Data-Block Menu

A set of menu buttons used to link Data-Blocks to each other. Data-blocks are items like meshes, objects, materials, textures, and so on. If data-blocks are linked the data will be updated across all of the users when edited.

The Data-Block menu with a search input.

Type

Shows an icon indicating the data-block type. It opens up the following pop-up menu. The data-block can be dragged from here. e.g to drag an material onto an object in the 3D View or into a Data ID field.

List

A list of data-block available in the current blend-file or link in to select an item from. The menu may show a preview besides the items and a search box to search the items in the list by name.

Name

Displays the internal name of the linked Data-Block, which can be edited as a regular text field. If a name already is in assigned Blender will add a digit to the name like ”.001”.

User count

Displays the number of users of the data. Clicking on it to make it a single-user copy, with it linked only to the active object/object’s data.

Fake User F

Keeps the data-block saved in the blend-file, even if it has no real users.

New/Add +

Creates a new data-block or duplicates the current data-block and applies it.

Open file

Opens the File Browser.

Unpack file

Unpack the file packed into the current blend-file to external ones.

Unlink data-block X

Clears the link.

Sometimes there is a list of applied data-blocks (such as a list of materials used on the object).

Data-Block Types

Data-blocks types with their icon.

Preview

The Data-Block menu with preview.

In the Tool Shelf is a version of the data-block menu with a bigger preview.

Data ID

The Data ID.

A Data ID is a text field with icon on the left, which opens a gray pop-up. It is used to reference data-blocks selected by their name.

Type

The icon on the left specifies the accepted data-block type.

Name

The text field functions as a search field by matching elements in the list. Press of Tab for auto-complete names to the level a match is found. If more than match exists you have to continue typing. If you type an invalid name, the value will remain unchanged.

List

Lets you select the data-block directly.

Eye Dropper

In some Data IDs there is an Eyedropper available through the pipette icon on the right side.

Remove X

Click the X button on the right to remove the reference.

Sub IDs

Vertex Group

If selected object in the Name field is a mesh or a lattice, an additional field is displayed where a vertex group can be selected.

Bone

If selected object in the Name field is an armature, a new field is displayed offering the choice to specify an individual bone by entering its name in the Bone data ID.

Head/Tail

If a Bone is set, a new field is displayed offering the choice of whether the head or tail of a Bone will be pointed at. The slider defines where along this bone the point lies interpolating along the bone axis in a straight line. A value of zero will point at the Head/Root of a Bone, while a value of one will point at the Tail/Tip of a Bone.

Use B-Bone Shape

When the bone is a Bendy Bones, click on this button to make the point follow the curvature of the B-Spline between head and tail.