Welcome to Blender Manager 🎉

Hey there, Blender enthusiast! Ready to level up your workflow? Welcome to Blender Manager, your new best friend for handling all things Blender. From juggling multiple versions to keeping your projects and addons in check, this tool’s got your back. Let’s get started. 🚀

What’s Blender Manager?

It’s like a command center for your Blender setup. Want to:

• Keep your Blender updated? ✅
• Switch between Blender versions like a pro? ✅
• Efortlessly create projects? ✅
• Organize your messy projects into a neat library? ✅
• Manage addons without diving into Blender every time? Oh, you bet. ✅

Yeah, Blender Manager does all that and more.

Why You’ll Love It 💖

Here’s the deal: Blender Manager takes the boring, repetitive tasks and makes them easy. No more hunting for the right Blender version or manually transferring addons. Just click a few buttons, and boom, you’re good to go.

Here’s a taste of what it does:

• Version Management: Install, update, and switch Blender versions with zero hassle.
• Project Management: Keep all your blend files tidy and easy to access.
• Addon Management: Activate, deactivate, or move addons between versions. Simple as that.
• Render Management: Preview, organize, and add notes to your renders.

And yes, it looks slick while doing it. 🕶️

Screenshots

Blender Manager Documentation

1) Main Menu

The Main Menu serves as the central hub of Blender Manager, offering various settings and quick access options to enhance your workflow.

Features

Launch Blender

Provides quick access to the Blender version you have set as the main version in the Version Management section. Left-clicking presents three options:

• Launch With Argument: Start Blender with custom command-line arguments to enable different functionalities upon launch.
• Export Blender: Export your Blender installation to a specified file location.
• Delete Blender: Remove the Blender application from your system.

Create Project

Facilitates practical adjustments for your new Blender projects before you start them. It consists of three sections:

• Reference Images: Set up reference images for your project in an organized manner, covering front, back, right, left, top, and bottom views.
• Base Mesh: Start your project with a pre-prepared mesh. Upload your mesh file from your computer.
• Settings:
  • Elements: Include or remove default elements such as the camera and lighting when starting a new project, according to your preferences.
  • Autosave: Automatically back up the current state of your project at desired intervals. Specify where to save project backups and choose to save each backup as a separate file or overwrite the previous one.

Check Updates

Verify whether the latest version of Blender is installed. If not, you can opt to automatically install the latest version.

Settings

Preferences

Personalize the Blender Manager application:

• Change the theme.
• Adjust the size of main headings, texts, and buttons.
• Change fonts.
• Adjust the transparency of the application interface.

General Settings

• Setup Addon: Install the Blender Manager addon to all your Blender versions.
• Change Launch Folder: Change the default folder from which Blender is launched.
• Auto Update Blender: Automatically update your Blender application when a new version is released.
• BM Auto Update: Automatically update Blender Manager itself when a new version is available.
• Auto Activate Addon After Adding: Automatically activate the Blender Manager addon when you install a new Blender version.
• Launch on Startup: Set Blender Manager to open automatically when your computer starts.
• Run in Background: Allow Blender Manager to run in the background.
• Download Chunk Size Multiplier: Adjust the download speed for installations within Blender Manager based on your internet connection speed.
• Tab Visibility Settings: Hide main tabs that you do not use for a cleaner workspace.
• Reset Data: Reset all data provided by Blender Manager, including preferences, installed versions, and settings.Warning: This action is irreversible.
• Delete All Versions: Delete all Blender versions installed through Blender Manager.Warning: This action is irreversible.
• Reset Settings: Reset Blender Manager settings to their default values.
• Reset Blender Configurations: Reset all settings of the selected Blender version to defaults.
• Restart: Restart Blender Manager to apply and save any changes made in the settings.

Blender Settings

• Transfer Settings: Transfer settings from one Blender version to another by selecting the source and target versions.
• Export/Import Settings: Export or import settings of a selected Blender version.

Recent Projects

View your most recent Blender projects and the last date each project was opened.

• Single Click: Display the total time spent on the project.
• Double Click: Quickly open the project with your main Blender version.
• Right Click: Delete the project.

Help Section

Contains:

• Documentation: Access to the Blender Manager user guide.
• Credits: Information about contributors.
• Donations: Options to support the project.

Version Information

Located in the lower-left corner, displaying the versions of Blender and Blender Manager you have installed. If not up to date, the version number becomes clickable for automatic updates.

2) Addon Management

Manage all your Blender addons in one place, configuring them as desired across different Blender versions.

Features

• Add Addon: Import an addon from your computer into Blender Manager using the Browse button.
• Refresh: Update the addon list after adding new addons or making changes.
• Version Selection: Select a Blender version to view and manage addons registered for that version.
• Addon List: Right-click on any addon to access management options.

Right-click Options

• Delete: Remove the addon from the selected Blender version.
• Go to File Path: Open the file location of the addon on your computer.
• Info: View details about the addon, such as version, author, and description.
• View Documentation: Access the addon's documentation for usage instructions.
• Duplicate to: Copy the addon to another Blender version.
• Activate Addon: Activate the addon without opening Blender.
• Deactivate Addon: Deactivate the addon without opening Blender.

View addon versions, compatible Blender versions, and activation status.

3) Project Management

Organize and manage your Blender projects efficiently.

Features

• Add Project: Import existing projects into Blender Manager using the Browse button.
• Refresh: Update the project list after adding new projects or making changes.
• Project List:
  • Hierarchy Management: Click on Project Name to adjust the hierarchy.
  • Drag and Drop: Import folders containing blend files by dragging them into the area.
• Project Information: View file size, Blender version used, and last modification date.
• Right-click Options
  • Open With: Open the project with any installed Blender version.
  • Rename: Change the project's name.
  • Go to File Path: Open the project's file location.
  • Delete: Remove the project from Blender Manager.Note: This deletes the project file from your system.
  • Export: Export the project in formats like FBX, glTF, or ABC. Select the format in the dialog that appears.
  • Info: View detailed information and preview images. Export individual meshes independently.
  • Move to Folder: Move the project to a different folder within Blender Manager.

4) Version Management

Simplify downloading, accessing, and managing different Blender versions.

Features

• OS and Architecture Selection: Choose your operating system and architecture for compatibility.
• Get Versions:
  • Get Stable Versions: Display official stable Blender releases.
  • Get Unstable Versions: Display experimental or beta Blender releases.
• Version List: View available Blender versions with release dates.
• Install:
  • Select a version and click Install to download and install it.
• Release Notes: Access official notes detailing new features and changes.
• Installed Versions:
  • Refresh: Update the list to include newly installed versions.
  • Right-click Options:
    • Create Shortcut: Generate a desktop shortcut.
    • Delete: Remove the Blender version from your system.
• Buttons:
  • Launch: Open the selected version.
    • Factory Settings: Open with default Blender settings.
  • Convert to Main: Set the selected version as your main Blender version.
  • Install a Version: Return to download and install new versions.

5) Render Management

View and manage textures and renders you've created and saved in Blender.

Features

• Render List: Displays renders with file size, resolution, and last modification date. Preview renders by selecting them.
• Browse: Import renders from your computer.
• Open: Open selected renders.
• Refresh: Update the list after adding new renders.
• Delete: Remove renders from Blender Manager.Note: This deletes the render file from your system.
• Render Notes: Add notes or comments about the render for future reference.

Release Notes

V0.0.2

Added a feature allowing users to pre-configure project save settings, expected in the next release.

Fixed a bug where a missing "Project" folder in the Blender Foundation directory caused an error notification at startup.

Installation Tab:
-Versions are now listed starting from the most recent.
-Added release date information for each version.

Addon Management Tab:
-Resolved an issue where .pycache files were listed in the tree view.
-Fixed missing addon information display.

Project Management Tab:
-Fixed the issue where "Time Spent" information was not displaying in the "Info" function.
-Introduced a new "Project Version" feature.

Thank you for downloading !!

v0.0.3

New Features and Improvements:

1. Enhanced Project Management:
   • The project management system has been restructured into a hierarchical format, making it much easier to organize and navigate your projects.
   • The new layout allows for a more streamlined user experience.
2. Mouse Right-Click Integration:
   • Replaced old button-based actions with a right-click context menu for better usability.
   • The TreeView layout is now wider, providing a clearer and more comprehensive view of your project structure.
3. Export Functionality Added:
   • You can now export your projects directly from the application.
   • Supported formats include FBX, glTF, and Alembic (ABC).
4. Rename Functionality:
   • Added a new feature to rename project files directly within the application.
   • Currently, only .blend files can be renamed.

Bug Fixes:

• Various minor fixes and improvements for better performance and stability.

v0.0.4

🆕 Changelog

🔧 Project Management Tab

• [+] Minor bug fixes for a smoother and more reliable experience.
• [+] New sorting options added for better project organization:
  • Sort by Project Name
  • Sort by Last Modified Date
  • Sort by File Size
  • Sort by Blender Version

📋 Installation Tab

• [+] You can now view release notes for each Blender version directly within the Installation tab. No more switching back to GitHub — all the information you need is right here!

🚀 Auto Update Feature

• [+] Blender Manager now automatically updates itself. Stay up to date with the latest features and fixes without any manual steps. Enjoy a seamless, hassle-free experience!

v0.0.5 Changelog

[+] GUI Bug Fixes

[+] Improved Addon Management Interface

[+] Right-Click Functionality Added to Addon Management

[+] View Addon Documentation

You can now view the documentation of the selected addon!

Note: This feature may not work for smaller addons.

[+] Duplicate Plugins to Any Version

You can now duplicate your selected plugins to any desired version!

v0.0.6 Changelog

[+] GUI Bug Fixes
[+] Improved Settings Section
[+] Tab Visibility Settings Added
[+] Fixed Blender 4.3 Export Error
[+] Export Bug Fixed: Resolved invalid format error when canceling exports.
[+] Enhanced Self-Update Handling: Improved error management and added a self-update checkbox.
[+] Blender Settings Tab Added: One-click option to copy settings and addons to new versions.
[+] Setup Addon Button Bug Fixed: Resolved issue with addon updates.
[+] Treeview Sorting in Installation Tab: Sort by Blender version or release date.
[+] Fixed Multiple App Instances Issue: Prevented opening more than one app instance.

🔮 Upcoming Features (Planned, Not Guaranteed)

We’re working on some exciting updates that could be included in future releases. These enhancements are designed to speed up your workflow, especially if you use multiple applications alongside Blender:

• [+] Open in Substance Painter: Launch your .blend project files directly in Substance Painter for quick and easy texture painting.
• [+] Open in ZBrush: Open .blend files directly in ZBrush to accelerate your sculpting process without manual file exports.
• [+] Open in Marvelous Designer: Seamlessly transfer your .blend files to Marvelous Designer for advanced garment simulation and design.

These features aim to save you time and simplify your workflow when working across multiple 3D tools. Stay tuned for more updates!