Introduction

The File Browser.

Usage

The File Browser is used in all the file-related operations. It has multiple use cases, while its often used for save/load.

These include:

• Opening and Saving Blend files.
• Import/Export other file formats.
• Picking new locations for existing file-paths (images, video, fonts...).
• Browsing inside other blend-files, when using Linked Libraries.

You can also keep the File Browser open, as with any other editor type, to browse through the file system. In this case, confirm/cancel buttons will be absent.

The main purpose of this is to be able to drag media files:

• Images into the Video Sequence Editor (to set background or apply as material textures).
• Media files into the Video Sequence Editor.

On the other hand, if the File Browser is opened for a file action (opening, saving, importing, etc.), it will appear maximized and waiting for an operation to complete before returning to the former screen layout.

Opening an Image Sequence

The filename of the images must contain a digit, indicating the frame. The sequence could be opened by the selection of the images and by the confirmation with the Open Image button or Return.

Header

Navigation icon buttons

Tools for navigation of files.

Left Arrow Backspace

Move to previous folder.

Right Arrow Shift-Backspace

Move to next folder.

Up Arrow P

Move up to parent directory.

Cycle Arrows R, Numpad .

Refresh current folder.

Create Directory

Prompts you to enter the name of a newly created directory inside the current one I.

Recursion

The number of directory levels to show at once in a flat way.

• None (only the current directory)
• Blend File (inside blend-files)
• One level
• Two Levels
• Three levels

Display type

Controls how files are displayed.

• Short list
• Detailed list
• Thumbnails (show previews)

Display size

The size of thumbnails or the width of columns.

Tiny, small, normal, large

Sorting

Sorts files by on of the following methods:

• Alphabetically
• By file type
• By date of last edit
• By file size

Show hidden

Shows hidden files (starting with .) H.

File filtering

File Type

Filters files by type.

• Folders
• blend-files
• Backup blend-files
• Image files
• Movie files
• Script files
• Font files
• Sound files
• Text files

Data-Block Type

Data-block type filtering inside blend-files.

Search box

Filter files by name.

File Region

File Path

The text field for the current path. Tab will auto-complete an existing path. If you type a non existing directory path, you will be prompted to create that new directory.

File Name

Text field to edit the file name and extension. If the background is red, a file with same name already exist in the folder. Tab will auto-complete to existing names in the current directory.

Increment Filename +, -

Adds/increase or removes/decreases a trailing number to your file name (use to make versions of a file).

Confirm

The main button to Open Directory/File or Save (As) Return or double click with LMB on the entry confirms with that file or data-block.

• Shift-LMB – Open the file externally (selected in File).
• Alt-LMB – Open the directory externally (using the system’s file manager).

Cancel

Cancels the Open or Save file selection and closes the File browser Esc or by using the Back to Previous in the Info editor header.

Tool Shelf

The left region displays different ways to find files and several options. Clicking with LMB on one of the entries, the File Browser will navigate to that folder.

System

The system panel contains a list of drives that are available to navigate through to find files.

System Bookmarks

Bookmarks that are common for a particular operating system.

Bookmarks

A List View of shortcuts to folders, that you want to be able to access often without having to navigate to them in the file browser.

Add +

This button adds the current directory to the list.

Recent

This is a list of recently accessed folders. You can control how many folders appear in this list by going to the File tab of the User Preferences, in the Recent Files number button.

Operator Panel

Link/Append from Library

See Linked libraries.

Open, Save, Save As Blender File

See Opening Files or Saving Files.

Open, Replace, Save As Image

See Supported Graphics Formats.

For the common option:

Relative Path

See Relative paths.

Main Region

Navigation

Entering a Directory

A single LMB click on a directory enters that directory.

Parent Directory Backspace, P

Takes you up one level of directory.

Arrow Keys

Directory navigation is also possible through the arrow keys with Alt pressed:

• Go to Parent Alt-Up
• Previous Alt-Left
• Next Directory Alt-Right

File Drop

You now can simply drag & drop files from your local file explorer into the blender file browser. This will relocate the File browser to the directory of the dropped file and the file will be selected.

Selection

Select

Both LMB and RMB works.

(De)select All A

Toggles selecting all files.

Dragging

Dragging with LMB starts a border selection.

Arrow Keys

It is also possible to select/deselect files by “walking” through them using the arrow keys:

• Just using an arrow key, the next file in the chosen direction will be selected and all others deselected.
• Holding down Shift while doing this does not deselect anything so it extends to the selection, plus it allows to deselect files by navigating into a block of already selected ones (minimum two files in sequence).
• Holding down Ctrl-Shift further selects/deselects all files in-between.

If no file is selected, the arrow key navigation selects the first or last file in the directory, depending on the arrow direction.

If you select a directory and hit Enter, you will go into that directory (and highlighting ‘parent’ entry will bring you up one level).

File Management

Delete Files Delete, X

Delete the currently selected files.

Rename Ctrl-LMB

Can be used on a file or directory to rename it.