Materials should be set to "fake user" by default.
One of those things that can drive you nuts, especially if your new to blender is the fact that materials which are not assigned to any objects are GONE once you save your file. I know this behaviour is ment to save filespace, but i mean it is 2020. So my proposal is to set any material to fake user by default.
15 Comments
There should be an option in preferences. So those who want to keep can enable it and those who want small file size can disable it.
* @mrajendra2150 * YES, even better, maybe with individual options for different object types.
* @ChrisGraz * i'm wondering, do we even need a fake user system? can't we let the user decide directly what files to delete and which to keep?
* @Thane5 * I don´t know, maybe to keep files small, but you should have the option to disable this fake user system. I don´t think this is happening until we have a material browser where its possible to delete a material and select and edit materials without assigning them. right now there is only the option to delete meterials manually in the blender file outline, so you have to select the material by name, which is not verry intuitive.
* @Thane5 * Exactly my stand. People don't want things to disappear unless they ask so. The "it's to keep files small and clean" argument is a weird one. How unwanted data loss can be considered a good trade-off for that?
* @-L0Lock- * How much does a simple red glossy material even contribute to the file size?
I have made a feature request requesting this. Please upvote it if it's something that you think should be done: blender.community/c/rightclickselect/NXWN/
This fake user feature SHOULD be removed for good. This is crazy......
Nope. Not by default. And even not recommended. Because it will make trash dump in the project very fast.
Usually, when you create meterials, you put it on objects. And when you delete em, you can see, who lost users (zero mark).
Learn to use outliner/orphan data/blender file data please. So if you like, you can swipe along material column and add fake user to all unused. Like this: {attachment 2020-10-02_07-16-55mp4} Or use script for that.
* @ Vyacheslav * Thanks, I am verry familiar with the blender data file system, and i know how materials loses users, thats why i am criticizing. The fact that you have to put materials on objects to create or edit is unconventional and will make trash dump as well.
* @ChrisGraz * atm in blender you can't preview material without object. Also there is no better way to preview or edit material, than actual full-sized object in the scene with certain light. Material-preview isn`t universal.
The only thing I can understand: optional prompt (when you closing file) like «you have N materials without users → keep (shield icon) or delete em?»
* @ Vyacheslav * Blender should just save all materials regardless of if there is a user. Maybe it should automatically have a cube hidden in the file that all materials get applied. When the number of orphan materials is 5x greater than the number of non-orphan materials, then maybe it should give a prompt about a lot of unused materials.
* @thinsoldier *
It is fake user. No cubes required.
No it shouldn't. At least by default. I don't want save tons of crap, that I didn't attach to object or didn't mark as «keep it please» And script like «if not fake_user_boolean: fake_user_boolean=True» is easy and can be implemented to your own start file, if you want it. Perhaps, it is even possible to run script on exit. So there is no need to implement it to core code. Do it, use it and tell us after half of year, how it`s goin.
that feature is pure insanity...what sort of sick demented guy decided hours of work should be trashed for no bloody reason...who cares an animation has no user ????
they did the exact same thing with images until they finally changed it
for god sake REMOVE THAT FAKE USER BULLSHIT !!!
There can be a seperate "Material Outliner" for such task