.. _prefs-save-load:

***********
Save & Load
***********

.. figure:: /images/editors_preferences_section_save-load.png

   Preferences Save/Load section.


Blend Files
===========

Relative Paths
   Default value for :ref:`Relative Paths <files-blend-relative_paths>` when loading external files
   such as images, sounds & linked libraries.
Compress File
   Default value for :ref:`Compress file <files-blend-compress>` when saving blend files.
Load UI
   Default value for :ref:`Load UI <file-load-ui>` when loading blend files.
Save Preview Images
   Previews of images and materials in the :doc:`File Browser </editors/file_browser>`
   are created on demand. To save these previews into your blend-file,
   enable this option (at the cost of increasing the size of your blend-file).
Tabs as Spaces
   Entering :kbd:`Tab` in the Text Editor adds the appropriate number of spaces
   instead of using characters.
Save Prompt
   Asks for confirmation before closing or opening a new
   blend-file if the current file has unsaved changes
Save Versions
   Number of versions created (for backup) when saving newer versions of a file.

   This option keeps saved versions of your file in the same directory,
   using extensions: ``.blend1``, ``.blend2``, etc.,
   with the number increasing to the number of versions you specify.

   Older files will be named with a higher number.
   E.g. with the default setting of 2, you will have three versions of your file:

   :``*.blend``: last saved.
   :``*.blend1``: second last saved.
   :``*.blend2``: third last saved.
Recent Files
   Number of files displayed in :menuselection:`File --> Open Recent`.


.. _prefs-auto-save:

Auto Save
---------

Auto Save Temporary Files
   Enables :doc:`Auto Save </troubleshooting/recover>`.
   Tells Blender to *automatically* save a backup copy of your work-in-progress files to the :ref:`temp-dir`.
Timer
   This specifies the number of minutes to wait between each :doc:`Auto Save </troubleshooting/recover>`.
   The default value of the Blender installation is 2 minutes.
   The minimum is 1, and the Maximum is 60 (save every hour).


.. _prefs-auto-execution:

Auto Execution
--------------

Python scripts (including driver expressions) are not executed by default for security reasons.

Auto Run Python Scripts
   You may be working on projects where you only load files from trusted sources,
   making it more convenient to allow scripts to be executed automatically.
Excluded Paths
   Blend-files in these folders will *not* automatically run Python scripts.
   This can be used to define where blend-files from untrusted sources are kept.

.. seealso::

   :doc:`Python Security </advanced/scripting/security>`.


File Browser
============

Filter File Extensions
   By activating this, the file region in the File Browser will only show appropriate files
   (i.e. blend-files when loading a complete Blender setting).
   The selection of file types may be changed in the file region.

   .. figure:: /images/editors_preferences_save-load_filter.png

      File extension filter.

Hide Dot File/Data-blocks
   Hide file which start with ``.`` on File Browsers and ID selector.

   .. hint::

      Data-blocks beginning with a ``.`` can be selected by typing in the ``.`` characters.
      When explicitly written, the setting to hide these data-blocks is ignored.

Hide Recent Locations
   Hide the *Recent* panel of the :doc:`File Browser </editors/file_browser>`
   which displays recently accessed folders.
Hide System Bookmarks
   Hide System Bookmarks in the *File Browser*.
Show Thumbnails
   Default to the thumbnail view of files when using the :doc:`File Browser </editors/file_browser>`.