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Open Asset in New Blender

Launches a .blend file in a separate Blender process using the same executable that is currently running. The current session and its unsaved state are left untouched, which is useful for inspecting linked-library sources or asset-browser sources without disturbing the active scene.

bl_idname: iops.open_asset_in_new_blender Mode: any Context: any Modal: no HUD: no

Overview

Asset Browser and linked-library workflows often need to jump from a referenced datablock back to its source .blend. Blender's built-in "Open" replaces the current session. This operator spawns a second Blender process pointed at the target file, so both the host scene and the source remain open side by side.

On Windows the child process is started with DETACHED_PROCESS | CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP, so closing the host Blender does not terminate the spawned instance.

Usage

  • Provide blendpath as an absolute path or a //-relative blend path; it is resolved with bpy.path.abspath.
  • Invoke via menu, search (F3), or by calling the operator from another script/Pie (typical caller: Asset Browser context menus).
  • No default keymap binding.

Properties

Name Type Default Description
blendpath StringProperty (FILE_PATH) "" Absolute or blend-relative path to the .blend file to open.
library StringProperty "" Optional metadata field for the linked library name; not used by execution logic.

Notes

  • Reports ERROR and returns CANCELLED if the resolved path is not an existing file, or if bpy.app.binary_path cannot be resolved.
  • The child process is launched via subprocess.Popen([bpy.app.binary_path, path]). No command-line flags besides the file path are passed.
  • On non-Windows platforms no special creation flags are used; the child inherits the standard process group.
  • The operator registers only REGISTER (no UNDO); it makes no changes to the current blend file.
  • (no sibling operators in this module)