Linking a group fails when you choose Append, but enable Link in the options. #38695

New Issue

Andrew Price · 2014-02-18T06:00:40+01:00

Andrew Price commented

2014-02-18 06:00:40 +01:00

System Information
Windows 7, Nvidia GTX 660

Blender Version
Broken: Blender 2.69.6dafb89 (latest build)
Worked: Has been a bug for as long as I can recall.

Short description of error
Linking a group into the .blend fails, then once failed you can never append or link that group into the .blend ever again.
This only happens when you choose Append from menu, but check Link in the toolbar.

Exact steps for others to reproduce the error

Open the default scene
With the cube select press Ctrl+G to make a group.
Save the blend file
Start a new blend file
Press Shift+F1, locate the .blend, and select the group.
Check the box in the toolbar that says Link.
Click Link.
You should notice that the group has not been appended to the file, nor has an error been displayed (nothing in console either).
If you now try to Append that same group it won't work either.

This causes big problems when you've got a scene that requires a certain group to be appended. But once this mistake is made there's no way to go back. You can never append that group into the .blend.

**System Information** Windows 7, Nvidia GTX 660 **Blender Version** Broken: Blender 2.69.6dafb89 (latest build) Worked: Has been a bug for as long as I can recall. **Short description of error** Linking a group into the .blend fails, then once failed you can never append or link that group into the .blend ever again. This only happens when you choose Append from menu, but check Link in the toolbar. **Exact steps for others to reproduce the error** 1. Open the default scene 2. With the cube select press Ctrl+G to make a group. 3. Save the blend file 4. Start a new blend file 5. Press Shift+F1, locate the .blend, and select the group. 6. Check the box in the toolbar that says Link. 7. Click Link. 8. You should notice that the group has not been appended to the file, nor has an error been displayed (nothing in console either). 9. If you now try to Append that same group it won't work either. This causes big problems when you've got a scene that requires a certain group to be appended. But once this mistake is made there's no way to go back. You can never append that group into the .blend.

Andrew Price commented

2014-02-18 06:00:40 +01:00

Changed status to: 'Open'

Andrew Price commented

2014-02-18 06:00:40 +01:00

Added subscriber: @AndrewPrice

Sergey Sharybin self-assigned this 2014-02-18 06:30:49 +01:00

Campbell Barton commented

2014-02-18 06:47:08 +01:00

Changed status from 'Open' to: 'Archived'

Campbell Barton closed this issue

2014-02-18 06:47:08 +01:00

Campbell Barton commented

2014-02-18 06:47:08 +01:00

Added subscriber: @ideasman42

Campbell Barton commented

2014-02-18 06:47:08 +01:00

This isn't a bug, notice the last option Instance Groups is off by default when you select Link but not Append from the menu.

The logic is:

if you append the original objects will be added to the scene so no need to instance groups.
if you link then the original objects are in another blend file so instancing the group makes more sense.

When you link an already linked group it wont add a new instance, thats also intentional - but confusing in certain cases like this.

This isn't a bug, notice the last option **Instance Groups** is off by default when you select **Link** but not **Append** from the menu. The logic is: - if you append the original objects will be added to the scene so no need to instance groups. - if you link then the original objects are in another blend file so instancing the group makes more sense. When you link an already linked group it wont add a new instance, thats also intentional - but confusing in certain cases like this.

Andrew Price commented

2014-02-18 07:15:08 +01:00

Ah I see. So could the two options be tethered then to avoid confusion? Like when you click Link, Instance Groups is automatically checked too?
Seems others on twitter have been confused by this too.

Ah I see. So could the two options be tethered then to avoid confusion? Like when you click Link, Instance Groups is automatically checked too? Seems [others on twitter ](https://twitter.com/andrewpprice/status/435640517041209344) have been confused by this too.

Campbell Barton commented

2014-02-18 08:27:57 +01:00

We could, but they are not really related. instancing a group can be done with/without linking.

Think it may be better to remove the Link option (Blender 2.4x didnt have this). then you just have to use the right menu item and reasonable defaults will be set for each.

We could, but they are not really related. instancing a group can be done with/without linking. Think it may be better to remove the **Link** option (Blender 2.4x didnt have this). then you just have to use the right menu item and reasonable defaults will be set for each.

Andrew Price commented

2014-02-18 09:55:07 +01:00

That sounds like a good idea. Removing the option would stop the mistake from happening all together.
Cheers!

That sounds like a good idea. Removing the option would stop the mistake from happening all together. Cheers!

Campbell Barton commented

2014-02-18 14:08:28 +01:00

Changed status from 'Archived' to: 'Open'

Campbell Barton reopened this issue

2014-02-18 14:08:28 +01:00

Campbell Barton commented

2014-02-18 14:08:28 +01:00

Exactly (less is more blah blah :) ) - but in this case it works...