Linked Objects in Blender?

Support Basics & Interface
1

I am a bit confused with linked objects in Blender. If I link an object to a new file, shouldn’t I be able to move, scale, or rotate the asset in my new file in object mode but I should not be able to edit the mesh, or fiddle with the materials?
If I need to edit it or its materials, I need to edit its original file and the assets update in the other files it is used in?

Also is there a way to change the file of a linked asset to another one?

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2

Hello,

Are you trying to import an object from one scene to another and be able to change its dimensions? Is that right?

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Yeah, I want to move, rotate or scale it in Object mode but I can’t. I need it linked so I can make changes to the original file and it updates in the other one without issues.

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4

First of all, let me get it clear.

  1. If you want just to import an object from one scene to another - use Append tool. For how to do this - see here

  2. If you have n-numbers of the same objects and you want bringing the changes to all of them while just editing the one, you could use Linked Objects. See here on how to do this.

rotate or scale it in Object mode but I can’t

You cannot do this while being in an Object mode, only in Edit one. For switching to an edit mode, press TAB. When it comes to rotate/scale an object - it is possible only with the singular item.

P.S. You can also make a duplicates of your object using Mirror or Array modifiers, it will bring the changes to all of your mirrored objects that you have while just editing one of them.

5

You can modify it by converting it to a local object.

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I am familiar with all the things you have mentioned :slightly_smiling_face:

I am trying to keep my scenes neat and more organized as well as save on memory usage so I have a master file where I have everything put together and then smaller assets in their own individual files which are linked into the master file such that when I make changes to the smaller ones in their own file it updates in the master. Append file doesn’t update if changes are made to the small file. Link file does but you can’t move them around, rotate or scale them in the master file. I don’t know who designed it like that where Linked file cannot be moved, rotated or scaled in Object mode.

I guess that is what the asset browser is for. I would have to look into it.

I just tried it, if you go to file, link and pick an object into the new scene file, edit is greyed out. :slightly_smiling_face:

Thanks. Appreciate the help but I need the object linked for better scene and memory management purposes. Converting to a local object will break the link to the smaller files. :slightly_smiling_face:

7

So you mean, while modifing the object from one file, you want that the changes would’ve been automatically applied to the same objects in another .blend file?

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Yes. I think thats where asset browser comes in. I will look into it. :slightly_smiling_face:

9

Oh, okay.

Anyway, here’s the official documentation for it: tap

Hope it helps

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10

@goorman Appreciate the help. Thanks mate. :slightly_smiling_face:

@oo_1942 Thanks for the help, too. :slightly_smiling_face:

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11

You’re welcome

Happy blending

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12

I think the video will help.

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13

That was very useful, thanks. Just noticed in his video, the move tool manipulator shows on the linked asset. I wonder if he can move the linked asset.

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What are you linking? It should be a collection with the wanted mesh inside it.
Linking an object will give you a frozen mesh you cannot move.

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I don’t understand the question because I’m not good at English :sweat_smile:

The method he used was to run two blenders to modify the source to A Blender and to update the modified source on B Blender.

--------- Add New ----------------------------------------------------

I don’t know if this is the answer to the question

Usually I keep all the files in one project but if I want to move to another folder I get a link problem? Is it?

This will result in an error message.
The solution is to restore the link by selecting Find Missing Files in the image.

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image
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He wants to modify an object in one scene, and automatically bring those changes to the same object from another .blend file. But I do wonder whether it is possible or not

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Yeah. I thought linking in Blender was like ue5 where you import a mesh, you can move, rotate or scale it but you can’t edit it so you go to your modeling app, make changes and reimport and the changes update. You are right, linked assets in Blender cannot be moved.

Your English is very good, mate :+1: I think I am going to use good old Copy and paste in Blender. You can copy and paste between two open Blender files. Saves me all that trouble. :slightly_smiling_face:

Yeah, that’s basically it. I will just stick to copy and paste which works perfect in Blender. Problem solved.

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Glad you solved it!

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19

Issue

I have exactly the same issue as @melvi did. However,

is not a solution for me:

Solutions

I thought that https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender-manual/src/commit/eac8a3c64fef42fd6f52135b62bfd2ddba2e1c1f/manual/files/linked_libraries/library_overrides.rst# might be able to assist, but it doesn’t even mention rotation, and overrides appear to be modifiable on a whitelist.

Consequently, Scale / Rotate Modifier would be damn useful in this situation. However, alas, it doesn’t appear to exist (yet).

Consequently, can anyone assist? If the solution has been aforestated, I apologize for missing it.

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Move & Rotate Linked Objects - #10 by rokejulianlockhart contains the solution.