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BLBlender

P4Blender [Beta]

by Clay Of Man·Workflow

Images © Clay Of Man. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Earns its place for handling Perforce Helix version-control operations from inside Blender rather than a separate tool.

What is P4Blender [Beta]?

P4Blender [Beta] is a Blender add-on for connecting to a Perforce Helix server, so you can pull, push and revert files tied to your scene without leaving the Blender window. It uses the official P4python module and covers checkout, add, pull, push, revert, delete and get revision operations on files connected to your scene.

Helix Core is a server system for version control and merging, comparable to Git or SVN, and used across many video game companies. P4Blender brings that workflow inside Blender through multi-server connection, multithreading for performance, a file browser connected to p4v, context menu access and revision swapping. A smart top bar tracks out-of-date files, missing files and more.

The add-on is in beta, with a few minor bugs still being worked out, and it is offered on GitHub. It is unaffiliated with Perforce. A demo video is available.

Who is P4Blender [Beta] best for?

P4Blender [Beta] is best for blender users working with Perforce Helix Core version control who want to manage scene files without leaving Blender.

How much does P4Blender [Beta] cost?

P4Blender [Beta] is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Connects to a Perforce Helix server using the official P4python module
  • Checkout, add, pull, push, revert, delete and get revision on files connected to your scene
  • Multi-server connection
  • Multithreading for performance
  • File browser connected to p4v, with context menu access
  • Revision swapping
  • Smart top bar that tracks out-of-date and missing files

Tags

#Perforce#Helix Core#version control#pipeline#Blender add-on#P4python#workflow

Frequently asked questions

Does P4Blender work with Blender 4.1 and 4.0?

P4Blender [Beta] lists compatibility with Blender 4.1 and 4.0. If you run one of those versions, the add-on connects to a Perforce Helix server so you can manage files from inside Blender. It is still in beta, with a few minor bugs being worked out, so behaviour may vary. For newer Blender releases, check the developer's page, since compatibility beyond the listed versions is not stated. Bug reports and feature requests are welcomed by the developer.

What does P4Blender need to connect to Perforce?

P4Blender connects to a Perforce Helix server using the official P4python module, so you need access to a Perforce Helix Core server to use it. Helix Core is a version-control and merging server, comparable to Git or SVN, used across many video game companies. The add-on also links a file browser to p4v. Once connected, you can run Perforce operations on files tied to your scene directly within Blender, and multi-server connection lets you work across more than one server.

Is P4Blender free to use?

P4Blender is listed as free here. The developer offers it on GitHub and asks for support from those who use it professionally, and requests that studios using it commercially purchase access to fund continued development. For current licensing details, check the developer's page. The add-on is released under the GPL license, and it is unaffiliated with Perforce. A demo video is also available.

What Perforce operations does P4Blender support?

P4Blender supports checkout, add, pull, push, revert, delete and get revision on files connected to your scene, all from within Blender. It also offers revision swapping and a smart top bar that tracks out-of-date and missing files. The add-on includes context menu access and multithreading for performance. Because it features multi-server connection, you can work with more than one Perforce server, keeping these version-control tasks inside the Blender window.

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