🧹 Auto File Cleaner — Documentation

Version: 2.0.0

Compatibility: Blender 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 5.0+

Category: Workflow / Utility

Auto File Cleaner is a professional-grade housekeeping tool for Blender artists. It solves the "bloated file" problem by scanning, previewing, and purging orphaned datablocks with surgical precision. Whether you are a freelancer trying to meet a storage quota or a studio artist managing complex scenes, this add-on ensures your .blend files stay lean and organized.

🚀 Getting Started

Installation

1. Go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons.

2. Click Install and select the Auto_Cleaner_v2 folder/zip.

3. Enable the add-on by checking the box.

Where to find it?

Open the 3D Viewport, press N to open the side panel, and look for the File Cleaner tab.

🛠 Key Features

🔍 Smart Scan (10 Categories)

Unlike Blender’s native "Purge," which acts as a "black box," Auto File Cleaner scans your files across 10 specific categories:

• Materials & Images

• Meshes & Curves

• Armatures & Node Groups

• Lights, Cameras, Collections, and Texts

📋 Professional UIList Preview

Every category features a dedicated, scrollable list.

• Pin Icon: Mark specific items to "Keep" them. Even if you run a delete, pinned items stay.

• Fake User Toggle: Manage use_fake_user directly from the list without digging through the Properties editor.

🔒 Safety First: Safe Mode & Live Mode

By default, the add-on starts in Safe Mode. In this state, the "Delete" and "Purge" buttons are locked. This prevents accidental data loss while you are exploring the UI. To perform a cleanup, you must toggle to Live Mode in the preferences.

⚙️ Preferences & Advanced Settings

Configure the add-on to fit your specific pipeline in the Add-on Preferences menu.

• Backup Folder: Choose exactly where your safety copies go.

• Always Create a Backup: Automatically saves a timestamped .blend copy before any deletion.

• Safe Mode Toggle: Lock or unlock the "Delete" buttons.

• Exclude List: Type-specific names (e.g., Studio_HDRI, Default_Mat) separated by commas. These items will never be touched by the scanner or the Deep Purge.

🔄 The Recommended Workflow

To get the most out of Auto File Cleaner, follow these five simple steps:

1. Scan: Click Scan for Unused Data. The category badges will update with the count of orphaned items.

2. Review: Open the category tabs and Pin any assets you might want to use later.

3. Backup: Click Create Backup (or ensure "Always Backup" is on) to create a restorable version of your current progress.

4. Unlock: Switch to Live Mode in the preferences or panel.

5. Clean: * Use Delete Un-kept Items to remove everything except your pinned assets.

   • Use Deep Purge for a recursive clean that respects your Exclude List.

📊 Performance Impact

A typical production file can see massive improvements in both speed and storage.

📜 License & Support

• License: GNU General Public License v3 (GPL).

• Support: For bugs or feature requests, contact Hamayl — NovaStrikes via the Superhive messaging system.

Note: Deep Purge runs up to 5 recursive passes. This ensures that if deleting a Material makes a Node Group "unused," that Node Group is also removed in the same operation.