Allow switch from streaming to cached

[schroef]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
Currently when a user wants to switch from streamed to cached. He/she need to import it again. This can be a destructive workflow. After checking filesize when saving. I noticed that due to fake users being set, file size can grow insane high

Describe the solution you'd like
Add option to simply switch from one to the other. It should not matter, data can be deleted or kept. Streaming if used with 0 is about the same after first play so no real difference. One could set it to stream to save blend file size. So when saving cache is emptied.

Describe alternatives you've considered
See above

Additional context
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[neverhood311]

This feature is on my backlog, but I don't know whether it will make it into the next version.

After checking filesize when saving. I noticed that due to fake users being set, file size can grow insane high

If you need to delete a sequence, there's actually a dedicated button in the Object > Mesh Sequence > Advanced panel called Delete Sequence. This operator actually removes all meshes in the sequence from the file and from RAM. There's also an old feature that detects and cleans up "orphaned" meshes when the .blend file is opened.

[schroef]

Aha thats it indeed. Perhaps clear cache makes more sense? The delete sequence deletes everything. Say you done some work on the mesh but do want to make the file lighter when saving. THen clearing the cache would a nice option. Basically you just delete all the data mesh but keep the lists in the collection property so its still has the link. Then on reopening you could either manually initialize so it loads everything back into "memory".

I was just looking at the key mesh addon... I really have the feeling they took your addon as an example. ITs so nice man! I was working on an addon for Read i did download you addon 2 years ago but never looked at it then. This week i bumped my work up to 2.8 and expanded it a bit. After 2 days of fiddling around i did look at your addon and already baffled how well yours works. Only downside i see is when using things which change the mesh on data level. The playback in the viewport isnt that smooth. BUt yours has so much powerful tools i was thinking of adding. Here's a preview of what i got till i kinda gave up on it

I proposed to them to link to your addon, its much better and easier to use.

Concerning that switch mode. It wont be that hard to implement right? I mean basically its calling the operator which does the work from the start. THough i saw your work with collection properties and such to keep track of the files and such. That is perhaps a bit tricky in this case.

Youve done amazing work on this addon!