Asset Library Tools

Quickly filter assets by tags, types, and backup/restore asset catalogues

Asset Library Tools improves productivity inside Blender’s Asset Browser by making large asset libraries easier to search and safer to manage.

💡 Why this Add-on Exists

• Managing large asset libraries becomes difficult when catalogue categories aren’t enough. Tags are flexible, but remembering specific tag names is hard.
• Often you only want to see Materials or Objects, but the default filter requires multiple clicks.
• Unexpected crashes or power issues can corrupt catalogue files, and manually backing them up rarely happens consistently.

✔ Tag & Type Filter (Smart Search)

Automatically indexes tags across your active asset library. Filter instantly by Asset Type (Object, Material, Node Tree, etc.) or select from Pinned and Recent tags. No more guessing tag names.

✔ Catalogue Backup

One-click backup and restore for catalogue files, keeping your library structure safe and recoverable at any time.

✨ Key Features

• Filter by Asset Type: Toggle Objects, Materials, Collections, Worlds, etc., with a single click.
• Smart Tag Search: Browse all indexed tags in a searchable popup.
• Pinned & Recent Tags: "Pin" your most-used tags for instant access, and quickly reuse recently searched tags.
• Catalogue Backup & Restore: One-click backup to safeguard your library structure.
• Automatic Pruning: Keeps only the most recent backups to save space.
• Open Library Folder: Click the folder icon next to the active library name to jump directly to the location on disk.

Location

Asset Browser → T-Panel → Asset Library Tools

Contains:

• Active Library: Status and Open Folder button.
• Tag Filter: Type toggles, Tag search, Pinned/Recent lists.
• Tag Indexer: (Collapsible) Tools to build the tag database.
• Catalogue Backup: (Collapsible) Backup and Restore operations.

🪶 How to Use

1. Open Asset Browser and switch to a user Asset Library.
2. Expand Tag Indexer → click Build Tag Index to scan the library. (Run this whenever you add new assets to update the tag list).
3. Filtering:
   • Click the Type Icons to show only Objects, Materials, etc.
   • Click Browse Tags... to see a list of all tags found in your library.
   • Click the Pin (Heart) icon next to a tag to save it to your "Pinned" list.
4. Expand Catalogue Backup to save or restore catalogue files instantly.

💡 Pro Tip:

Don't see your tag? the "Browse Tags" list initially displays the first 40 tags alphabetically. If your library has hundreds of tags, simply type a few letters in the Search Filter at the top—the list will instantly update to show all matching tags, including those not visible in the initial list.

🗂 Stored Data

To keep your library root clean, all addon data is now stored in a dedicated hidden folder:

• Tag index and User preferences (pins/recents) are saved in: Your_Library_Path/_ALT_data/
• Catalogue Backups are saved in: Your_Library_Path/Backup catalogue/