How to put similar named objects into collection in python?

Question

I wrote a script that can detect similar objects based on the selected objects but can't put them in a collection named after selected objects.

It's not working.


import bpy
selected_objects = bpy.context.selected_objects
for selected_object in selected_objects:
    name = selected_object.name
    collections = bpy.data.collections.new(name)
    bpy.context.scene.collection.children.link(collections)
    bpy.ops.object.select_pattern(pattern=f"{name}")
    objs = bpy.context.selected_objects
    coll = bpy.data.collections[name]
for obj in objs:
    cols = obj.users_collection
    coll.objects.link(obj)
    for col in cols:
    col.objects.unlink(obj)

I want from:

To:

@RobinBetts: That's what he wrote ;) "I want to make a python script" -> i assume he wants to do this more than 100x and automated - so a python script makes sense. — Chris, May 08 '21 at 06:39

james_t · Answer 1 · 2021-05-07T19:49:47.527

6

I would do the same in python that I could do in the UI, which is to use Select Pattern, and then move these selected items to a Collection.

In python:

bpy.ops.object.select_all( action='DESELECT' ) # Deselect all objects
bpy.ops.object.select_pattern(pattern="Sphere*")
if collection Sphere does not yet exist:
bpy.ops.object.move_to_collection( collection_index=0, is_new=True, new_collection_name='Sphere' ) # new collection
else if collection Sphere does exist:
bpy.ops.object.move_to_collection( collection_index=2 ) # need collection index

edited May 07 '21 at 19:49

answered May 07 '21 at 19:32

james_t

5,446
8
29

Somewhat related, joining instead of adding to collection. https://blender.stackexchange.com/a/166446/15543 – batFINGER May 07 '21 at 19:49
1

i wish the select pattern would be there in the open file menu.... :( – Chris May 08 '21 at 06:42
@Chris, if you mean Append or Link or File Open.... someone recently pointed out to me, it exists in a rather crude way in Append or Link. To the right of the File View, Directory Path, is a search text box labeled in the helptext as search filter. I think it's inferior but usable. screencap for Append, filename, Objects at https://www.dropbox.com/s/pimmjg9yy7fda5p/blenderNameFilter.png – james_t May 08 '21 at 18:28

james_t · Answer 2 · 2021-05-07T21:13:53.583

Here is another script where Collection names are used, with link and unlink:

bpy.ops.object.select_all( action='DESELECT' ) # Deselect all objects
bpy.ops.object.select_pattern(pattern="Sphere*")
objs = bpy.context.selected_objects
sphColl = bpy.data.collections['Spheres']
for obj in objs:
    print(obj)
    cols = obj.users_collection # ptr to current collection
    sphColl.objects.link(obj) # link into 'Spheres' collection
    print(cols)
    for col in cols:
        col.objects.unlink( obj ) # unline from original collection

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered May 09 '21 at 15:12

Object to collection by name.

Similarly to https://blender.stackexchange.com/a/166446/15543 can do this with API methods.

Sort all objects in scene by name (could change this to selected objects if desired)
Get the name up to the ".", eg for "Cube.022" this is "Cube", and all objects that start with this name
Move to collection of same name. Make a new collection and link to scene collection if need be. This will ensure can run this again and again and again without moving "Cube" to collection named "Cube.001" then "Cube.002" etc
Repeat until all objects moved.
Optionally remove any collections left with zero objects.

Test script.

import bpy
context = bpy.context
scene = context.scene
obs = scene.objects[:]
obs.sort(key=lambda o: o.name)
def move(name, obs):
    # unlink from old collections
    for o in obs:
        for c in o.users_collection:
            c.objects.unlink(o)
    # make a new collection and link to it
    coll = bpy.data.collections.get(name)
    if not coll:
        coll = bpy.data.collections.new(name)
        scene.collection.children.link(coll)
    for o in obs:
        coll.objects.link(o)
while obs:
    name = obs[0].name.split(".")[0] 
    x = [o for o in obs if o.name.startswith(name)]
    move(name, x)
    obs = obs[len(x):]
remove any now empty collections
empty_colls = [c for c in bpy.data.collections if not len(c.all_objects)]
while empty_colls:
    bpy.data.collections.remove(empty_colls.pop())

How to put similar named objects into collection in python?

3 Answers3

if collection Sphere does not yet exist:

else if collection Sphere does exist:

remove any now empty collections

Linked