Outliner collection / object duplicate hierarchy #57064

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Brecht Van Lommel · 2018-10-04T15:59:49+02:00

Brecht Van Lommel commented

2018-10-04 15:59:49 +02:00

It would be useful to be able to duplicate an entire hierarchy of collections of objects.

Brecht Van Lommel commented

2018-10-04 15:59:49 +02:00

Added subscriber: @brecht

Julien Kaspar commented

2019-02-07 18:54:21 +01:00

Added subscribers: @dfelinto, @JulienKaspar

Julien Kaspar commented

2019-02-07 18:54:21 +01:00

I'm beginning to think this should be a sub-menu when right clicking a collection in the outliner instead of a separate "Duplicate Hierarchy" option.
Somewhat like this?

Duplicate =

Duplicate (New collection with linked contents)
Duplicate Hierarchy (Duplicate entire hierarchy and make all contents single user)
Duplicate Linked Hierarchy (Same as "Duplicate Linked" operation [linked object data but new objects] but with the hierarchy of the collection)

I have no idea about the naming right now.
@dfelinto What do you think about this whole thing?

I'm beginning to think this should be a sub-menu when right clicking a collection in the outliner instead of a separate "Duplicate Hierarchy" option. Somewhat like this? Duplicate = - Duplicate (New collection with linked contents) - Duplicate Hierarchy (Duplicate entire hierarchy and make all contents single user) - Duplicate Linked Hierarchy (Same as "Duplicate Linked" operation [linked object data but new objects] but with the hierarchy of the collection) I have no idea about the naming right now. @dfelinto What do you think about this whole thing?

Dalai Felinto commented

2019-02-22 21:24:12 +01:00

Added subscriber: @WilliamReynish

Dalai Felinto commented

2019-02-22 21:24:12 +01:00

@JulienKaspar I like the idea, and in fact got Duplicate Linked Hierarchy to work here (not committed yet). Duplicate Hierarchy is more tricky, but I'm trying to find a way to do it while keeping the code manageable.

@WilliamReynish any remarks on that task?

@JulienKaspar I like the idea, and in fact got Duplicate Linked Hierarchy to work here (not committed yet). Duplicate Hierarchy is more tricky, but I'm trying to find a way to do it while keeping the code manageable. @WilliamReynish any remarks on that task?

William Reynish commented

2019-02-23 12:00:09 +01:00

No remarks. This makes sense to add.

Dalai Felinto commented

2019-02-26 23:02:04 +01:00

@JulienKaspar what is your thought on the "Duplicate" operator? As far as its children collections are concerned?
Right now we are literally linking the old nested collections inside the new one parent collection.
(it is a bit complicated to explain, easier if you try in 2.80 without the patch even).

@JulienKaspar what is your thought on the "Duplicate" operator? As far as its children collections are concerned? Right now we are literally linking the old nested collections inside the new one parent collection. (it is a bit complicated to explain, easier if you try in 2.80 without the patch even).

Julien Kaspar commented

2019-02-26 23:11:23 +01:00

@dfelinto I never really saw the current "Duplicate"operator in the outliner as that useful in comparison to a proper "duplicate hierarchy" or "duplicate linked hierarchy" operator.
It can become useful sometimes but often isn't even that much of a time saver in comparison to just creating a new collection, box selecting the old contents you need and LMB + Ctrl dragging them to the new one.

@dfelinto I never really saw the current "Duplicate"operator in the outliner as that useful in comparison to a proper "duplicate hierarchy" or "duplicate linked hierarchy" operator. It can become useful sometimes but often isn't even that much of a time saver in comparison to just creating a new collection, box selecting the old contents you need and LMB + Ctrl dragging them to the new one.

Dalai Felinto commented

2019-02-26 23:49:12 +01:00

Right, but part of this is because its current functionality is really that limited.
If we were to change it (e.g., copy collections as new collections, respecting hierarchy, but leave the same objects linked) it would be useful no?

Right, but part of this is because its current functionality is really that limited. If we were to change it (e.g., copy collections as new collections, respecting hierarchy, but leave the same objects linked) it would be useful no?

Julien Kaspar commented

2019-02-27 11:25:06 +01:00

Yes I guess that would be more useful than the current way it works but I can't remember if I ever needed that kind of operator. This would be for very specific corner cases.

Dalai Felinto commented

2019-03-01 15:49:10 +01:00

Changed status from 'Open' to: 'Resolved'

Dalai Felinto closed this issue

2019-03-01 15:49:10 +01:00

Dalai Felinto self-assigned this 2019-03-01 15:49:10 +01:00

Dalai Felinto commented

2019-03-01 15:49:10 +01:00

Committed:

e7ea99af1b0d933b9323be39d8b1c6f683bfba52
7d4e1ac727f3cd697d137935a9dbd30d5cfe5192

I end up removing the original operator. It was indeed useless. Now collection follows the logic of objects (as far as UI goes), so only duplicate collection and duplicate linked options.

Committed: * e7ea99af1b0d933b9323be39d8b1c6f683bfba52 * 7d4e1ac727f3cd697d137935a9dbd30d5cfe5192 I end up removing the original operator. It was indeed useless. Now collection follows the logic of objects (as far as UI goes), so only duplicate collection and duplicate linked options.

Julien Kaspar commented

2019-03-01 16:09:26 +01:00

@dfelinto Just tried it out and it works great! One confusing thing is the name "Duplicate Collection". It implies that only that collection will be duplicated instead of the entire hierarchy.
I think overall the naming and tooltips are becoming a bit confusing but that's perhaps a different issue.

@dfelinto Just tried it out and it works great! One confusing thing is the name "Duplicate Collection". It implies that only that collection will be duplicated instead of the entire hierarchy. I think overall the naming and tooltips are becoming a bit confusing but that's perhaps a different issue.

Dalai Felinto commented

2019-03-01 17:25:24 +01:00

What about:

Duplicate Linked
Duplicate Hierarchy

As the two options?

What about: * Duplicate Linked * Duplicate Hierarchy As the two options?

William Reynish commented

2019-03-01 17:51:59 +01:00

Sounds good I think with those new names.

Julien Kaspar commented

2019-03-01 17:53:16 +01:00

Maybe.

The naming for delete is pretty clear: "Delete" for the what you selected and "Delete Hierarchy" for the entire Hierarchy of the selection.
"Duplicate Linked" doesn't imply the hierarchy part. It could just as well be the default duplicate linked operator for objects.
Naming it "Duplicate Hierarchy Linked" is clearer but maybe too long?

I think there should eventually be a place for the default operators "Duplicate Objects" and "Duplicate Linked" in the outliner as well so the new ones should be compatible in terms of naming with those.

Maybe. The naming for delete is pretty clear: "Delete" for the what you selected and "Delete Hierarchy" for the entire Hierarchy of the selection. "Duplicate Linked" doesn't imply the hierarchy part. It could just as well be the default duplicate linked operator for objects. Naming it "Duplicate Hierarchy Linked" is clearer but maybe too long? I think there should eventually be a place for the default operators "Duplicate Objects" and "Duplicate Linked" in the outliner as well so the new ones should be compatible in terms of naming with those.

noki paike commented

2019-03-01 17:58:59 +01:00

Added subscriber: @nokipaike

noki paike commented

2019-03-01 17:58:59 +01:00

please, duplicate and also istantiate

it would be useful to use "shift or ctrl or alt + drag" to duplicate or instantiate, as happens with icons in operating systems, and a third combination needed for a menu appears asking if you want to duplicate or instantiate

please, duplicate and also istantiate it would be useful to use "shift or ctrl or alt + drag" to duplicate or instantiate, as happens with icons in operating systems, and a third combination needed for a menu appears asking if you want to duplicate or instantiate

blender-admin commented

2020-03-25 13:11:09 +01:00

This issue was referenced by blender/cycles@12e2570d0d

This issue was referenced by blender/cycles@12e2570d0d7a6c844a6e2436b8c58920d52a2951

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