Tweaks for better discoverability of Link/Append
I find that Link/Append in the File menu to be a bit cryptic for new users:
"Append... what? Let me hover over Append to read the tooltip... what is a Library .blend file? Anyways, I think I'm going to keep using FBX to transfer my model between .blend files."
This situation can maybe be mitigated by adding a tiny bit more information to the menu, while still keeping it concise.
First, we add the word 'Library' to the menu item. This terminology is being used more frequently as updates to the Asset system progresses, so this menu item could be an introduction of sorts to the term. The tooltip should then clarify that a Library file is an external .blend file.
Of course, there could potentially be more information in the tooltip to better communicate to the user what these do (e.g. the term 'Append' may not be intuitive to a lot of people), but at the moment I think this is a good minimal change.
2 Comments
It's simply one of the blender terms one has to know. Also they are kinda self explanatory in my opinion.
Library .blend file = other .blend file which you want to use a library file for your current project to e.g. import models or materials. Could be another project file, could be a dedicated assets file. Agreed, that it would be more concise with "external .blend file".
Link = Link e.g. an object from a library file to your current file. If you modify the linked data in one file, it will also get changed in the other; it will make editing & troubleshooting across files easier. You could also name it a shallow copy of the data.
Append = Copy e.g. an object from a library file to your current file. Unlike link it will be it's own copy. You can modify it without changing the other usages. You could also named it a deep copy of the data.
Yes, it is something where the learning has to be pursued by the user, and I'm not suggesting putting a full tutorial paragraph in blender. The point I'm trying make is that maybe adding the word 'Library' within the File menu will prod the user into learning more, and with the tooltip referencing 'external .blend file', the basic concept of it is put into their head, so they know what to expect.