User:Severin/Asset Browser/How to Test

= Asset Browser: How to Test =

Testing the Asset Browser at this stage involves the following:
 * Create Assets in a .blend file.
 * Set-up that file as repository.
 * Browse assets in a repository.
 * Use assets.

Note: Expect limitations, glitches and inconveniences. Right now focus is only on getting the essentials to work.

Creating Assets
Currently, only data-blocks can become assets. They can be created in the following ways:
 * Right-click data-block in the Outliner > Make Asset (if there's an ID Data sub-menu, it is in there).
 * Right-click any button that represents a data-block (e.g. data-block selector) > Make Asset

Two important notes:
 * To make an Asset Browser show new assets, it has to be refreshed! E.g. by pressing the key. (This will likely be made more discover-able for later iterations).
 * To show assets from another file, that file has to be saved!

The Asset Browser can show the assets in the current file by choosing the "Current File" repository (see below).

Custom Repositories


It is possible to select any .blend file as asset repository. This can be done in Preferences > File Paths > Asset Repositories. In the future it will likely be possible to select directories as repositories as well.

There is a default repository pointing to the following paths:
 * Linux, macOS: `~/assets.blend`
 * Windows: `[user-directory]/Documents/assets.blend`

Browsing/Using Assets


The Asset Browser is a new, regular editor.

You can: Most display and filter options won't work, that is expected.
 * Select a repository
 * Choose a category of assets to show
 * Drag objects, images and materials into 3D Views.



Valid repositories will show up in the Repository menu of the Asset Browser. The tooltip shows its file-path. The Asset Browser will then display assets in the selected repository.