# Custom Templates - Add-On

**Custom Templates** allows you to use your own .blend files as template options for new projects.

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- [Getting Started](#getting-started)
- [Why *Custom Templates*?](#why-custom-templates)
- [Support](#support)
- [Changelog](./CHANGELOG.md)
- [Copyright](#copyright)

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![File > New menu with the add-on custom buttons](./images/Preview%20Image%20-%20v2.png)

Your templates will be avaliable in the Splash Screen and the `File > New` menu.

## Getting Started

- **Prepare your templates** and save them **in `.blend` files**  
*or find online `.blend` templates that fits your needs*
- **Define your templates** in the add-on's preferences  
    *It's simple. Select a `.blend` file and name your template.*  
    You can do this:
    1) Directly from add-on preferences, in the templates list  
    2) By using `File > Defaults > Add from folder`  
    *Select a folder (and optionally a recursion depth, default 1) and find `.blend` files to use as template. By default, the clean file name will be used as name for the new templates.*
    3) By using `File > Defaults > Select new template`  
    *Popup to specify name and path for the new template.*
    4) By using `File > Defaults > Use current file as template` *(only avaliable when a saved .blend file is currently loaded)*  
    *Popup to specify the name for the new template. The path will be the one of the current .blend file.*
    5) By importing a previously exported templates list from JSON file  
    *(Either using `File > Defaults > Import Templates` as well as from the menu located in the top right of the templates list in the preferences)*  
    *Note: the import process override the current list. Be sure to export the current list, if necessary.*

> *You can add, remove, reorder and update your templates any time...*

- *(Optionally)* **Export** your templates list to **JSON file**  
  *From `File > Defaults > Export templates`, or from the add-on preferences menu.*
  *Useful after disabling and re-enabling the add-on, re-installing blender, or simply to prepare different sets of templates to import when needed.*

At this point your templates will be avaliable in the `File > New` menu and in the Splash Screen.

> You can update the contents of your `.blend` templates at any time. The file is read each time you open the template.

#### Splash Screen

From the Splash Screen (or from preferences), you can easily switch between your Custom Templates and Blender's default templates.  
> *This only applies to the splash screen.  
> `File > New` menu will always show all your templates.*

Notes:

- With more than 5 templates, only the first 5 will be shown in the splash. If this is your case, be sure to reorder on top the 5 you want to see in the splash.
- If you have no templates currently defined, Blender's default list will always be used (to avoid empty list in splash)

### Why *Custom Templates*?

Blender allows you to save you own .blend file to use on startup.  

This is great, but wouldn't it be nice to be able to create your own templates?

With **Custom Templates** you can setup as many .blend file as you like, as templates.

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Create your own templates or find the ones that best suit your needs online.  

*Customize workspaces, preset your usual materials, define additional windows or anything else you would like to have from the beginning.*  

*The only limit is your immagination!*

### Support

The versions avaliable at extensions.blender.org and directly from Blender's preferences, supports Blender 4.2 and later versions.

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#### Legacy

From `v1.3.1`, a [legacy version](https://projects.blender.org/Francesco-Bellini/custom_templates_addon/releases/tag/v1.3.1) has been made and tested on the following LTS previous versions:

- Blender `3.6 LTS`
- Blender `3.3 LTS`
- Blender `2.93 LTS`
- Blender `2.83 LTS`
- *And may of may not work on other not-LTS previous versions*

If you are *not* using a version of Blender that supports the Extensions Platform, you can:
[Download the legacy version](https://projects.blender.org/Francesco-Bellini/custom_templates_addon/releases/tag/v1.3.1).

> **Note**
> Only setup templates compatible with your current version of blender, otherwise you might get a warning or a crash (especially on Blender 2.x versions) while opening your templates.

### Changelog

Visit the [CHANGELOG](./CHANGELOG.md) file to see the changes over new version.  

### Copyright

This add-on is developed under GPL-3.0 license by Francesco Bellini from 2024.  
*See the [LICENSE](./LICENSE) file.*