NODE GROUP FILE FORMAT
It is quite a hustle to save and append node groups. What if a file format can be used to save a node group? I am aware of the Asset Manager. But we need a simple file format (containing the saved node group) that can easily be dragged from file explorer and dropped into a node editor (quick, simple and effective). I fear blender might get bogged down on the grand Asset Manager idea, since every other 3D company is making an asset manager that it misses out on an easy problem solving solution. A common design flaw called FEATURE CREEP. Node groups should be a file format that can easily be dragged and dropped into the node editors.
7 Comments
This is probably part of the asset manager already being worked on.
* @johnpdelacruz26 * I just said I already read the Asset Manager 2020 and if you read the comments down below, people are questioning why Assets have to be embedded in .Blend Files. It seems redundant, and secondly blender has not said they are working on a NodeGroup File Format. They just said an Asset Manager Editor.
This opens the larger question of Datablocks vs Files. So, why not do what you propose with materials, image datablocks, meshes, armatures, scenes, curves, particles? etc etc
On one hand, many animation packages work this way, storing their asset unit in the overal project file, not in a separate file, in Blender's case is the Datablock. On the other hand, Game engines usually work the opposite, with a file format and individual files for each asset. Asset managers are usually more common in the latter, while now Blender wants to implement the feature, but with the former structure.
At the end of the day, I think there is little difference. Each can have their advantages and dissadvantages. I'm more excited for an asset manager with a blend file structure, excited to see a good version of THAT. We already have plenty of file managers in game engines.
I think the outliner should allow for more copy paste types. Currently we can directly copy a mesh from one blend file to another one. I dont think it would be a lot work to let it support basic STL and OBJ And a new file type .node and I also wish for .sequencer The general menu's of sequencer and nodes should get export to disk (not as a node itself) (and "perhaps" import there as well).
As the outliner does now contain some functionality, its best to extend it more IMO. The Outliner is much more intutive than many of the special addons or the often trroubled blend append operations
yes i can see more optimal just to drag a .blend file inside the node editor and have a node group appearing in there but , somehow you couldn't tell if the blend file contains only a node group or some geometry if it isn't named properly
Making a seperate file format for nodes is literally feature creep. .blend files really only store what's inside of them and are quite small if there are just some node groups included. The whole drag and drop UI stuff will surely be done with the asset manager anyways.
* @ogierm * What should be made easy is to drag and drop node groups from file explorer to node editors. Thumbnails should also be on the node's ico. This feature will make blender rival megascans library and substance source.