Tweak API to support adding evaluated meshes to main database

One of the usecases is to create mesh from an object is a manner similar to
how Apply Modifiers does it, and have it in the bmain so it can be referenced
by other objects.

This usecase is something what went unnoticed in the previous API changes, so
here is a followup.

Summary of changes:

* bpy.meshes.new_from_object() behaves almost the same as before this change.
  The difference now is that it now ensures all referenced data-blocks are
	original (for example, materials referenced by the mesh).

* object.to_mesh() now creates free-standing Mesh data-block which is outside
  of any bmain. The object owns it, which guarantees the memory never leaks.

  It is possible to force free memory by calling object.to_mesh_clear().

Reviewers: brecht

Reviewed By: brecht

Differential Revision: https://developer.blender.org/D4875

1 files changed, 19 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/object.c b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/object.c
index 78f2b10305e..95be7f8f51f 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/object.c
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/object.c
@@ -469,6 +469,7 @@ void BKE_object_free_derived_caches(Object *ob)
     ob->runtime.mesh_deform_eval = NULL;
   }
 
+  BKE_object_to_mesh_clear(ob);
   BKE_object_free_curve_cache(ob);
 
   /* clear grease pencil data */
@@ -4497,3 +4498,21 @@ void BKE_object_update_select_id(struct Main *bmain)
     ob = ob->id.next;
   }
 }
+
+Mesh *BKE_object_to_mesh(Object *object)
+{
+  BKE_object_to_mesh_clear(object);
+
+  Mesh *mesh = BKE_mesh_new_from_object(object);
+  object->runtime.object_as_temp_mesh = mesh;
+  return mesh;
+}
+
+void BKE_object_to_mesh_clear(Object *object)
+{
+  if (object->runtime.object_as_temp_mesh == NULL) {
+    return;
+  }
+  BKE_id_free(NULL, object->runtime.object_as_temp_mesh);
+  object->runtime.object_as_temp_mesh = NULL;
+}