diff --git a/assets/locales/pending/value-boxes-in-view.json b/assets/locales/pending/value-boxes-in-view.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7455761177
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/locales/pending/value-boxes-in-view.json
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+{
+  "ar": {
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view": "إظهار القيم بجانب مقابضها في العرض",
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view_tip": "قيمة الأمر (المسافة، نصف القطر…) في مربع بجانب مقبضه، فوق النموذج. عند الإيقاف: تكتبها في نافذة الأمر، التي تتلقى لوحة المفاتيح بعد التحديد، ولا شيء يغطي النموذج."
+  },
+  "en": {
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view": "Show values beside their handles in the view",
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view_tip": "A command's value (Distance, Radius…) in a box next to its handle, over the model. Off: you type it in the command window, which takes the keyboard after a pick, and nothing covers the model."
+  },
+  "de": {
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view": "Werte in der Ansicht neben ihren Griffen zeigen",
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view_tip": "Der Wert eines Befehls (Abstand, Radius …) in einem Feld neben seinem Griff, über dem Modell. Aus: Sie geben ihn im Befehlsfenster ein, das nach einer Auswahl die Tastatur erhält, und nichts verdeckt das Modell."
+  },
+  "he": {
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view": "הצגת ערכים ליד הידיות שלהם בתצוגה",
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view_tip": "ערך הפקודה (מרחק, רדיוס…) בתיבה ליד הידית שלו, מעל המודל. כבוי: מקלידים אותו בחלון הפקודה, שמקבל את המקלדת אחרי בחירה, ושום דבר לא מסתיר את המודל."
+  },
+  "ja": {
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view": "ビューでハンドルの横に値を表示",
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view_tip": "コマンドの値（距離、半径など）をモデル上のハンドルの横のボックスに表示します。オフにすると、値はコマンドウィンドウに入力します。選択後はそのウィンドウにキーボード入力が入り、モデルを覆うものはありません。"
+  },
+  "ko": {
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view": "뷰에서 핸들 옆에 값 표시",
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view_tip": "명령의 값(거리, 반경 등)을 모델 위 핸들 옆 상자에 표시합니다. 끄면 값은 명령 창에 입력하며, 선택 후 키보드 입력이 그 창으로 가고 모델을 가리는 것이 없습니다."
+  },
+  "vi": {
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view": "Hiện giá trị cạnh tay nắm trong khung nhìn",
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view_tip": "Giá trị của lệnh (Khoảng cách, Bán kính…) trong một ô cạnh tay nắm, phía trên mô hình. Tắt: bạn nhập giá trị trong cửa sổ lệnh, cửa sổ này nhận bàn phím sau khi chọn, và không có gì che mô hình."
+  },
+  "zh": {
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view": "在视图中于手柄旁显示数值",
+    "prefs.value_boxes_in_view_tip": "命令的数值（距离、半径等）显示在模型上方手柄旁的框中。关闭后，在命令窗口中输入数值，选取后键盘输入会进入该窗口，模型不会被遮挡。"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs
index f6ac713955..8a7c928596 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas.rs
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut SolveApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, painter: &egui::Painter, proj
             crate::dialogs_move::step_value_field(&mut d, if back { -1 } else { 1 });
             d.focus = true;
         }
-        let focus = std::mem::take(&mut d.focus);
+        let focus = take_focus(ui.ctx(), &mut d);
         if let Some(bs) = at.and_then(|base| proj.to_screen(base))
             && let Some((label, _, value)) = d.primary()
         {
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ fn draw(app: &SolveApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, painter: &egui::Painter, proj: &Proj,
         Kind::SketchModify(crate::sketch_modify_ui::Mod::Offset { mode, .. }) => !crate::sketch_modify_ui::offset_symmetric(*mode),
         _ => false,
     };
-    let mut focus = std::mem::take(&mut d.focus);
+    let mut focus = take_focus(ui.ctx(), d);
     let half_height = app.cam.half_height();
     let axis = revolve_axis(app, d);
     if matches!(d.kind, Kind::Revolve { .. }) {
@@ -785,6 +785,28 @@ pub(crate) fn box_place(app: &SolveApp, proj: &Proj) -> BoxPlace {
     BoxPlace { dialog: app.viewport.dialog_rect, view: Some(proj.rect), handles: None }
 }
 
+fn boxes_shown_id() -> egui::Id {
+    egui::Id::new("sc_canvas_value_boxes")
+}
+
+/// Show commands' values in boxes in the view or not, from the preference (the app calls this
+/// every frame).
+pub(crate) fn set_boxes_shown(ctx: &egui::Context, on: bool) {
+    ctx.data_mut(|d| d.insert_temp(boxes_shown_id(), on));
+}
+
+/// Whether a command's values have boxes in the view. Off (Preferences), they are typed in the
+/// command window only, and the view stays clear for picking (#9479).
+pub(crate) fn boxes_shown(ctx: &egui::Context) -> bool {
+    ctx.data(|d| d.get_temp::<bool>(boxes_shown_id())).unwrap_or(true)
+}
+
+/// Whether the command's value box takes the keyboard this frame: as the window opens, and after
+/// a pick. Without boxes in the view, it is left for the command window's value field (#9479).
+fn take_focus(ctx: &egui::Context, d: &mut Dialog) -> bool {
+    boxes_shown(ctx) && std::mem::take(&mut d.focus)
+}
+
 /// The command's main value in the viewport, next to the geometry: the keyboard goes here while
 /// the window is open, so a number typed straight after a pick sets the value. `at` is its
 /// top-left corner. `select_all` re-selects the whole field, both right after a pick and on every
@@ -838,6 +860,10 @@ fn value_box_full(
     note: Option<&str>,
     place: BoxPlace,
 ) -> Option<egui::Rect> {
+    // Off in Preferences: the value is typed in the command window only (#9479).
+    if !boxes_shown(ui.ctx()) {
+        return None;
+    }
     let t = Tokens::get();
     // Held in place while the pointer is over it and value stepping is on (see `value_box`): by
     // its pivot, the point of the box that sits at `at`, which is not always its top-left corner.
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs
index fbc4f98168..dfebd3f98c 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs.rs
@@ -1586,6 +1586,13 @@ impl Dialog {
         true
     }
 
+    /// Give the keyboard to the form's value field `id`, its text selected, once the pointer is
+    /// idle: where a pick gives it when values have no boxes in the view (#9479).
+    pub(crate) fn give_keyboard(&mut self, id: egui::Id) {
+        self.value_focus = Some(id);
+        self.restore_value_focus = true;
+    }
+
     /// A pick in the viewport (already accepted by the active input).
     pub fn pick(&mut self, s: &Session, sel: Sel) {
         if self.take_extrude_target(s, &sel) {
@@ -3288,6 +3295,12 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut SolveApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
     if let Some(field) = crate::ui_kit::canvas_value_focus(ctx) {
         value_fields.push(field);
     }
+    // Without value boxes in the view (#9479), the keyboard the window's opening or a pick gives
+    // the box goes to the form's value field, once the form has drawn one.
+    if d.focus && !crate::canvas::boxes_shown(ctx) && !value_fields.is_empty() {
+        d.focus = false;
+        d.restore_value_focus = true;
+    }
     // The editor loses the keyboard while the click is still being handled, possibly in a later
     // pass of the same frame, so give it back once the pointer is idle again.
     let pointer_busy = ctx.input(|i| i.pointer.any_down() || i.pointer.any_pressed() || i.pointer.any_released());
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/extrude_edit_tests.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/extrude_edit_tests.rs
index 0b271fea88..60acab05b9 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/extrude_edit_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/extrude_edit_tests.rs
@@ -503,3 +503,21 @@ fn two_sides_with_all_shows_distance_2_and_reverse_swaps_the_sides() {
     h.step(&json!({"widget":"OK"})).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(extent(&h), e);
 }
+
+/// Without value boxes in the view (Preferences, #9479), nothing covers the model: the command
+/// window's Distance takes the keyboard instead, its text selected, and the arrow still drags it.
+#[test]
+fn without_value_boxes_in_the_view_the_distance_is_typed_in_the_window() {
+    let mut h = make(json!({"distance":"4 mm"}));
+    h.app.preferences.value_boxes_in_view = false;
+    open(&mut h);
+    assert!(h.ctx.memory(|m| m.area_rect(egui::Id::new("sc_canvas_area"))).is_none(), "a value box in the view");
+    let focused = h.ctx.memory(|m| m.focused());
+    assert!(focused.is_some() && focused != Some(egui::Id::new("sc_canvas_value")), "{focused:?}");
+    h.step(&json!({"text":"25 mm"})).unwrap();
+    h.frames(2);
+    assert!((dialog_distance(&h) - 25.0).abs() < 1e-9, "{}", dialog_distance(&h));
+    h.step(&json!({"drag":[{"handle":"arrow"},on_arrow(&h, 30.0)]})).unwrap();
+    assert!((dialog_distance(&h) - 30.0).abs() < 0.5, "{}", dialog_distance(&h));
+    assert!(h.ctx.memory(|m| m.area_rect(egui::Id::new("sc_canvas_area"))).is_none(), "a value box in the view");
+}
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/hole_refs.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/hole_refs.rs
index 768a2348a5..8cd51464e6 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/hole_refs.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/hole_refs.rs
@@ -245,10 +245,20 @@ pub(crate) fn input_rows(d: &mut Dialog, ui: &mut egui::Ui, s: &Session, names:
         let Some(k) = d.inputs.get(i).filter(|inp| !inp.items.is_empty()).and_then(|inp| REFERENCES.iter().position(|l| *l == inp.label)) else {
             continue;
         };
+        let mut keyboard = None;
         if let Some(refs) = refs_mut(d)
             && let (Some(label), Some(value)) = (DISTANCES.get(k), refs.distance.get_mut(k))
         {
             enter |= crate::ui_kit::expr_row(ui, label, value);
+            // Without value boxes in the view (#9479), a newly picked edge's distance takes the
+            // keyboard here, as its box would.
+            if refs.focus == Some(k) && !crate::canvas::boxes_shown(ui.ctx()) {
+                refs.focus = None;
+                keyboard = crate::ui_kit::last_value_field(ui.ctx());
+            }
+        }
+        if let Some(id) = keyboard {
+            d.give_keyboard(id);
         }
     }
     sync(s, d);
@@ -342,7 +352,8 @@ pub(crate) fn canvas(app: &SolveApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, painter: &egui::Painter,
         }
         dimension(painter, a, b, t.dimension);
         let (Some(label), Some(refs)) = (DISTANCES.get(*k), refs_mut(d)) else { continue };
-        let focus = refs.focus == Some(*k);
+        // Without boxes in the view, the distance's row in the command window takes it (#9479).
+        let focus = refs.focus == Some(*k) && crate::canvas::boxes_shown(ui.ctx());
         if focus {
             refs.focus = None;
             took = true;
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/hole_refs_ui_tests.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/hole_refs_ui_tests.rs
index bdc4103057..12d3d64e42 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/hole_refs_ui_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/hole_refs_ui_tests.rs
@@ -162,6 +162,28 @@ fn a_number_typed_after_an_edge_pick_sets_its_distance() {
     assert_eq!(diameter, "5 mm", "the diameter is left as it was");
 }
 
+/// Without value boxes in the view (#9479), the distance's row in the command window takes the
+/// number typed after an edge pick, as its box would.
+#[test]
+fn without_value_boxes_a_number_typed_after_an_edge_pick_sets_its_distance() {
+    let mut h = plate();
+    h.app.preferences.value_boxes_in_view = false;
+    h.step(&json!({"start": "solid.hole"})).unwrap();
+    let at = screen(&mut h, Vec3::new(30.0, 25.0, 10.0));
+    h.step(&json!({"click": at})).unwrap();
+    h.step(&json!({"click": {"handle": "dialog:Reference 1"}})).unwrap();
+    let left = screen(&mut h, Vec3::new(0.0, 20.0, 10.0));
+    h.step(&json!({"click": left})).unwrap();
+    h.frames(2);
+    assert!(h.ctx.memory(|m| m.area_rect(egui::Id::new(("sc_hole_ref_area", 0usize)))).is_none(), "a distance box in the view");
+    h.step(&json!({"text": "7 mm"})).unwrap();
+    h.frames(2);
+    assert_eq!(distances(&h)[0], "7 mm");
+    assert!((place(&h).x - 7.0).abs() < 1e-6, "the hole is 7 mm from the left edge: {:?}", place(&h));
+    let Some(Kind::Hole { diameter, .. }) = h.app.dialog.as_ref().map(|d| &d.kind) else { panic!("the hole dialog") };
+    assert_eq!(diameter, "5 mm", "the diameter is left as it was");
+}
+
 /// The open Cylinder dialog's reference distances and where it stands.
 fn cylinder_dialog(h: &Harness) -> ([String; 2], Vec3) {
     match h.app.dialog.as_ref().map(|d| &d.kind) {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
index 855ee14833..5b4bed9111 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
@@ -2638,6 +2638,7 @@ impl SolveApp {
     /// Lay out the whole window.
     pub fn ui(&mut self, ui: &mut egui::Ui) {
         value_step::set_enabled(ui.ctx(), self.preferences.step_values);
+        canvas::set_boxes_shown(ui.ctx(), self.preferences.value_boxes_in_view);
         let t0 = now_ms();
         // The first frames draw with the bundled faces while the system's CJK, Hangul and Thai
         // faces are read on a thread; the fonts are installed again once they are there.
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/prefs.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/prefs.rs
index fe257e35f7..e01380487d 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/prefs.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/prefs.rs
@@ -1014,6 +1014,10 @@ preference_settings! {
     /// Up/Down and the wheel over a focused value field step its plain number (`value_step`,
     /// #2320). Off by default: the keys move the text cursor and the wheel scrolls, as before.
     step_values: bool = false, PAGE_DESIGN => check_id("ui.step_values");
+    /// A command's value (Extrude's Distance, Fillet's Radius…) in a box beside its handle in the
+    /// view (`canvas::boxes_shown`). Off: it is typed in the command window only, which takes the
+    /// keyboard after a pick instead, and nothing covers the model (#9479).
+    value_boxes_in_view: bool = true, PAGE_DESIGN => check_id("prefs.value_boxes_in_view");
     /// A design coming back to its tab reads again the linked designs whose files changed since
     /// it last read them. Off: they wait for Update Links, as before.
     update_changed_links: bool = true, PAGE_DESIGN => check_id("settings.update_changed_links");
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/prefs/design.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/prefs/design.rs
index 19b0a0d7f1..a98cf2ea28 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/prefs/design.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/prefs/design.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ pub(super) fn show(app: &mut SolveApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui) {
         let tip = app.tr("ui.step_values_tip").to_string();
         let step = setting::step_values(app, ui).on_hover_text(tip);
         crate::scenario::publish_handle("prefs:step_values", step.rect.center());
+        let tip = app.tr("prefs.value_boxes_in_view_tip").to_string();
+        setting::value_boxes_in_view(app, ui).on_hover_text(tip);
     });
     ui_kit::settings_section(ui, "orientation", app.tr("prefs.orientation"), |ui| {
         ui.horizontal_wrapped(|ui| {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/ui_kit/value_focus.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/ui_kit/value_focus.rs
index 1d5754ed3a..684917bf27 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/ui_kit/value_focus.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/ui_kit/value_focus.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ pub(crate) fn value_fields(ctx: &egui::Context, draw: impl FnOnce() -> bool) ->
     (enter, fields)
 }
 
+/// The expression editor the form drew last so far, in [`value_fields`].
+pub(crate) fn last_value_field(ctx: &egui::Context) -> Option<egui::Id> {
+    ctx.data(|data| data.get_temp::<Vec<(egui::Id, usize)>>(egui::Id::new("sc_value_fields"))).and_then(|fields| fields.last().map(|(id, _)| *id))
+}
+
 /// Only a value box drawn this pass can receive the keyboard after a viewport pick.
 pub(crate) fn canvas_value_focus(ctx: &egui::Context) -> Option<(egui::Id, usize)> {
     ctx.data(|data| data.get_temp::<(u64, egui::Id, usize)>(egui::Id::new("sc_canvas_value_focus")))