I’m trying to import a mesh from one blend file into another using ‘append’, but when I locate the mesh it’s not available for import - the name of it is black, rather than white (signifying an importable object). I’ve tried it with various meshes and different blend files, and it still doesn’t work. Anyone got any ideas what the problem might be?
I’m not sure what you mean by “white name … black name”, but if you import a Mesh it will not initially show up in the viewport or outliner until you link it with an Object (Buttons F9 Link and Materials). Create a Cube, then import your mesh, then change the ME: dropdown to the Mesh name you imported.
Mike
Thanks Mike, I think I assumed that it would automatically import as an object.
As for the white/black, I thought that selectable ‘things’ were displayed as white, and non-selectable black, as in it was telling me I couldn’t import it 
Newbie mistake…
If you want it to import as an object, and usually you do, then navigate to the Object section when appending. That also applies to Armatures, Cameras, Lights as well.
It’s only when you want to do some kind of “fancy” object linking that you would append from other than the Object section. Materials, Groups and NodeTree being an execption.
Mike