Bug: "create unique editable copy "on multiple selected objects ignored

i duplicate/copy an object with a material several times, the material is being copied as an instance which is ok for some work but not for others.

selecting then all the copied objects to give each a unique material by clicking on the “create a unique editable copy” flag in the properties material does not work for all, i still have to click through every single one individually.

when you want to create a lot of colour variations that is incredibly tedious, i am not sure if that is a bug but if not then i strongly believe that would make a lot of sense.

though it indicates in the properties when one of the materials is already unlinked the flag disappears and reappears when i deactivate that.

Thing is that a new unique material is created, but for all those objects that are selected. I believe this is how it has been designed to work.

  1. create a box
  2. assign a material
  3. make five copies of the box
  4. select all six boxes
  5. note there is no “Create a unique editable copy”
  6. select two boxes
  7. note there is now the “Create a unique editable copy”
  8. click the “Create a unique editable copy”
  9. note there is a new material now, and the “Create a unique editable copy” has disappeared (Why? Because all objects with the same material have been selected)
  10. unselect everything
  11. select one of the two boxes previously selected
  12. note the “Create a unique editable copy”
  13. add the other of the previously selected boxes to the selection
  14. note the “Create a unique editable copy” disappears. (Why? Because all objects with the same material have been selected)
  15. unselect everything
  16. select three different boxes from the previous selection
  17. note the “Create a unique editable copy” is visible
  18. add the fourth box that was not in the previous selections to the selection
  19. note the “Create a unique editable copy” disappears
  20. remove the fourth box from the selection
  21. click the reappearing “Create a unique editable copy”
  22. note a new material is created and “Create a unique editable copy” has disappeared (Why? All objects with that new material have been selected)

The “Create a unique and editable copy” action appears only when a subselection of objects assigned a particular material has been made.

If you want to randomize materials in bulk you are probably better of scripting it?