[Bf-committers] Handling of user data.

[Ryan Inch]

Hi Harley,

 > I have heard the argument that "OMG, this will make our files 
bloat".  But you can turn such a "bloated file" into one without saved 
orphans with the currently existing "purge orphans" operator. You can 
run this all the time, make it an option to run on save, or never run 
it. But it leaves this to you to deal with when you want, not done *for 
*you.

This is only a solution if you are the *only* one to ever work on that 
file.  No one will ever risk taking responsibility for purging everyone 
else's data in a team/corporate setting.  And having preferences for 
saving everything vs auto-purging will also result in data loss in a 
team setting or if you're working with blend files from an outside 
source. [1]

 > With the thought of (slowly) moving toward saving orphan data, the 
following experimental patch replaces the current File / Clean Up menu 
of items with a single "Clean Up" dialog that can be used remove 
orphans, set all orphans to fake user, or to bring up a window with 
Outliner set to "Orphan Data" mode so you can manage them granularly.
 >
 > https://developer.blender.org/D14030

Your patch adding improved management abilities is of course welcome, 
but it is not a magic bullet that can be used in all circumstances.

Ryan Inch (Imaginer)

[1] https://developer.blender.org/T61209#1303007