Application Templates¶
Usage¶
Application templates are a feature that allows you to define a re-usable configuration that can be selected to replace the default configuration, without requiring a separate Blender installation or overwriting your personal settings.
Application templates can be selected from the splash screen or
sub-menu.When there are no templates found the menu will not be displayed on the splash screen.
New application templates can be installed from the App Menu.
If you would like to keep the current application template active on restarting Blender, save your preferences.
Motivation¶
In some cases it’s not enough to write a single script or add-on, and expect someone to replace their preferences and startup file, install scripts and change their keymap.
The goal of application templates is to support switching to a customized configuration without disrupting your existing settings and installation.
This means people can build their own applications on top of Blender that can be easily distributed.
Details¶
An application template may define its own:
- Startup File
The default file to load with this template.
- Preferences
Only certain preferences from a template are used:
Themes.
Add-ons.
Keymaps.
Viewport lighting.
- Splash Screen
Templates may provide their own splash screen image.
- Python Scripts
While templates have access to the same functionality as any other scripts, typical operations include:
Modifying and replacing parts of the user interface.
Defining new menus, keymaps and tools.
Defining a custom add-on path for template specific add-ons.
Templates also have their own user configuration, so saving a startup file while using a template won’t overwrite your default startup file.
Directory Layout¶
Templates may be located in one of two locations within the scripts
directory.
- Template locations:
{BLENDER_USER_SCRIPTS}/startup/bl_app_templates_user
{BLENDER_SYSTEM_SCRIPTS}/startup/bl_app_templates_system
User configuration is stored in a subdirectory:
- Without a template:
./config/startup.blend
./config/userpref.blend
- With a template:
./config/{APP_TEMPLATE_ID}/startup.blend
./config/{APP_TEMPLATE_ID}/userpref.blend
See Blender’s Directory Layout for details on script and configuration locations.
Command Line Access¶
Using the command-line arguments you can setup a launcher that opens Blender with a specific app template:
blender --app-template my_template
Template Contents¶
Each of the following files can be used for application templates but are optional.
startup.blend
Factory startup file to use for this template.
userpref.blend
Factory preferences file to use for this template.
When omitted preferences are shared with the default Blender configuration.
(As noted previously, this is only used for a subset of preferences).
splash.png
,splash_2x.png
Splash screen to override Blender’s default artwork (not including header text).
Must be
501x250
and1002x500
(used for HiDPI monitors).__init__.py
A Python script which must contain
register
andunregister
functions.
Note
Bundled blend-files startup.blend
and userpref.blend
are considered Factory Settings
and are never overwritten.
The user may save their own startup/preferences while using this template which will be stored in their user configuration.
The original template settings can be loaded using: Load Template Factory Settings from the file menu in much the same way Load Factory Settings works.
Template Scripts¶
While app templates can use Python scripts, they simply have access to the same API’s available for add-ons and any other scripts.
As noted above, you may optionally have an __init__.py
in your app template.
This has the following advantages:
Changes can be made to the startup or preferences, without having to distribute a blend-file.
Changes can be made dynamically.
You could for example – configure the template to check the number of processors, operating system and memory, then set values based on this.
You may enable add-ons associated with your template.
On activation a register
function is called, unregister
is called when another template is selected.
As these only run once, any changes to defaults must be made via handler.
Two handlers you’re likely to use are:
bpy.app.handlers.load_factory_preferences_post
bpy.app.handlers.load_factory_startup_post
These allow you to define your own “factory settings”, which the user may change, just as Blender has it’s own defaults when first launched.
This is an example __init__.py
file which defines defaults for an app template to use.
import bpy
from bpy.app.handlers import persistent
@persistent
def load_handler_for_preferences(_):
print("Changing Preference Defaults!")
from bpy import context
prefs = context.preferences
prefs.use_preferences_save = False
kc = context.window_manager.keyconfigs["blender"]
kc_prefs = kc.preferences
if kc_prefs is not None:
kc_prefs.select_mouse = 'RIGHT'
kc_prefs.spacebar_action = 'SEARCH'
kc_prefs.use_pie_click_drag = True
view = prefs.view
view.header_align = 'BOTTOM'
@persistent
def load_handler_for_startup(_):
print("Changing Startup Defaults!")
# Use smooth faces.
for mesh in bpy.data.meshes:
for poly in mesh.polygons:
poly.use_smooth = True
# Use material preview shading.
for screen in bpy.data.screens:
for area in screen.areas:
for space in area.spaces:
if space.type == 'VIEW_3D':
space.shading.type = 'MATERIAL'
space.shading.use_scene_lights = True
def register():
print("Registering to Change Defaults")
bpy.app.handlers.load_factory_preferences_post.append(load_handler_for_preferences)
bpy.app.handlers.load_factory_startup_post.append(load_handler_for_startup)
def unregister():
print("Unregistering to Change Defaults")
bpy.app.handlers.load_factory_preferences_post.remove(load_handler_for_preferences)
bpy.app.handlers.load_factory_startup_post.remove(load_handler_for_startup)