First step to handle missing libs/datablocks when reading a file.

Idea is, instead of ignoring completely missing linked datablocks, to
create void placeholders for them.

That way, you can work on your file, save it, and find again your missing data once
lib becomes available again. Or you can edit missing lib's path (in Outliner),
save and reload the file, and you are done.

Also, Outliner now shows broken libraries (and placeholders) with a 'broken lib' icon.

Future plans are also to be able to relocate missing libs and reload them at runtime.

Code notes:
    - Placeholder ID is just a regular datablock of same type as expected linked one,
      with 'default' data, and a LIB_MISSING bitflag set.
    - To allow creation of such datablocks, creation of datablocks in BKE was split in two step:
        + Allocation of memory itself.
        + Setting of all internal data to default values.

See also the design task (T43351).

Reviewed by @campbellbarton, thanks a bunch!

Differential Revision: https://developer.blender.org/D1394

1 files changed, 1 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_mesh.h b/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_mesh.h
index 5bd8931ee2e..f35613f8bf7 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_mesh.h
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_mesh.h
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ int BKE_mesh_edge_other_vert(const struct MEdge *e, int v);
 
 void BKE_mesh_unlink(struct Mesh *me);
 void BKE_mesh_free(struct Mesh *me, int unlink);
+void BKE_mesh_init(struct Mesh *me);
 struct Mesh *BKE_mesh_add(struct Main *bmain, const char *name);
 struct Mesh *BKE_mesh_copy_ex(struct Main *bmain, struct Mesh *me);
 struct Mesh *BKE_mesh_copy(struct Mesh *me);