. For viewing or Editing images.
[subsection]Read Libraries
Blender allows you to read in, append, or link (parts of) other
files.
If 'Load Library' is selected - SHIFT+F1 - the FileSelect appears in a
special mode. Blender files are now highlighted as directories. They
are accessible as a directory as well; they then display a situation
in much the same way as DataView displays the internal Blender
structure.
Now you can select any number of blocks you wish using RightMouse and
append them to the current structure with a simple ENTER. The complete
'underlying' structure is included: thus, if an Object is selected,
the associated Ipo, ObData, Materials and Textures are included as
well. If a Scene is selected, the entire Scene is appended to the
current structure, Objects and all.
You can specify how you want this to be appended in the FileSelect Header:
[point]Append (RowBut)
External blocks become a normal part of the current structure, and
thus of the file as well, if the file is saved. Appending a second
time causes the entire selection to be added again in its
entirety. Since block names must be unique, the name of the appended
blocks will differ slightly from the existing name (only the number in
the name).
[point]Link (RowBut)
This is the 'normal' use of Libraries. The specified blocks are added
to the current structure here as well, but Blender remembers the fact
that they are Library blocks. When the file is saved, only the name of
the Library block and the name of the file from which the blocks were
copied are saved, thus keeping the original file compact. When you
read the file again, Blender reads the original file and then reads
all the Library blocks from the other file(s). The names of the files
and the blocks must not be changed, however.
Blender keeps track of what Library blocks have already been
read. Appending the same blocks twice has no consequences.
This enables more animators working on a project. Therefore a linked
Object cannot be changed from the scene it is imported in.
[subsection]FileManager
The FileManager function only works with selected files. The active file does not play a role here.
Most of these commands do expect two FileWindows to be open. Commands such as RKEY (remove) and TKEY (touch) also work with a single Window.
Note: when we say files here, we also mean directories.
[point]AKEY
Select/deselect all files.
[point]BKEY
Backup files to the other FileWindow. This allows files to be copied without changing the file date.
[point]CKEY
Copy files to the other FileWindow. (Unix: cp -r)
read.
[point]LKEY
Link files to the other FileWindow. (Unix: ln)
[point]MKEY
Move files to the other FileWindow. (Unix: mv)
[point]RKEY
Remove files. For safety's sake: only empty directories. (Unix rm -f)
[point]SHIFT+R
Remove files recursively. This deletes the entire contents of directories. (Unix: rm -rf)
[point]TKEY
Update modification times of files. (Unix: touch)
[subsection]DataView and DataBrowse
The DataView window can be invoked with
SHIFT+F4. It allows you to view the entire internal Blender structure as a file system.
Each DataBlock is listed as a file name. They are sorted by type in directories.
Currently, the functions are limited to:
- Select Objects by name. Click RightMouse on the file name. A
LeftMouse click on a name makes the Object active. Note that an
activated Object can also reside in a hidden layer.
- Setting and deleting Fake Users. (Press FKEY). A Fake User
ensures that a DataBlock is always saved in a file, even if it has no
users.
- Link Materials (CTRL+L
). The links to selected Materials are all
replaced by a link to the active Material (LeftMouse, in the FileName
button). This link option will be expanded to other DataBlock types.
PopupMenus that contain more than 24 items and are thus unmanageably large, are replaced by the DataBrowse windows.
Standard functions in this window:
[point]LeftMouse
Display the active DataBlock. This is placed in the FileName button.
[point]MiddleMouse
Display the active DataBlock and close the DataBrowse with an OK message.
[point]ENTER
/ PADENTER
Close the DataBrowse, return with an OK message.
[point]ESC
Close the DataBrowse with no further action.
[point]PAGEDN
Scroll down one page.
[point]PAGEUP
Scroll up one page.
-cw-
Last modified: Tue Oct 24 12:32:09 CEST 2000