Particle settings can now be pinned too:

* Particle system's are comparable to texture slots, which can
  only exist within an id block. Particle settings on the other
  hand are idblocks which should be pinnable just like textures.
* When particle settings are pinned only properties that make
  sense without the actual particle system are shown in the
  particle panel.

release/scripts/ui/properties_particle.py

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ from properties_physics_common import basic_force_field_falloff_ui
 
 
 def particle_panel_enabled(context, psys):
+    if psys == None:
+        return True
     phystype = psys.settings.physics_type
     if psys.settings.type in ('EMITTER', 'REACTOR') and phystype in ('NO', 'KEYED'):
         return True
@@ -37,11 +39,24 @@ def particle_panel_enabled(context, psys):
 def particle_panel_poll(cls, context):
     psys = context.particle_system
     engine = context.scene.render.engine
-    if psys is None:
+    settings = 0
+    
+    if psys:
+        settings = psys.settings
+    elif isinstance(context.space_data.pin_id, bpy.types.ParticleSettings):
+        settings = context.space_data.pin_id
+    
+    if not settings:
         return False
-    if psys.settings is None:
-        return False
-    return psys.settings.is_fluid == False and (engine in cls.COMPAT_ENGINES)
+
+    return settings.is_fluid == False and (engine in cls.COMPAT_ENGINES)
+    
+def particle_get_settings(context):
+    if context.particle_system:
+        return context.particle_system.settings
+    elif isinstance(context.space_data.pin_id, bpy.types.ParticleSettings):
+        return context.space_data.pin_id
+    return None
 
 
 class ParticleButtonsPanel():
@@ -62,13 +77,14 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_context_particles(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
     @classmethod
     def poll(cls, context):
         engine = context.scene.render.engine
-        return (context.particle_system or context.object) and (engine in cls.COMPAT_ENGINES)
+        return (context.particle_system or context.object or context.space_data.pin_id) and (engine in cls.COMPAT_ENGINES)
 
     def draw(self, context):
         layout = self.layout
 
         ob = context.object
         psys = context.particle_system
+        part = 0
 
         if ob:
             row = layout.row()
@@ -79,7 +95,21 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_context_particles(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
             col.operator("object.particle_system_add", icon='ZOOMIN', text="")
             col.operator("object.particle_system_remove", icon='ZOOMOUT', text="")
 
-        if psys and not psys.settings:
+        if psys == None:
+            part = particle_get_settings(context)
+            
+            if part == None:
+                return
+                
+            layout.template_ID(context.space_data, "pin_id")
+            
+            if part.is_fluid:
+                layout.label(text="Settings used for fluid.")
+                return
+                
+            layout.prop(part, "type", text="Type")
+        
+        elif not psys.settings:
             split = layout.split(percentage=0.32)
 
             col = split.column()
@@ -89,7 +119,7 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_context_particles(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
             col = split.column()
             col.prop(psys, "name", text="")
             col.template_ID(psys, "settings", new="particle.new")
-        elif psys:
+        else:
             part = psys.settings
 
             split = layout.split(percentage=0.32)
@@ -110,39 +140,39 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_context_particles(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
             #row.label(text="Viewport")
             #row.label(text="Render")
 
-            if part:
-                if part.is_fluid:
-                    layout.label(text=str(part.count) + " fluid particles for this frame.")
-                    return
+            if part.is_fluid:
+                layout.label(text=str(part.count) + " fluid particles for this frame.")
+                return
 
-                row = col.row()
-                row.enabled = particle_panel_enabled(context, psys)
-                row.prop(part, "type", text="")
-                row.prop(psys, "seed")
+            row = col.row()
+            row.enabled = particle_panel_enabled(context, psys)
+            row.prop(part, "type", text="")
+            row.prop(psys, "seed")
 
-                split = layout.split(percentage=0.65)
-                if part.type == 'HAIR':
-                    if psys.is_edited:
-                        split.operator("particle.edited_clear", text="Free Edit")
-                    else:
-                        row = split.row()
-                        row.enabled = particle_panel_enabled(context, psys)
-                        row.prop(part, "regrow_hair")
-                        row.prop(part, "use_advanced_hair")
+        if part:
+            split = layout.split(percentage=0.65)
+            if part.type == 'HAIR':
+                if psys != None and psys.is_edited:
+                    split.operator("particle.edited_clear", text="Free Edit")
+                else:
                     row = split.row()
                     row.enabled = particle_panel_enabled(context, psys)
-                    row.prop(part, "hair_step")
-                    if psys.is_edited:
-                        if psys.is_global_hair:
-                            layout.operator("particle.connect_hair")
-                            layout.label(text="Hair is disconnected.")
-                        else:
-                            layout.operator("particle.disconnect_hair")
-                            layout.label(text="")
-                elif part.type == 'REACTOR':
-                    split.enabled = particle_panel_enabled(context, psys)
-                    split.prop(psys, "reactor_target_object")
-                    split.prop(psys, "reactor_target_particle_system", text="Particle System")
+                    row.prop(part, "regrow_hair")
+                    row.prop(part, "use_advanced_hair")
+                row = split.row()
+                row.enabled = particle_panel_enabled(context, psys)
+                row.prop(part, "hair_step")
+                if psys != None and psys.is_edited:
+                    if psys.is_global_hair:
+                        layout.operator("particle.connect_hair")
+                        layout.label(text="Hair is disconnected.")
+                    else:
+                        layout.operator("particle.disconnect_hair")
+                        layout.label(text="")
+            elif psys != None and part.type == 'REACTOR':
+                split.enabled = particle_panel_enabled(context, psys)
+                split.prop(psys, "reactor_target_object")
+                split.prop(psys, "reactor_target_particle_system", text="Particle System")
 
 
 class PARTICLE_PT_emission(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
@@ -152,23 +182,23 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_emission(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
     @classmethod
     def poll(cls, context):
         psys = context.particle_system
-        if psys is None:
+        settings = particle_get_settings(context)
+
+        if settings is None:
             return False
-        if psys.settings is None:
-            return False
-        if psys.settings.is_fluid:
+        if settings.is_fluid:
             return False
         if particle_panel_poll(PARTICLE_PT_emission, context):
-            return not context.particle_system.point_cache.use_external
+            return psys == None or not context.particle_system.point_cache.use_external
         return False
 
     def draw(self, context):
         layout = self.layout
 
         psys = context.particle_system
-        part = psys.settings
+        part = particle_get_settings(context)
 
-        layout.enabled = particle_panel_enabled(context, psys) and not psys.has_multiple_caches
+        layout.enabled = particle_panel_enabled(context, psys) and (psys == None or not psys.has_multiple_caches)
 
         row = layout.row()
         row.active = part.distribution != 'GRID'
@@ -309,9 +339,11 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_velocity(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
     def poll(cls, context):
         if particle_panel_poll(PARTICLE_PT_velocity, context):
             psys = context.particle_system
-            if psys.settings.type == 'HAIR' and not psys.settings.use_advanced_hair:
+            settings = particle_get_settings(context)
+
+            if settings.type == 'HAIR' and not settings.use_advanced_hair:
                 return False
-            return psys.settings.physics_type != 'BOIDS' and not psys.point_cache.use_external
+            return settings.physics_type != 'BOIDS' and (psys == None or not psys.point_cache.use_external)
         else:
             return False
 
@@ -319,7 +351,7 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_velocity(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
         layout = self.layout
 
         psys = context.particle_system
-        part = psys.settings
+        part = particle_get_settings(context)
 
         layout.enabled = particle_panel_enabled(context, psys)
 
@@ -359,9 +391,11 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_rotation(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
     def poll(cls, context):
         if particle_panel_poll(PARTICLE_PT_rotation, context):
             psys = context.particle_system
-            if psys.settings.type == 'HAIR' and not psys.settings.use_advanced_hair:
+            settings = particle_get_settings(context)
+            
+            if settings.type == 'HAIR' and not settings.use_advanced_hair:
                 return False
-            return psys.settings.physics_type != 'BOIDS' and not psys.point_cache.use_external
+            return settings.physics_type != 'BOIDS' and (psys == None or not psys.point_cache.use_external)
         else:
             return False
 
@@ -369,7 +403,10 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_rotation(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
         layout = self.layout
 
         psys = context.particle_system
-        part = psys.settings
+        if psys:
+            part = psys.settings
+        else:
+            part = context.space_data.pin_id
 
         layout.enabled = particle_panel_enabled(context, psys)
 
@@ -404,9 +441,11 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_physics(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
     def poll(cls, context):
         if particle_panel_poll(PARTICLE_PT_physics, context):
             psys = context.particle_system
-            if psys.settings.type == 'HAIR' and not psys.settings.use_advanced_hair:
+            settings = particle_get_settings(context)
+
+            if settings.type == 'HAIR' and not settings.use_advanced_hair:
                 return False
-            return not psys.point_cache.use_external
+            return psys == None or not psys.point_cache.use_external
         else:
             return False
 
@@ -414,7 +453,7 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_physics(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
         layout = self.layout
 
         psys = context.particle_system
-        part = psys.settings
+        part = particle_get_settings(context)
 
         layout.enabled = particle_panel_enabled(context, psys)
 
@@ -504,7 +543,8 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_physics(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
             col = row.column()
             col.active = not psys.use_keyed_timing
             col.prop(part, "keyed_loops", text="Loops")
-            row.prop(psys, "use_keyed_timing", text="Use Timing")
+            if psys:
+                row.prop(psys, "use_keyed_timing", text="Use Timing")
 
             layout.label(text="Keys:")
         elif part.physics_type == 'BOIDS':
@@ -555,7 +595,7 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_physics(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
             col.prop(boids, "pitch", slider=True)
             col.prop(boids, "height", slider=True)
 
-        if part.physics_type == 'KEYED' or part.physics_type == 'BOIDS' or part.physics_type == 'FLUID':
+        if psys and part.physics_type in ('KEYED', 'BOIDS', 'FLUID'):
             if part.physics_type == 'BOIDS':
                 layout.label(text="Relations:")
             elif part.physics_type == 'FLUID':
@@ -610,19 +650,19 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_boidbrain(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
     @classmethod
     def poll(cls, context):
         psys = context.particle_system
+        settings = particle_get_settings(context)
         engine = context.scene.render.engine
-        if psys is None:
+
+        if settings is None:
             return False
-        if psys.settings is None:
+        if psys != None and psys.point_cache.use_external:
             return False
-        if psys.point_cache.use_external:
-            return False
-        return psys.settings.physics_type == 'BOIDS' and engine in cls.COMPAT_ENGINES
+        return settings.physics_type == 'BOIDS' and engine in cls.COMPAT_ENGINES
 
     def draw(self, context):
         layout = self.layout
 
-        boids = context.particle_system.settings.boids
+        boids = particle_get_settings(context).boids
 
         layout.enabled = particle_panel_enabled(context, context.particle_system)
 
@@ -890,7 +930,7 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_draw(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
         layout = self.layout
 
         psys = context.particle_system
-        part = psys.settings
+        part = particle_get_settings(context)
 
         row = layout.row()
         row.prop(part, "draw_method", expand=True)
@@ -949,7 +989,7 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_children(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
         layout = self.layout
 
         psys = context.particle_system
-        part = psys.settings
+        part = particle_get_settings(context)
 
         layout.row().prop(part, "child_type", expand=True)
 
@@ -964,7 +1004,8 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_children(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
 
         if part.child_type == 'INTERPOLATED':
             col = row.column()
-            col.prop(psys, "child_seed", text="Seed")
+            if psys:
+                col.prop(psys, "child_seed", text="Seed")
             col.prop(part, "virtual_parents", slider=True)
             col.prop(part, "create_long_hair_children")
         else:
@@ -989,7 +1030,8 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_children(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
             sub = col.column(align=True)
             sub.prop(part, "child_radius", text="Radius")
             sub.prop(part, "child_roundness", text="Roundness", slider=True)
-            sub.prop(psys, "child_seed", text="Seed")
+            if psys:
+                sub.prop(psys, "child_seed", text="Seed")
         elif part.virtual_parents > 0.0:
             sub = col.column(align=True)
             sub.label(text="Parting not")
@@ -1044,7 +1086,7 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_field_weights(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
         return particle_panel_poll(cls, context)
 
     def draw(self, context):
-        part = context.particle_system.settings
+        part = particle_get_settings(context)
         effector_weights_ui(self, context, part.effector_weights)
 
         if part.type == 'HAIR':
@@ -1063,7 +1105,7 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_force_fields(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
     def draw(self, context):
         layout = self.layout
 
-        part = context.particle_system.settings
+        part = particle_get_settings(context)
 
         row = layout.row()
         row.prop(part, "use_self_effect")
@@ -1096,6 +1138,8 @@ class PARTICLE_PT_vertexgroups(ParticleButtonsPanel, bpy.types.Panel):
 
     @classmethod
     def poll(cls, context):
+        if context.particle_system == None:
+            return False
         return particle_panel_poll(cls, context)
 
     def draw(self, context):

source/blender/editors/space_buttons/buttons_context.c

@@ -307,7 +307,12 @@ static int buttons_context_path_particle(ButsContextPath *path)
 {
 	Object *ob;
 	ParticleSystem *psys;
+	PointerRNA *ptr= &path->ptr[path->len-1];
 
+	/* if we already have (pinned) particle settings, we're done */
+	if(RNA_struct_is_a(ptr->type, &RNA_ParticleSettings)) {
+		return 1;
+	}
 	/* if we have an object, get the active particle system */
 	if(buttons_context_path_object(path)) {
 		ob= path->ptr[path->len-1].data;
@@ -395,15 +400,25 @@ static int buttons_context_path_texture(ButsContextPath *path)
 	}
 	/* try particles */
 	if((path->tex_ctx == SB_TEXC_PARTICLES) && buttons_context_path_particle(path)) {
-		psys= path->ptr[path->len-1].data;
-
-		if(psys && psys->part && GS(psys->part->id.name)==ID_PA) {
-			tex= give_current_particle_texture(psys->part);
+		if(path->ptr[path->len-1].type == &RNA_ParticleSettings) {
+			ParticleSettings *part = path->ptr[path->len-1].data;
 
+			tex= give_current_particle_texture(part);
 			RNA_id_pointer_create(&tex->id, &path->ptr[path->len]);
 			path->len++;
 			return 1;
 		}
+		else {
+			psys= path->ptr[path->len-1].data;
+
+			if(psys && psys->part && GS(psys->part->id.name)==ID_PA) {
+				tex= give_current_particle_texture(psys->part);
+
+				RNA_id_pointer_create(&tex->id, &path->ptr[path->len]);
+				path->len++;
+				return 1;
+			}
+		}
 	}
 	/* try material */
 	if(buttons_context_path_material(path)) {
@@ -930,6 +945,14 @@ ID *buttons_context_id_path(const bContext *C)
 		for(a=path->len-1; a>=0; a--) {
 			ptr= &path->ptr[a];
 
+			/* pin particle settings instead of system, since only settings are an idblock*/
+			if(sbuts->mainb == BCONTEXT_PARTICLE && sbuts->flag & SB_PIN_CONTEXT) {
+				if(ptr->type == &RNA_ParticleSystem && ptr->data) {
+					ParticleSystem *psys = (ParticleSystem *)ptr->data;
+					return &psys->part->id;
+				}
+			}
+
 			if(ptr->id.data) {
 				return ptr->id.data;
 				break;