I am planning to update to Blender 2.78. So, how can I do it, where all of my preferences and plug-ins are automatically installed in the new version? I am dreading having to spend an entire afternoon resetting all of my preferences and finding and reinstalling all of my old plug-ins. Also, which is preferable, the MSI or ZIP versions (Windows 7)? I have always used the ZIP. Thanx.
When you first run the new blender version use the ‘Copy Previous Settings’ option on the splashscreen
The splash screen has no “Copy Previous Settings” option (or anything similar, that I can see). I have kept the splash screen active, in case someone can get back to me, right away (currently 6:45 CDT). In case I can’t use the splash screen, is there a menu option?
It should be right there. Not sure where the settings are stored in Windows or Mac. On Linux it’s ~/.config/blender/2.78. Rename or delete that folder to get the copy option again. At least that’s worked for me.
As for .msi vs .zip. I always used the .zip when I was running Windows.
If you have lost the access to the copy previous settings option, delete the C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.78 folder.
Close and restart blender, then look for the option again.
On my splash screen, there is nothing between “Interaction” and “Recent”. Also, there is no “AppData” folder in Users/<username>. I did a file search, and there is no “AppData” folder at all. I am using Windows 7
It’s a hidden folder, so if you’ve not enabled viewing of hidden files/folders, you wont be able to see it. You can manually type the address to the AppData folder into your explorer address bar, as well. Go to your User\username\ directory, click into the address bar, type “\AppData” (no quotes), and press enter.
Well, I finally found a work-around. Thanks for all the help. “AppData” was a hidden folder, that didn’t even show up when “Show Hidden Folders” was checked—not even on a search. It was sheer luck that I got it to show up in an obscure place. Anyway, there was no “2.78” folder, in the place described. So, I simply copied the folder from my last version, to another folder, renamed that copy, “2.78”, and moved it back to “C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender”. Everything is there, including my list of recent blender files.
The only things missing are my add-ons. Is there an easy transfer for those? Or, do I have to do each one individually?
Well, since you had not been able to locate the AppData location prior to now, I assume your addons have all been installed in Blender’s root location. I would invest the time, just this once, in removing each of those aftermarket addons from the root location and reinstalling them in the AppData location. In the future, this will copy your addons forward. Note that this method may eventually lead to broken addons if/when the api changes. But for the most part you’ll be up and running if you follow the procedure that worked for you today, or the one which is supposed to work upon running a brand new Blender version.
Usually, installing addons to the AppData location is as easy as moving the addon’s directory (or single file) to the AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.78\scripts\addons location. Occasionally this fails. If that’s the case, zip the addon contents and install from the User Settings dialogue. If you end up with any duplicate addons, remove them from the root dir. If you don’t, the version residing in the AppData location will take precedence, but you’ll still get warnings about it.
Thanks Derek, for all your help. Installing the add-ons will have to be a “tomorrow” thing. Getting late, and my stomach is reminding me that I haven’t had dinner yet. I only have a couple add-ons—scripts that I wrote myself. So, it may be easier to just install them from my personal files. I’ll give the technique that you mentioned, a look. But, it will have to be tomorrow, when my mind is fresh. Right now, I’m giving the new cycles render engine a test, to see if there is any “wow factor” over my old version. Thanks again.