File Wrangler - Batch Processor For Blender
BlenderAddon
File Wrangler User Manual
Batch Processing Automation for Blender
01 Introduction
Welcome to File Wrangler! This powerful pipeline tool automates repetitive tasks across multiple .blend files. Whether you need to clean up entire project directories, change file settings, run custom Python scripts, or unify workspace layouts, File Wrangler saves you hours of manual work by handling it all in one go.
The core philosophy is simple: set your target files, configure your actions, and let the batch processor safely execute them in the background.
02 Installation
File Wrangler is packaged as a standard Blender 4.2+ Extension.
- Download the
file_wrangler.zipfile. - In Blender, go to Edit > Preferences > Get Extensions.
- Click the drop-down arrow at the top right and select Install from Disk...
- Select the downloaded
.zipfile. - Ensure the extension is enabled by ticking the checkbox.
03 Setup & Inputs
Press N in the 3D Viewport to open the Sidebar and locate the File Wrangler tab.
3.1 Input Modes
Choose how to target your files. File Wrangler offers two distinct workflows:
Target an entire folder. Supports recursive searching (scanning all subdirectories) and filtering using inclusive/exclusive filename keywords.
Curate a precise batch. Manually add specific .blend files to a list, bypassing entire folders and filters completely.
3.2 Output & Logging
-
Output Directory (Recommended):
- If set: Copies your exact folder structure and saves the modified files here. This is non-destructive and safe.
- If blank: Overwrites the original files in place. Use with caution.
-
Write Log File: Creates a detailed
file_wrangler_log.txtin the output directory, recording every modified file, error, or custom script printout.
04 Actions Toolkit
Select one or more actions to perform sequentially on every targeted file.
Forces all processed files to adopt your current window layout and workspace setup upon saving.
Execute a Python script on every file. Load from an external .py file or select an internal text block.
Scans and permanently deletes auto-saved backups (e.g., .blend1) to free up hard drive space.
Performs a recursive "Orphans Purge", cleaning out unassigned materials, meshes, node groups, and textures.
Automatically attempts to locate and relink broken image textures or external assets within a specified directory.
Convert all asset links to Relative or Absolute paths. Force files to save as Compressed (smaller) or Decompressed (faster loading).
05 Execution Modes
- Dry Run: Always use this first! It prints a list of affected files to the System Console/Log without making any actual changes.
- Start Batch Process: Runs the sequence interactively, allowing you to see progress and cancel at any time.
- Run in Background: Spawns a separate, headless Blender instance to do the heavy lifting. This keeps your main UI completely responsive and protects your current session if a faulty file crashes the background worker.
- ALWAYS BACK UP YOUR DATA before running an overwrite operation.
- Setting an Output Directory is the safest way to batch process.
- The "Delete Backup Files" operation bypasses the trash and is permanent.
06 Preferences
Customize where File Wrangler appears in the UI:
- Go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons.
- Locate the "File Wrangler" preferences.
- Change the UI Tab Name field to move the tool to a different Sidebar category (e.g., "Pipeline").
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| Blender Extension Compatible | Yes |
| Published | about 1 year ago |
| Blender Version | 4.2 - 5.2 |
| Extension Type | Add-on |
| Render Engine Used | Cycles, Eevee |
| License | GPL |