shortcuts and enabled state; a chosen entry goes to `clicked`.
 pub(crate) fn submenu_at(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, path: &[&str], clicked: &mut Option<(String, Value)>) {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_menus.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_menus.rs
index ca4c8cab..a59599df 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_menus.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_menus.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,25 @@ fn click_at(h: &mut Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, p: Pos2) {
     h.run_steps(2);
 }
 
+/// Press the primary button at `p` and keep it down.
+fn press(h: &mut Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, p: Pos2) {
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerMoved(p));
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerButton { pos: p, button: egui::PointerButton::Primary, pressed: true, modifiers: Default::default() });
+    h.run_steps(2);
+}
+
+/// Move the pointer to `p` (press or no press, whichever is held).
+fn move_to(h: &mut Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, p: Pos2) {
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerMoved(p));
+    h.run_steps(2);
+}
+
+/// Release the primary button at `p`.
+fn release(h: &mut Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, p: Pos2) {
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerButton { pos: p, button: egui::PointerButton::Primary, pressed: false, modifiers: Default::default() });
+    h.run_steps(2);
+}
+
 /// Press and release `key` (one frame each), then let the UI settle.
 fn key(h: &mut Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, key: Key) {
     h.input_mut().events.push(Event::Key { key, physical_key: None, pressed: true, repeat: false, modifiers: Modifiers::NONE });
@@ -244,3 +263,112 @@ fn space_previews_after_opening_the_demo_from_home() {
     key(&mut h, Key::Space);
     assert!(h.state().playback.playing, "Space previews the demo (#1059)");
 }
+
+/// The titles open on the press, not the release, so the menus can be browsed with the button
+/// still held down: moving onto an entry and releasing there chooses it (as in After Effects).
+#[test]
+fn a_menu_opens_on_press_and_browsing_releases_choose_an_entry() {
+    let mut h = harness();
+    let edit = rect(&h, "menu.Edit");
+    press(&mut h, edit.center());
+    assert!(shown(&h, "Keyboard Shortcuts"), "the Edit menu opens on the press, before any release");
+    let item = h.query_by_label_contains("Keyboard Shortcuts").expect("the Edit menu is open").rect();
+    move_to(&mut h, item.center());
+    release(&mut h, item.center());
+    assert_eq!(h.state().dialog, Some(effectcraft_ui_egui::Dialog::Shortcuts), "the release over the entry chose it");
+    assert!(!shown(&h, "Quick Apply"), "and closed the menu");
+}
+
+/// While a menu is open, hovering another title switches to that menu (native menu bars).
+#[test]
+fn hovering_another_title_while_a_menu_is_open_switches_to_it() {
+    let mut h = harness();
+    let edit = rect(&h, "menu.Edit");
+    click_at(&mut h, edit.center());
+    assert!(shown(&h, "Keyboard Shortcuts"), "the Edit menu is open");
+    let file = rect(&h, "menu.File");
+    move_to(&mut h, file.center());
+    assert!(shown(&h, "Open Project"), "hovering File opened the File menu");
+    assert!(!shown(&h, "Keyboard Shortcuts"), "and closed Edit");
+}
+
+/// The press on the title of the open menu closes it again, and the click's release — a plain
+/// click on the title — leaves it closed.
+#[test]
+fn pressing_the_open_title_again_closes_its_menu() {
+    let mut h = harness();
+    let file = rect(&h, "menu.File");
+    click_at(&mut h, file.center());
+    assert!(shown(&h, "Open Project"), "the File menu is open");
+    click_at(&mut h, file.center());
+    assert!(!shown(&h, "Open Project"), "the second press closed it");
+}
+
+/// Press-and-hold browse (AE's gesture) reaches into a submenu: while the button is still held,
+/// moving onto the submenu row opens it, and the release inside the submenu picks the entry.
+#[test]
+fn hold_browse_opens_a_submenu_and_the_release_inside_picks_an_entry() {
+    let mut h = harness();
+    // Applying an effect needs a selected layer, as in the app after clicking one in the timeline.
+    let first = {
+        let cid = h.state().session.active_comp_id().expect("the demo opens a comp");
+        let comp = h.state().session.project.comp(cid).expect("the demo comp exists");
+        comp.layers.iter().find(|l| l.effects().is_some()).expect("the demo comp has a layer that takes effects").id
+    };
+    h.state_mut().session.state.selected_layers = vec![first];
+    let effect = rect(&h, "menu.Effect");
+    press(&mut h, effect.center());
+    assert!(shown(&h, "Effect Controls"), "the Effect menu opens on the press");
+    // The categories come from the effect registry; the first alphabetically is "3D Channel".
+    let cat = h.query_by_label_contains("3D Channel").expect("the category row is shown").rect();
+    move_to(&mut h, cat.center());
+    assert!(shown(&h, "Cryptomatte"), "moving onto a category while still holding opened its submenu");
+    let entry = h.query_by_label_contains("Cryptomatte").expect("the submenu is open").rect();
+    move_to(&mut h, entry.center());
+    release(&mut h, entry.center());
+    assert!(!shown(&h, "Effect Controls"), "the release closed the menus");
+    assert!(h.state().session.state.last_effect.is_some(), "and the release chose the entry: it applied its effect");
+}
+
+/// The open menus close on a press outside them and when the window loses focus. The pointer
+/// leaving the window — onto the OS title bar, whose clicks are never forwarded to egui — closes
+/// nothing, however long it stays away: there is no click to close on, and a graze or a stay
+/// must not drop the menu. The closing press itself is not swallowed: it reaches the widget under
+/// it, as a click does in After Effects.
+#[test]
+fn outside_presses_and_focus_loss_close_the_menus() {
+    let mut h = harness();
+    let file = rect(&h, "menu.File");
+    click_at(&mut h, file.center());
+    assert!(shown(&h, "Open Project"));
+    // A press in the empty part of the bar, outside every title and menu.
+    click_at(&mut h, pos2(1100.0, 12.0));
+    assert!(!shown(&h, "Open Project"), "a press outside the menus closes them");
+    // The press reaches the header's workspace tab behind the open menu: the menu closes and the
+    // tab still acts (the menus don't swallow input).
+    click_at(&mut h, file.center());
+    assert!(shown(&h, "Open Project"));
+    let tab = rect(&h, "header.workspace.Review");
+    click_at(&mut h, tab.center());
+    assert_eq!(h.state().ui.workspace, "Review", "the press reached the tab behind the open menu");
+    assert!(!shown(&h, "Open Project"), "and closed the menu");
+    // Moving onto the OS title bar fires the cursor-left event — its clicks are never forwarded
+    // to egui — which egui reports as `PointerGone`. It must not close the menus, however long
+    // the pointer stays away.
+    click_at(&mut h, file.center());
+    assert!(shown(&h, "Open Project"));
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerGone);
+    h.run_steps(1);
+    assert!(shown(&h, "Open Project"), "leaving the window alone doesn't drop the menus at once");
+    let now = h.ctx.input(|i| i.time);
+    h.input_mut().time = Some(now + 60.0);
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert!(shown(&h, "Open Project"), "staying away doesn't close them either");
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerMoved(file.center()));
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert!(shown(&h, "Open Project"), "the pointer coming back keeps them open too");
+    // Losing focus (alt-tabbing away, or clicking another window).
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::WindowFocused(false));
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert!(!shown(&h, "Open Project"), "losing focus closes the menus");
+}

From b7ae6603792cc14a1663aa9f241d5f34964577c7 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Egon 5000 <210198019+elZanco@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:16:36 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 2/2] UI: a menu scrolls from its edge while browsing with the
 button held

Resting the pointer in an 18 pt band at a menu's bottom edge crawls the list after a short delay and speeds up the longer it stays there, so long menus stay reachable without letting go of the press-and-hold gesture. Context menus do not crawl.
---
 crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs           |  5 +-
 crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs |  8 +--
 crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer.rs   |  2 +-
 crates/ui-egui/src/widgets.rs         | 73 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_scrolling.rs  | 73 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 5 files changed, 152 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-)

diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
index dbdd32e3..5be1e80a 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
@@ -2048,7 +2048,8 @@ pub fn menu_bar(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui) {
                     .open_memory(cmd)
                     .show(|ui| {
                         ui.set_min_width(if label == "Effect" { 200.0 } else { 280.0 });
-                        crate::widgets::menu_scroll(ui, |ui| menu_nodes(app, ui, children, &mut clicked, &mut nav, 0));
+                        let browsing = nav.browsing();
+                        crate::widgets::menu_scroll(ui, browsing, |ui| menu_nodes(app, ui, children, &mut clicked, &mut nav, 0));
                     });
                 nav.top(&response);
                 // The titles and the open menus: a press inside them is not an outside press.
@@ -2155,7 +2156,7 @@ fn menu_nodes(
                 let browsing = nav.browsing();
                 let egui::InnerResponse { inner, response } = ui.menu_button((gutter(false), shown.as_str()), |ui| {
                     ui.set_min_width(if children.len() > 30 { 200.0 } else { 240.0 });
-                    crate::widgets::menu_scroll(ui, |ui| menu_nodes(app, ui, children, clicked, nav, depth + 1));
+                    crate::widgets::menu_scroll(ui, browsing, |ui| menu_nodes(app, ui, children, clicked, nav, depth + 1));
                 });
                 let response = browse_hover(nav, response);
                 nav.entry(ui, depth, &response, true);
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
index 2de97a4b..d9c5b207 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
@@ -2605,7 +2605,7 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
                 egui::Popup::menu(&lang).style(crate::widgets::menu_style).show(|ui| {
                     for (cat, items) in effectcraft_engine::commands::expr_tools::language_menu() {
                         ui.menu_button(cat, |ui| {
-                            widgets::menu_scroll(ui, |ui| {
+                            widgets::menu_scroll(ui, false, |ui| {
                                 for (label, text) in items {
                                     if ui.button(label).clicked() {
                                         picked = Some(text);
@@ -3926,7 +3926,7 @@ pub(crate) fn layer_menu(ui: &mut egui::Ui, layers: &[u64], caps: LayerMenuCaps,
         item(ui, "Add Marker", "layer.addMarker", json!({"layers": layers}));
     });
     ui.menu_button(crate::i18n::tr("Blending Mode"), |ui| {
-        widgets::menu_scroll(ui, |ui| {
+        widgets::menu_scroll(ui, false, |ui| {
             for m in BlendMode::ALL {
                 item(ui, m.label(), "layer.setBlendMode", json!({"layers": layers, "mode": m.label()}));
                 if m.ends_group() {
@@ -3960,11 +3960,11 @@ fn effects_submenu(ui: &mut egui::Ui, layers: &[u64], item: &mut dyn FnMut(&mut
         }
     }
     cats.sort_by_key(|(c, _)| c.to_ascii_lowercase());
-    widgets::menu_scroll(ui, |ui| {
+    widgets::menu_scroll(ui, false, |ui| {
         for (cat, mut fx) in cats {
             fx.sort_by_key(|e| e.name.to_ascii_lowercase());
             ui.menu_button(cat, |ui| {
-                widgets::menu_scroll(ui, |ui| {
+                widgets::menu_scroll(ui, false, |ui| {
                     for e in fx {
                         item(ui, e.name, "effect.apply", json!({"effect": e.id, "layers": layers}));
                     }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer.rs
index 1064854f..2eee93dd 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer.rs
@@ -1251,7 +1251,7 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
         let hits = ui.data(|d| d.get_temp::<Vec<(u64, String)>>(menu_hits_id)).unwrap_or_default();
         if !hits.is_empty() {
             ui.menu_button(crate::i18n::tr("Select"), |ui| {
-                crate::widgets::menu_scroll(ui, |ui| {
+                crate::widgets::menu_scroll(ui, false, |ui| {
                     for (id, name) in &hits {
                         if ui.button(name).clicked() {
                             context_actions.push(("layer.select".to_owned(), serde_json::json!({"layers":[id]})));
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/widgets.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/widgets.rs
index c005224d..7aee3d0b 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/widgets.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/widgets.rs
@@ -607,9 +607,78 @@ pub fn any_menu_open(ctx: &egui::Context) -> bool {
 /// whole: egui sizes a new menu from a default 400 pt area, so without a minimum a longer one
 /// (Window ▸ Workspace) got stuck at that height with its last entries scrolled out of view
 /// (#191).
-pub fn menu_scroll<R>(ui: &mut Ui, add: impl FnOnce(&mut Ui) -> R) -> R {
+///
+/// While the bar is mid press-and-browse (`browsing`), resting the pointer against the menu's
+/// bottom or top edge scrolls it from there — a crawl at first, then a run, as native menus do —
+/// so a long list can be walked with no wheel. Without the hold the edges do nothing: the wheel
+/// and the scroll bar are how a normally opened menu scrolls.
+pub fn menu_scroll<R>(ui: &mut Ui, browsing: bool, add: impl FnOnce(&mut Ui) -> R) -> R {
     let max_h = ui.ctx().content_rect().height() - 40.0;
-    egui::ScrollArea::vertical().max_height(max_h).min_scrolled_height(max_h).show(ui, add).inner
+    let out = egui::ScrollArea::vertical().max_height(max_h).min_scrolled_height(max_h).show(ui, add);
+    edge_scroll(ui, &out, browsing);
+    out.inner
+}
+
+/// The edge scroll [`menu_scroll`] adds while browsing: with the pointer resting in the bottom
+/// (top) band of an overflowing menu, its content crawls up (down) after a short pause, ramps to
+/// a run and stops at the end — and stops at once when the pointer leaves the band or the hold.
+///
+/// This runs after `ScrollArea::show`, which laid the menu out for the offset it had, so the new
+/// offset goes into the area's state and shows on the next frame: a frame of lag, invisible at
+/// these speeds. egui's own scrolling (wheel, drag, scroll bar) is untouched.
+fn edge_scroll<R>(ui: &Ui, out: &egui::containers::scroll_area::ScrollAreaOutput<R>, browsing: bool) {
+    /// How far from the top / bottom edge the pointer starts the crawl (points).
+    const BAND: f32 = 18.0;
+    /// The pause before the crawl starts: a pointer merely grazing the edge must not jump.
+    const DELAY: f32 = 0.12;
+    /// Points per second: a crawl at first, reaching the run about three quarters of a second in.
+    const CRAWL: f32 = 45.0;
+    const RAMP: f32 = 700.0;
+    const RUN: f32 = 560.0;
+
+    let ctx = ui.ctx();
+    let over = out.content_size.y - out.inner_rect.height();
+    let dir = match (browsing, over > 0.0, ctx.input(|i| i.pointer.latest_pos())) {
+        (true, true, Some(p)) if out.inner_rect.contains(p) => {
+            if p.y >= out.inner_rect.max.y - BAND {
+                1
+            } else if p.y <= out.inner_rect.min.y + BAND {
+                -1
+            } else {
+                0
+            }
+        }
+        _ => 0,
+    };
+    // The clock the pause counts from, kept per menu: entering or leaving an edge band restarts
+    // it, so a later stay there crawls off again instead of jumping straight to the run.
+    let now = ctx.input(|i| i.time);
+    let key = out.id.with("menu-edge-scroll");
+    let (since, prev) = ctx.data(|d| d.get_temp::<(f64, i32)>(key)).unwrap_or((now, 0));
+    let since = if dir == prev {
+        since
+    } else {
+        ctx.data_mut(|d| d.insert_temp(key, (now, dir)));
+        now
+    };
+    if dir == 0 {
+        return;
+    }
+    if now - since < f64::from(DELAY) {
+        // A pointer resting still fires no events: keep the frames coming until the crawl runs.
+        ctx.request_repaint();
+        return;
+    }
+    let speed = (CRAWL + RAMP * ((now - since) as f32 - DELAY)).min(RUN);
+    let crawl = ctx.input(|i| i.unstable_dt).min(0.05) * speed * dir as f32;
+    let new = (out.state.offset.y + crawl).clamp(0.0, over);
+    if new != out.state.offset.y {
+        let mut state = out.state;
+        state.offset.y = new;
+        state.store(ctx, out.id);
+        // At the end of the list the crawl stands still and asks for no more frames.
+        ctx.request_repaint();
+    }
 }
 
 /// egui's menu style with no gap between the rows: the gap the app's item spacing left between
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_scrolling.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_scrolling.rs
index 5f681623..a0bc1fe6 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_scrolling.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_scrolling.rs
@@ -40,6 +40,33 @@ fn wheel(h: &mut Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, at: Pos2, dy: f32) {
     h.run_steps(20);
 }
 
+/// Press the primary button at `p` and keep it down (press-and-browse, as on a menu title).
+fn hold(h: &mut Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, p: Pos2) {
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerMoved(p));
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerButton { pos: p, button: egui::PointerButton::Primary, pressed: true, modifiers: Default::default() });
+    h.run_steps(2);
+}
+
+/// Move the pointer to `p`, keeping whatever button is held.
+fn move_to(h: &mut Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, p: Pos2) {
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerMoved(p));
+    h.run_steps(2);
+}
+
+/// The open menu popup's rect (frame included), from egui's area memory: the only tall area up.
+fn open_popup(h: &Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>) -> Rect {
+    h.ctx
+        .memory(|m| {
+            m.areas()
+                .visible_layer_ids()
+                .into_iter()
+                .filter(|l| l.order != egui::Order::Background)
+                .filter_map(|l| m.area_rect(l.id))
+                .find(|r| r.height() > 100.0)
+        })
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("no menu popup is open"))
+}
+
 /// Edit is taller than a short window: it scrolls (with the wheel, and a scroll bar that always
 /// shows) so its last entries can be reached and clicked, instead of running off the bottom of
 /// the window (#269).
@@ -59,6 +86,52 @@ fn a_menu_taller_than_the_window_scrolls() {
     assert_eq!(h.state().dialog, Some(effectcraft_ui_egui::Dialog::Shortcuts), "the entry takes the click");
 }
 
+/// With the title still held down (press-and-browse), resting the pointer against the bottom
+/// edge of a menu too tall for the window scrolls it from there — a crawl, then a run, as native
+/// menus do — so the long list can be walked with no wheel.
+#[test]
+fn holding_the_title_scrolls_the_menu_from_its_bottom_edge() {
+    let mut h = harness(1200.0, 520.0);
+    let edit = rect(&h, "menu.Edit");
+    hold(&mut h, edit.center());
+    let before = h.query_by_label_contains("Keyboard Shortcuts").expect("the Edit menu opens on the press").rect();
+    assert!(before.max.y > 520.0, "Edit is taller than the window ({before:?})");
+    let menu = open_popup(&h);
+    // Creeping down the edge: the 18 pt band above the menu's inner bottom lies at one of these
+    // positions, whatever the frame's margin (they are 6 pt apart).
+    let mut walked = false;
+    for step in 0..5 {
+        move_to(&mut h, pos2(menu.center().x, menu.max.y - 6.0 - 6.0 * step as f32));
+        h.run_steps(8);
+        let now = h.query_by_label_contains("Keyboard Shortcuts").expect("still open").rect();
+        if now.min.y < before.min.y {
+            walked = true;
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    assert!(walked, "resting on the bottom edge of the held-down menu scrolled its entries up");
+}
+
+/// Without the title held down — the menu opened by a plain click — the same edge rest scrolls
+/// nothing: the wheel (above) is how a click-opened menu scrolls, the pointer alone must not
+/// move it (a hover may align the row under it by a few points; a crawl there would be a bug).
+#[test]
+fn without_the_hold_the_edge_does_not_scroll_the_menu() {
+    let mut h = harness(1200.0, 520.0);
+    let edit = rect(&h, "menu.Edit");
+    click_at(&mut h, edit.center());
+    let before = h.query_by_label_contains("Keyboard Shortcuts").expect("the Edit menu is open").rect();
+    assert!(before.max.y > 520.0, "Edit is taller than the window ({before:?})");
+    let menu = open_popup(&h);
+    for step in 0..5 {
+        move_to(&mut h, pos2(menu.center().x, menu.max.y - 6.0 - 6.0 * step as f32));
+        h.run_steps(8);
+        let now = h.query_by_label_contains("Keyboard Shortcuts").expect("still open").rect();
+        let crawled = before.min.y - now.min.y;
+        assert!(crawled < 60.0, "step {step}: the edge scrolled the menu with no title held down ({before:?} -> {now:?})");
+    }
+}
+
 fn drag(h: &mut Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>, from: Pos2, to: Pos2) {
     h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerMoved(from));
     h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerButton { pos: from, button: egui::PointerButton::Primary, pressed: true, modifiers: Default::default() });