source/blender/asset_system/AS_asset_representation.h

@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ const char *AS_asset_representation_name_get(const AssetRepresentation *asset)
     ATTR_WARN_UNUSED_RESULT;
 AssetMetaData *AS_asset_representation_metadata_get(const AssetRepresentation *asset)
     ATTR_WARN_UNUSED_RESULT;
+struct ID *AS_asset_representation_local_id_get(const AssetRepresentation *asset)
+    ATTR_WARN_UNUSED_RESULT;
 bool AS_asset_representation_is_local_id(const AssetRepresentation *asset) ATTR_WARN_UNUSED_RESULT;
 bool AS_asset_representation_is_never_link(const AssetRepresentation *asset)
     ATTR_WARN_UNUSED_RESULT;

source/blender/asset_system/AS_asset_representation.hh

@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@ class AssetRepresentation {
    * #get_import_method(). Also returns true if there is no predefined import method
    * (when #get_import_method() returns no value). */
   bool may_override_import_method() const;
+  /** If this asset is stored inside this current file (#is_local_id() is true), this returns the
+   * ID's pointer, otherwise null. */
+  ID *local_id() const;
   /** Returns if this asset is stored inside this current file, and as such fully editable. */
   bool is_local_id() const;
   const AssetLibrary &owner_asset_library() const;

source/blender/asset_system/intern/asset_representation.cc

@@ -97,6 +97,11 @@ bool AssetRepresentation::may_override_import_method() const
   return owner_asset_library_->may_override_import_method_;
 }
 
+ID *AssetRepresentation::local_id() const
+{
+  return is_local_id_ ? local_asset_id_ : nullptr;
+}
+
 bool AssetRepresentation::is_local_id() const
 {
   return is_local_id_;
@@ -159,6 +164,13 @@ AssetMetaData *AS_asset_representation_metadata_get(const AssetRepresentation *a
   return &asset->get_metadata();
 }
 
+ID *AS_asset_representation_local_id_get(const AssetRepresentation *asset_handle)
+{
+  const asset_system::AssetRepresentation *asset =
+      reinterpret_cast<const asset_system::AssetRepresentation *>(asset_handle);
+  return asset->local_id();
+}
+
 bool AS_asset_representation_is_local_id(const AssetRepresentation *asset_handle)
 {
   const asset_system::AssetRepresentation *asset =

source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_context.h

@@ -381,6 +381,8 @@ bool CTX_data_editable_gpencil_strokes(const bContext *C, ListBase *list);
 const struct AssetLibraryReference *CTX_wm_asset_library_ref(const bContext *C);
 struct AssetHandle CTX_wm_asset_handle(const bContext *C, bool *r_is_valid);
 
+struct AssetRepresentation *CTX_wm_asset(const bContext *C);
+
 bool CTX_wm_interface_locked(const bContext *C);
 
 /**

source/blender/blenkernel/intern/context.cc

@@ -1493,6 +1493,11 @@ AssetHandle CTX_wm_asset_handle(const bContext *C, bool *r_is_valid)
   return AssetHandle{nullptr};
 }
 
+AssetRepresentation *CTX_wm_asset(const bContext *C)
+{
+  return static_cast<AssetRepresentation *>(ctx_data_pointer_get(C, "asset"));
+}
+
 Depsgraph *CTX_data_depsgraph_pointer(const bContext *C)
 {
   Main *bmain = CTX_data_main(C);

source/blender/editors/asset/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ set(SRC
   intern/asset_catalog.cc
   intern/asset_filter.cc
   intern/asset_handle.cc
+  intern/asset_import.cc
   intern/asset_indexer.cc
   intern/asset_library_reference.cc
   intern/asset_library_reference_enum.cc
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ set(SRC
   ED_asset_catalog.hh
   ED_asset_filter.h
   ED_asset_handle.h
+  ED_asset_import.h
   ED_asset_indexer.h
   ED_asset_library.h
   ED_asset_list.h

source/blender/editors/asset/ED_asset_handle.h

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ extern "C" {
 
 struct AssetHandle;
 
+struct AssetRepresentation *ED_asset_handle_get_representation(const struct AssetHandle *asset);
 const char *ED_asset_handle_get_name(const struct AssetHandle *asset);
 struct AssetMetaData *ED_asset_handle_get_metadata(const struct AssetHandle *asset);
 struct ID *ED_asset_handle_get_local_id(const struct AssetHandle *asset);
@@ -45,11 +46,4 @@ void ED_asset_handle_get_full_library_path(
 std::optional<eAssetImportMethod> ED_asset_handle_get_import_method(
     const struct AssetHandle *asset);
 
-namespace blender::ed::asset {
-
-/** If the ID already exists in the database, return it, otherwise add it. */
-ID *get_local_id_from_asset_or_append_and_reuse(Main &bmain, AssetHandle asset);
-
-}  // namespace blender::ed::asset
-
 #endif

source/blender/editors/asset/ED_asset_import.h

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later */
+
+/** \file
+ * \ingroup edasset
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "DNA_ID_enums.h"
+
+struct AssetRepresentation;
+struct Main;
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+struct ID *ED_asset_get_local_id_from_asset_or_append_and_reuse(
+    struct Main *bmain, const struct AssetRepresentation *asset_c_ptr, ID_Type idtype);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif

source/blender/editors/asset/ED_asset_list.h

@@ -6,11 +6,12 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include "DNA_asset_types.h"
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
-struct AssetHandle;
 struct AssetLibraryReference;
 struct ID;
 struct bContext;
@@ -49,6 +50,9 @@ void ED_assetlist_storage_id_remap(struct ID *id_old, struct ID *id_new);
  */
 void ED_assetlist_storage_exit(void);
 
+AssetHandle ED_assetlist_asset_get_by_index(const AssetLibraryReference *library_reference,
+                                            int asset_index);
+
 struct ImBuf *ED_assetlist_asset_image_get(const AssetHandle *asset_handle);
 
 /**

source/blender/editors/asset/ED_asset_list.hh

@@ -30,4 +30,8 @@ blender::asset_system::AssetLibrary *ED_assetlist_library_get_once_available(
 
 /* Can return false to stop iterating. */
 using AssetListIterFn = blender::FunctionRef<bool(AssetHandle)>;
+/**
+ * \warning Never keep the asset handle passed to \a fn outside of \a fn's scope. While iterating,
+ * the file data wrapped by the asset handle can be freed, since the file cache has a maximum size.
+ */
 void ED_assetlist_iterate(const AssetLibraryReference &library_reference, AssetListIterFn fn);

source/blender/editors/asset/intern/asset_handle.cc

@@ -9,13 +9,16 @@
 #include "AS_asset_representation.h"
 #include "AS_asset_representation.hh"
 
-#include "DNA_space_types.h"
+#include "BLI_string.h"
 
-#include "BLO_readfile.h"
+#include "DNA_space_types.h"
 
 #include "ED_asset_handle.h"
 
-#include "WM_api.h"
+AssetRepresentation *ED_asset_handle_get_representation(const AssetHandle *asset)
+{
+  return asset->file_data->asset;
+}
 
 const char *ED_asset_handle_get_name(const AssetHandle *asset)
 {
@@ -53,36 +56,11 @@ void ED_asset_handle_get_full_library_path(const AssetHandle *asset_handle,
 {
   *r_full_lib_path = '\0';
 
-  std::string asset_path = AS_asset_representation_full_path_get(asset_handle->file_data->asset);
+  std::string library_path = AS_asset_representation_full_library_path_get(
-  if (asset_path.empty()) {
+      asset_handle->file_data->asset);
+  if (library_path.empty()) {
     return;
   }
 
-  BLO_library_path_explode(asset_path.c_str(), r_full_lib_path, nullptr, nullptr);
+  BLI_strncpy(r_full_lib_path, library_path.c_str(), FILE_MAX);
 }
-
-namespace blender::ed::asset {
-
-ID *get_local_id_from_asset_or_append_and_reuse(Main &bmain, const AssetHandle asset)
-{
-  if (ID *local_id = ED_asset_handle_get_local_id(&asset)) {
-    return local_id;
-  }
-
-  char blend_path[FILE_MAX_LIBEXTRA];
-  ED_asset_handle_get_full_library_path(&asset, blend_path);
-  const char *id_name = ED_asset_handle_get_name(&asset);
-
-  return WM_file_append_datablock(&bmain,
-                                  nullptr,
-                                  nullptr,
-                                  nullptr,
-                                  blend_path,
-                                  ED_asset_handle_get_id_type(&asset),
-                                  id_name,
-                                  BLO_LIBLINK_APPEND_RECURSIVE |
-                                      BLO_LIBLINK_APPEND_ASSET_DATA_CLEAR |
-                                      BLO_LIBLINK_APPEND_LOCAL_ID_REUSE);
-}
-
-}  // namespace blender::ed::asset

source/blender/editors/asset/intern/asset_import.cc

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later */
+
+/** \file
+ * \ingroup edasset
+ */
+
+#include "AS_asset_representation.h"
+#include "AS_asset_representation.hh"
+
+#include "BLO_readfile.h"
+
+#include "WM_api.h"
+
+#include "ED_asset_import.h"
+
+using namespace blender;
+
+ID *ED_asset_get_local_id_from_asset_or_append_and_reuse(Main *bmain,
+                                                         const AssetRepresentation *asset_c_ptr,
+                                                         ID_Type idtype)
+{
+  const asset_system::AssetRepresentation &asset =
+      *reinterpret_cast<const asset_system::AssetRepresentation *>(asset_c_ptr);
+
+  if (ID *local_id = asset.local_id()) {
+    return local_id;
+  }
+
+  std::string blend_path = asset.get_identifier().full_library_path();
+  if (blend_path.empty()) {
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+
+  return WM_file_append_datablock(bmain,
+                                  nullptr,
+                                  nullptr,
+                                  nullptr,
+                                  blend_path.c_str(),
+                                  idtype,
+                                  asset.get_name().c_str(),
+                                  BLO_LIBLINK_APPEND_RECURSIVE |
+                                      BLO_LIBLINK_APPEND_ASSET_DATA_CLEAR |
+                                      BLO_LIBLINK_APPEND_LOCAL_ID_REUSE);
+}

source/blender/editors/asset/intern/asset_list.cc

@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ class AssetList : NonCopyable {
   void ensurePreviewsJob(const bContext *C);
   void clear(bContext *C);
 
+  AssetHandle asset_get_by_index(int index) const;
+
   bool needsRefetch() const;
   bool isLoaded() const;
   asset_system::AssetLibrary *asset_library() const;
@@ -139,7 +141,7 @@ void AssetList::setup()
   filelist_setlibrary(files, &library_ref_);
   filelist_setfilter_options(
       files,
-      false,
+      true,
       true,
       true, /* Just always hide parent, prefer to not add an extra user option for this. */
       FILE_TYPE_BLENDERLIB,
@@ -246,6 +248,11 @@ void AssetList::clear(bContext *C)
   WM_main_add_notifier(NC_ASSET | ND_ASSET_LIST, nullptr);
 }
 
+AssetHandle AssetList::asset_get_by_index(int index) const
+{
+  return {filelist_file(filelist_, index)};
+}
+
 /**
  * \return True if the asset-list needs a UI redraw.
  */
@@ -472,6 +479,13 @@ asset_system::AssetLibrary *ED_assetlist_library_get_once_available(
   return list->asset_library();
 }
 
+AssetHandle ED_assetlist_asset_get_by_index(const AssetLibraryReference *library_reference,
+                                            int asset_index)
+{
+  const AssetList *list = AssetListStorage::lookup_list(*library_reference);
+  return list->asset_get_by_index(asset_index);
+}
+
 ImBuf *ED_assetlist_asset_image_get(const AssetHandle *asset_handle)
 {
   ImBuf *imbuf = filelist_file_getimage(asset_handle->file_data);

source/blender/editors/asset/intern/asset_temp_id_consumer.cc

@@ -8,9 +8,15 @@
  */
 
 #include <new>
+#include <string>
+
+#include "AS_asset_representation.h"
+#include "AS_asset_representation.hh"
 
 #include "DNA_space_types.h"
 
+#include "ED_asset.h"
+
 #include "BKE_report.h"
 
 #include "BLI_utility_mixins.hh"
@@ -19,17 +25,16 @@
 
 #include "MEM_guardedalloc.h"
 
-#include "ED_asset_handle.h"
 #include "ED_asset_temp_id_consumer.h"
 
 using namespace blender;
 
 class AssetTemporaryIDConsumer : NonCopyable, NonMovable {
-  const AssetHandle &handle_;
+  const AssetRepresentation *asset_;
   TempLibraryContext *temp_lib_context_ = nullptr;
 
  public:
-  AssetTemporaryIDConsumer(const AssetHandle &handle) : handle_(handle)
+  AssetTemporaryIDConsumer(const AssetRepresentation *asset) : asset_(asset)
   {
   }
   ~AssetTemporaryIDConsumer()
@@ -41,20 +46,20 @@ class AssetTemporaryIDConsumer : NonCopyable, NonMovable {
 
   ID *get_local_id()
   {
-    return ED_asset_handle_get_local_id(&handle_);
+    return AS_asset_representation_local_id_get(asset_);
   }
 
   ID *import_id(ID_Type id_type, Main &bmain, ReportList &reports)
   {
-    const char *asset_name = ED_asset_handle_get_name(&handle_);
+    const char *asset_name = AS_asset_representation_name_get(asset_);
-    char blend_file_path[FILE_MAX_LIBEXTRA];
+    std::string blend_file_path = AS_asset_representation_full_library_path_get(asset_);
-    ED_asset_handle_get_full_library_path(&handle_, blend_file_path);
 
     temp_lib_context_ = BLO_library_temp_load_id(
-        &bmain, blend_file_path, id_type, asset_name, &reports);
+        &bmain, blend_file_path.c_str(), id_type, asset_name, &reports);
 
     if (temp_lib_context_ == nullptr || temp_lib_context_->temp_id == nullptr) {
-      BKE_reportf(&reports, RPT_ERROR, "Unable to load %s from %s", asset_name, blend_file_path);
+      BKE_reportf(
+          &reports, RPT_ERROR, "Unable to load %s from %s", asset_name, blend_file_path.c_str());
       return nullptr;
     }
 
@@ -70,7 +75,7 @@ AssetTempIDConsumer *ED_asset_temp_id_consumer_create(const AssetHandle *handle)
   }
   BLI_assert(handle->file_data->asset != nullptr);
   return reinterpret_cast<AssetTempIDConsumer *>(
-      MEM_new<AssetTemporaryIDConsumer>(__func__, *handle));
+      MEM_new<AssetTemporaryIDConsumer>(__func__, ED_asset_handle_get_representation(handle)));
 }
 
 void ED_asset_temp_id_consumer_free(AssetTempIDConsumer **consumer)

source/blender/editors/include/ED_asset.h

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ void ED_operatortypes_asset(void);
 #include "../asset/ED_asset_catalog.h"
 #include "../asset/ED_asset_filter.h"
 #include "../asset/ED_asset_handle.h"
+#include "../asset/ED_asset_import.h"
 #include "../asset/ED_asset_library.h"
 #include "../asset/ED_asset_list.h"
 #include "../asset/ED_asset_mark_clear.h"

source/blender/editors/include/UI_interface.hh

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #include <memory>
 
+#include "BLI_function_ref.hh"
 #include "BLI_string_ref.hh"
 #include "BLI_vector.hh"
 
@@ -17,8 +18,10 @@ namespace blender::nodes::geo_eval_log {
 struct GeometryAttributeInfo;
 }
 
+struct PointerRNA;
 struct StructRNA;
 struct uiBlock;
+struct uiList;
 struct uiSearchItems;
 
 namespace blender::ui {
@@ -53,6 +56,60 @@ void attribute_search_add_items(StringRefNull str,
 
 }  // namespace blender::ui
 
+enum eUIListFilterResult {
+  /** Never show this item, even when filter results are inverted (#UILST_FLT_EXCLUDE). */
+  UI_LIST_ITEM_NEVER_SHOW,
+  /** Show this item, unless filter results are inverted (#UILST_FLT_EXCLUDE). */
+  UI_LIST_ITEM_FILTER_MATCHES,
+  /** Don't show this item, unless filter results are inverted (#UILST_FLT_EXCLUDE). */
+  UI_LIST_ITEM_FILTER_MISMATCHES,
+};
+
+/**
+ * Function object for UI list item filtering that does the default name comparison with '*'
+ * wildcards. Create an instance of this once and pass it to #UI_list_filter_and_sort_items(), do
+ * NOT create an instance for every item, this would be costly.
+ */
+class uiListNameFilter {
+  /* Storage with an inline buffer for smaller strings (small buffer optimization). */
+  struct {
+    char filter_buff[32];
+    char *filter_dyn = nullptr;
+  } storage_;
+  char *filter_ = nullptr;
+
+ public:
+  uiListNameFilter(uiList &list);
+  ~uiListNameFilter();
+
+  eUIListFilterResult operator()(const PointerRNA &itemptr,
+                                 blender::StringRefNull name,
+                                 int index);
+};
+
+using uiListItemFilterFn = blender::FunctionRef<eUIListFilterResult(
+    const PointerRNA &itemptr, blender::StringRefNull name, int index)>;
+using uiListItemGetNameFn =
+    blender::FunctionRef<std::string(const PointerRNA &itemptr, int index)>;
+
+/**
+ * Filter list items using \a item_filter_fn and sort the result. This respects the normal UI list
+ * filter settings like alphabetical sorting (#UILST_FLT_SORT_ALPHA), and result inverting
+ * (#UILST_FLT_EXCLUDE).
+ *
+ * Call this from a #uiListType::filter_items callback with any #item_filter_fn. #uiListNameFilter
+ * can be used to apply the default name based filtering.
+ *
+ * \param get_name_fn: In some cases the name cannot be retrieved via RNA. This function can be set
+ *                     to provide the name still.
+ */
+void UI_list_filter_and_sort_items(uiList *ui_list,
+                                   const struct bContext *C,
+                                   uiListItemFilterFn item_filter_fn,
+                                   PointerRNA *dataptr,
+                                   const char *propname,
+                                   uiListItemGetNameFn get_name_fn = nullptr);
+
 /**
  * Override this for all available view types.
  */

source/blender/editors/interface/interface_template_asset_view.cc

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "RNA_prototypes.h"
 
 #include "UI_interface.h"
+#include "UI_interface.hh"
 
 #include "WM_api.h"
 #include "WM_types.h"
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@
 
 struct AssetViewListData {
   AssetLibraryReference asset_library_ref;
+  AssetFilterSettings filter_settings;
   bScreen *screen;
   bool show_names;
 };
@@ -45,8 +47,6 @@ static void asset_view_item_but_drag_set(uiBut *but, AssetHandle *asset_handle)
   }
 
   char blend_path[FILE_MAX_LIBEXTRA];
-  /* Context can be null here, it's only needed for a File Browser specific hack that should go
-   * away before too long. */
   ED_asset_handle_get_full_library_path(asset_handle, blend_path);
 
   const eAssetImportMethod import_method =
@@ -68,19 +68,23 @@ static void asset_view_draw_item(uiList *ui_list,
                                  const bContext * /*C*/,
                                  uiLayout *layout,
                                  PointerRNA * /*dataptr*/,
-                                 PointerRNA *itemptr,
+                                 PointerRNA * /*itemptr*/,
                                  int /*icon*/,
                                  PointerRNA * /*active_dataptr*/,
                                  const char * /*active_propname*/,
-                                 int /*index*/,
+                                 int index,
                                  int /*flt_flag*/)
 {
   AssetViewListData *list_data = (AssetViewListData *)ui_list->dyn_data->customdata;
 
-  BLI_assert(RNA_struct_is_a(itemptr->type, &RNA_AssetHandle));
+  AssetHandle asset_handle = ED_assetlist_asset_get_by_index(&list_data->asset_library_ref, index);
-  AssetHandle *asset_handle = (AssetHandle *)itemptr->data;
 
-  uiLayoutSetContextPointer(layout, "asset_handle", itemptr);
+  PointerRNA file_ptr;
+  RNA_pointer_create(&list_data->screen->id,
+                     &RNA_FileSelectEntry,
+                     const_cast<FileDirEntry *>(asset_handle.file_data),
+                     &file_ptr);
+  uiLayoutSetContextPointer(layout, "active_file", &file_ptr);
 
   uiBlock *block = uiLayoutGetBlock(layout);
   const bool show_names = list_data->show_names;
@@ -90,8 +94,8 @@ static void asset_view_draw_item(uiList *ui_list,
   uiBut *but = uiDefIconTextBut(block,
                                 UI_BTYPE_PREVIEW_TILE,
                                 0,
-                                ED_asset_handle_get_preview_icon_id(asset_handle),
+                                ED_asset_handle_get_preview_icon_id(&asset_handle),
-                                show_names ? ED_asset_handle_get_name(asset_handle) : "",
+                                show_names ? ED_asset_handle_get_name(&asset_handle) : "",
                                 0,
                                 0,
                                 size_x,
@@ -103,14 +107,43 @@ static void asset_view_draw_item(uiList *ui_list,
                                 0,
                                 "");
   ui_def_but_icon(but,
-                  ED_asset_handle_get_preview_icon_id(asset_handle),
+                  ED_asset_handle_get_preview_icon_id(&asset_handle),
                   /* NOLINTNEXTLINE: bugprone-suspicious-enum-usage */
                   UI_HAS_ICON | UI_BUT_ICON_PREVIEW);
   if (!ui_list->dyn_data->custom_drag_optype) {
-    asset_view_item_but_drag_set(but, asset_handle);
+    asset_view_item_but_drag_set(but, &asset_handle);
   }
 }
 
+static void asset_view_filter_items(uiList *ui_list,
+                                    const bContext *C,
+                                    PointerRNA *dataptr,
+                                    const char *propname)
+{
+  AssetViewListData *list_data = (AssetViewListData *)ui_list->dyn_data->customdata;
+  AssetFilterSettings &filter_settings = list_data->filter_settings;
+
+  uiListNameFilter name_filter(*ui_list);
+
+  UI_list_filter_and_sort_items(
+      ui_list,
+      C,
+      [&name_filter, list_data, &filter_settings](
+          const PointerRNA &itemptr, blender::StringRefNull name, int index) {
+        AssetHandle asset = ED_assetlist_asset_get_by_index(&list_data->asset_library_ref, index);
+        if (!ED_asset_filter_matches_asset(&filter_settings, &asset)) {
+          return UI_LIST_ITEM_NEVER_SHOW;
+        }
+        return name_filter(itemptr, name, index);
+      },
+      dataptr,
+      propname,
+      [list_data](const PointerRNA & /*itemptr*/, int index) -> std::string {
+        AssetHandle asset = ED_assetlist_asset_get_by_index(&list_data->asset_library_ref, index);
+        return ED_asset_handle_get_name(&asset);
+      });
+}
+
 static void asset_view_listener(uiList *ui_list, wmRegionListenerParams *params)
 {
   AssetViewListData *list_data = (AssetViewListData *)ui_list->dyn_data->customdata;
@@ -136,14 +169,13 @@ uiListType *UI_UL_asset_view()
 
   BLI_strncpy(list_type->idname, "UI_UL_asset_view", sizeof(list_type->idname));
   list_type->draw_item = asset_view_draw_item;
+  list_type->filter_items = asset_view_filter_items;
   list_type->listener = asset_view_listener;
 
   return list_type;
 }
 
-static void asset_view_template_refresh_asset_collection(
+static void populate_asset_collection(const AssetLibraryReference &asset_library_ref,
-    const AssetLibraryReference &asset_library_ref,
-    const AssetFilterSettings &filter_settings,
                                       PointerRNA &assets_dataptr,
                                       const char *assets_propname)
 {
@@ -164,17 +196,15 @@ static void asset_view_template_refresh_asset_collection(
 
   RNA_property_collection_clear(&assets_dataptr, assets_prop);
 
-  ED_assetlist_iterate(asset_library_ref, [&](AssetHandle asset) {
+  ED_assetlist_iterate(asset_library_ref, [&](AssetHandle /*asset*/) {
-    if (!ED_asset_filter_matches_asset(&filter_settings, &asset)) {
+    /* XXX creating a dummy #RNA_AssetHandle collection item. It's #file_data will be null. This is
-      /* Don't do anything else, but return true to continue iterating. */
+     * because the #FileDirEntry may be freed while iterating, there's a cache for them with a
-      return true;
+     * maximum size. Further code will query as needed it using the collection index. */
-    }
 
     PointerRNA itemptr, fileptr;
     RNA_property_collection_add(&assets_dataptr, assets_prop, &itemptr);
 
-    RNA_pointer_create(
+    RNA_pointer_create(nullptr, &RNA_FileSelectEntry, nullptr, &fileptr);
-        nullptr, &RNA_FileSelectEntry, const_cast<FileDirEntry *>(asset.file_data), &fileptr);
     RNA_pointer_set(&itemptr, "file_data", fileptr);
 
     return true;
@@ -221,12 +251,12 @@ void uiTemplateAssetView(uiLayout *layout,
   ED_assetlist_ensure_previews_job(&asset_library_ref, C);
   const int tot_items = ED_assetlist_size(&asset_library_ref);
 
-  asset_view_template_refresh_asset_collection(
+  populate_asset_collection(asset_library_ref, *assets_dataptr, assets_propname);
-      asset_library_ref, *filter_settings, *assets_dataptr, assets_propname);
 
   AssetViewListData *list_data = (AssetViewListData *)MEM_mallocN(sizeof(*list_data),
                                                                   "AssetViewListData");
   list_data->asset_library_ref = asset_library_ref;
+  list_data->filter_settings = *filter_settings;
   list_data->screen = CTX_wm_screen(C);
   list_data->show_names = (display_flags & UI_TEMPLATE_ASSET_DRAW_NO_NAMES) == 0;
 

source/blender/editors/interface/interface_template_list.cc

@@ -8,9 +8,11 @@
 #include <cstring>
 
 #include "BLI_fnmatch.h"
+#include "BLI_function_ref.hh"
 #include "BLI_listbase.h"
 #include "BLI_math_base.h"
 #include "BLI_string.h"
+#include "BLI_string_ref.hh"
 #include "BLI_utildefines.h"
 
 #include "BKE_screen.h"
@@ -26,12 +28,15 @@
 #include "RNA_prototypes.h"
 
 #include "UI_interface.h"
+#include "UI_interface.hh"
 #include "UI_view2d.h"
 
 #include "WM_api.h"
 
 #include "interface_intern.hh"
 
+using namespace blender;
+
 /**
  * The validated data that was passed to #uiTemplateList (typically through Python).
  * Populated through #ui_template_list_data_retrieve().
@@ -148,6 +153,45 @@ static void uilist_draw_filter_default(struct uiList *ui_list,
   }
 }
 
+uiListNameFilter::uiListNameFilter(uiList &list)
+{
+  const char *filter_raw = list.filter_byname;
+
+  if (filter_raw[0]) {
+    const size_t slen = strlen(filter_raw);
+
+    /* Implicitly add heading/trailing wildcards if needed. */
+    if (slen + 3 <= sizeof(storage_.filter_buff)) {
+      filter_ = storage_.filter_buff;
+    }
+    else {
+      filter_ = storage_.filter_dyn = static_cast<char *>(
+          MEM_mallocN((slen + 3) * sizeof(char), "filter_dyn"));
+    }
+    BLI_strncpy_ensure_pad(filter_, filter_raw, '*', slen + 3);
+  }
+}
+
+uiListNameFilter::~uiListNameFilter()
+{
+  MEM_SAFE_FREE(storage_.filter_dyn);
+}
+
+eUIListFilterResult uiListNameFilter::operator()(const PointerRNA & /* itemptr */,
+                                                 StringRefNull name,
+                                                 int /* index */)
+{
+  if (!filter_) {
+    return UI_LIST_ITEM_FILTER_MATCHES;
+  }
+
+  /* Case-insensitive! */
+  if (fnmatch(filter_, name.c_str(), FNM_CASEFOLD) == 0) {
+    return UI_LIST_ITEM_FILTER_MATCHES;
+  }
+  return UI_LIST_ITEM_FILTER_MISMATCHES;
+}
+
 struct StringCmp {
   char name[MAX_IDPROP_NAME];
   int org_idx;
@@ -159,16 +203,16 @@ static int cmpstringp(const void *p1, const void *p2)
   return BLI_strcasecmp(((StringCmp *)p1)->name, ((StringCmp *)p2)->name);
 }
 
-static void uilist_filter_items_default(struct uiList *ui_list,
+void UI_list_filter_and_sort_items(uiList *ui_list,
-                                        const struct bContext * /*C*/,
+                                   const bContext * /*C*/,
-                                        struct PointerRNA *dataptr,
+                                   uiListItemFilterFn item_filter_fn,
-                                        const char *propname)
+                                   PointerRNA *dataptr,
+                                   const char *propname,
+                                   uiListItemGetNameFn get_name_fn)
 {
   uiListDyn *dyn_data = ui_list->dyn_data;
   PropertyRNA *prop = RNA_struct_find_property(dataptr, propname);
 
-  const char *filter_raw = ui_list->filter_byname;
-  char *filter = (char *)filter_raw, filter_buff[32], *filter_dyn = nullptr;
   const bool filter_exclude = (ui_list->filter_flag & UILST_FLT_EXCLUDE) != 0;
   const bool order_by_name = (ui_list->filter_sort_flag & UILST_FLT_SORT_MASK) ==
                              UILST_FLT_SORT_ALPHA;
@@ -176,41 +220,26 @@ static void uilist_filter_items_default(struct uiList *ui_list,
 
   dyn_data->items_shown = dyn_data->items_len = len;
 
-  if (len && (order_by_name || filter_raw[0])) {
+  if (len && (order_by_name || item_filter_fn)) {
     StringCmp *names = nullptr;
     int order_idx = 0, i = 0;
 
     if (order_by_name) {
       names = static_cast<StringCmp *>(MEM_callocN(sizeof(StringCmp) * len, "StringCmp"));
     }
-    if (filter_raw[0]) {
-      const size_t slen = strlen(filter_raw);
 
+    if (item_filter_fn) {
       dyn_data->items_filter_flags = static_cast<int *>(
           MEM_callocN(sizeof(int) * len, "items_filter_flags"));
       dyn_data->items_shown = 0;
-
-      /* Implicitly add heading/trailing wildcards if needed. */
-      if (slen + 3 <= sizeof(filter_buff)) {
-        filter = filter_buff;
-      }
-      else {
-        filter = filter_dyn = static_cast<char *>(
-            MEM_mallocN((slen + 3) * sizeof(char), "filter_dyn"));
-      }
-      BLI_strncpy_ensure_pad(filter, filter_raw, '*', slen + 3);
     }
 
     RNA_PROP_BEGIN (dataptr, itemptr, prop) {
       bool do_order = false;
 
       char *namebuf;
-      if (RNA_struct_is_a(itemptr.type, &RNA_AssetHandle)) {
+      if (get_name_fn) {
-        /* XXX The AssetHandle design is hacky and meant to be temporary. It can't have a proper
+        namebuf = BLI_strdup(get_name_fn(itemptr, i).c_str());
-         * name property, so for now this hardcoded exception is needed. */
-        AssetHandle *asset_handle = (AssetHandle *)itemptr.data;
-        const char *asset_name = ED_asset_handle_get_name(asset_handle);
-        namebuf = BLI_strdup(asset_name);
       }
       else {
         namebuf = RNA_struct_name_get_alloc(&itemptr, nullptr, 0, nullptr);
@@ -218,9 +247,13 @@ static void uilist_filter_items_default(struct uiList *ui_list,
 
       const char *name = namebuf ? namebuf : "";
 
-      if (filter[0]) {
+      if (item_filter_fn) {
-        /* Case-insensitive! */
+        const eUIListFilterResult filter_result = item_filter_fn(itemptr, name, i);
-        if (fnmatch(filter, name, FNM_CASEFOLD) == 0) {
+
+        if (filter_result == UI_LIST_ITEM_NEVER_SHOW) {
+          /* Pass. */
+        }
+        else if (filter_result == UI_LIST_ITEM_FILTER_MATCHES) {
           dyn_data->items_filter_flags[i] = UILST_FLT_ITEM;
           if (!filter_exclude) {
             dyn_data->items_shown++;
@@ -266,15 +299,30 @@ static void uilist_filter_items_default(struct uiList *ui_list,
       }
     }
 
-    if (filter_dyn) {
-      MEM_freeN(filter_dyn);
-    }
     if (names) {
       MEM_freeN(names);
     }
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Default UI List filtering: Filter by name.
+ */
+static void uilist_filter_items_default(struct uiList *ui_list,
+                                        const struct bContext *C,
+                                        struct PointerRNA *dataptr,
+                                        const char *propname)
+{
+  if (ui_list->filter_byname[0]) {
+    uiListNameFilter name_filter(*ui_list);
+    UI_list_filter_and_sort_items(ui_list, C, name_filter, dataptr, propname);
+  }
+  /* Optimization: Skip filtering entirely when there is no filter string set. */
+  else {
+    UI_list_filter_and_sort_items(ui_list, C, nullptr, dataptr, propname);
+  }
+}
+
 static void uilist_free_dyn_data(uiList *ui_list)
 {
   uiListDyn *dyn_data = ui_list->dyn_data;

source/blender/editors/space_node/add_menu_assets.cc

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "AS_asset_catalog.hh"
 #include "AS_asset_catalog_tree.hh"
 #include "AS_asset_library.hh"
+#include "AS_asset_representation.h"
 
 #include "BLI_multi_value_map.hh"
 
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ static void node_add_menu_assets_listen_fn(const wmRegionListenerParams *params)
 
 struct LibraryAsset {
   AssetLibraryReference library_ref;
-  AssetHandle handle;
+  AssetRepresentation &asset;
 };
 
 struct AssetItemTree {
@@ -93,11 +94,11 @@ static AssetItemTree build_catalog_tree(const bContext &C, const bNodeTree *node
     return {};
   }
 
-  ED_assetlist_iterate(all_library_ref, [&](AssetHandle asset) {
+  ED_assetlist_iterate(all_library_ref, [&](AssetHandle asset_handle) {
-    if (!ED_asset_filter_matches_asset(&type_filter, &asset)) {
+    if (!ED_asset_filter_matches_asset(&type_filter, &asset_handle)) {
       return true;
     }
-    const AssetMetaData &meta_data = *ED_asset_handle_get_metadata(&asset);
+    const AssetMetaData &meta_data = *ED_asset_handle_get_metadata(&asset_handle);
     const IDProperty *tree_type = BKE_asset_metadata_idprop_find(&meta_data, "type");
     if (tree_type == nullptr || IDP_Int(tree_type) != node_tree->type) {
       return true;
@@ -111,7 +112,8 @@ static AssetItemTree build_catalog_tree(const bContext &C, const bNodeTree *node
     if (catalog == nullptr) {
       return true;
     }
-    assets_per_path.add(catalog->path, LibraryAsset{all_library_ref, asset});
+    AssetRepresentation *asset = ED_asset_handle_get_representation(&asset_handle);
+    assets_per_path.add(catalog->path, LibraryAsset{all_library_ref, *asset});
     return true;
   });
 
@@ -178,16 +180,17 @@ static void node_add_catalog_assets_draw(const bContext *C, Menu *menu)
 
   for (const LibraryAsset &item : asset_items) {
     uiLayout *col = uiLayoutColumn(layout, false);
-    PointerRNA file{
+
-        &screen.id, &RNA_FileSelectEntry, const_cast<FileDirEntry *>(item.handle.file_data)};
+    PointerRNA asset_ptr{NULL, &RNA_AssetRepresentation, &item.asset};
-    uiLayoutSetContextPointer(col, "active_file", &file);
+    uiLayoutSetContextPointer(col, "asset", &asset_ptr);
 
     PointerRNA library_ptr{&screen.id,
                            &RNA_AssetLibraryReference,
                            const_cast<AssetLibraryReference *>(&item.library_ref)};
     uiLayoutSetContextPointer(col, "asset_library_ref", &library_ptr);
 
-    uiItemO(col, ED_asset_handle_get_name(&item.handle), ICON_NONE, "NODE_OT_add_group_asset");
+    uiItemO(
+        col, AS_asset_representation_name_get(&item.asset), ICON_NONE, "NODE_OT_add_group_asset");
   }
 
   catalog_item->foreach_child([&](asset_system::AssetCatalogTreeItem &child_item) {

source/blender/editors/space_node/add_node_search.cc

@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ struct AddNodeItem {
   std::string ui_name;
   std::string identifier;
   std::string description;
-  std::optional<AssetHandle> asset;
+  const AssetRepresentation *asset;
   std::function<void(const bContext &, bNodeTree &, bNode &)> after_add_fn;
   int weight = 0;
 };
@@ -67,24 +67,25 @@ static void add_node_search_listen_fn(const wmRegionListenerParams *params, void
 }
 
 static void search_items_for_asset_metadata(const bNodeTree &node_tree,
-                                            const AssetHandle asset,
+                                            const AssetHandle asset_handle,
                                             Vector<AddNodeItem> &search_items)
 {
-  const AssetMetaData &asset_data = *ED_asset_handle_get_metadata(&asset);
+  const AssetMetaData &asset_data = *ED_asset_handle_get_metadata(&asset_handle);
   const IDProperty *tree_type = BKE_asset_metadata_idprop_find(&asset_data, "type");
   if (tree_type == nullptr || IDP_Int(tree_type) != node_tree.type) {
     return;
   }
 
+  const AssetRepresentation *asset = ED_asset_handle_get_representation(&asset_handle);
   AddNodeItem item{};
-  item.ui_name = ED_asset_handle_get_name(&asset);
+  item.ui_name = ED_asset_handle_get_name(&asset_handle);
   item.identifier = node_tree.typeinfo->group_idname;
   item.description = asset_data.description == nullptr ? "" : asset_data.description;
   item.asset = asset;
   item.after_add_fn = [asset](const bContext &C, bNodeTree &node_tree, bNode &node) {
     Main &bmain = *CTX_data_main(&C);
     node.flag &= ~NODE_OPTIONS;
-    node.id = asset::get_local_id_from_asset_or_append_and_reuse(bmain, asset);
+    node.id = ED_asset_get_local_id_from_asset_or_append_and_reuse(&bmain, asset, ID_NT);
     id_us_plus(node.id);
     BKE_ntree_update_tag_node_property(&node_tree, &node);
     DEG_relations_tag_update(&bmain);

source/blender/editors/space_node/link_drag_search.cc

@@ -143,10 +143,10 @@ static void add_existing_group_input_fn(nodes::LinkSearchOpParams &params,
  */
 static void search_link_ops_for_asset_metadata(const bNodeTree &node_tree,
                                                const bNodeSocket &socket,
-                                               const AssetHandle asset,
+                                               const AssetHandle asset_handle,
                                                Vector<SocketLinkOperation> &search_link_ops)
 {
-  const AssetMetaData &asset_data = *ED_asset_handle_get_metadata(&asset);
+  const AssetMetaData &asset_data = *ED_asset_handle_get_metadata(&asset_handle);
   const IDProperty *tree_type = BKE_asset_metadata_idprop_find(&asset_data, "type");
   if (tree_type == nullptr || IDP_Int(tree_type) != node_tree.type) {
     return;
@@ -182,7 +182,8 @@ static void search_link_ops_for_asset_metadata(const bNodeTree &node_tree,
       continue;
     }
 
-    const StringRef asset_name = ED_asset_handle_get_name(&asset);
+    AssetRepresentation *asset = ED_asset_handle_get_representation(&asset_handle);
+    const StringRef asset_name = ED_asset_handle_get_name(&asset_handle);
     const StringRef socket_name = socket_property->name;
 
     search_link_ops.append(
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@ static void search_link_ops_for_asset_metadata(const bNodeTree &node_tree,
            bNode &node = params.add_node(params.node_tree.typeinfo->group_idname);
            node.flag &= ~NODE_OPTIONS;
 
-           node.id = asset::get_local_id_from_asset_or_append_and_reuse(bmain, asset);
+           node.id = ED_asset_get_local_id_from_asset_or_append_and_reuse(&bmain, asset, ID_NT);
            id_us_plus(node.id);
            BKE_ntree_update_tag_node_property(&params.node_tree, &node);
            DEG_relations_tag_update(&bmain);

source/blender/editors/space_node/node_add.cc

@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 
 #include <numeric>
 
+#include "AS_asset_representation.h"
+
 #include "MEM_guardedalloc.h"
 
 #include "DNA_collection_types.h"
@@ -378,14 +380,16 @@ void NODE_OT_add_group(wmOperatorType *ot)
 /** \name Add Node Group Asset Operator
  * \{ */
 
-static bool add_node_group_asset(const bContext &C, const AssetHandle asset, ReportList &reports)
+static bool add_node_group_asset(const bContext &C,
+                                 const AssetRepresentation *asset,
+                                 ReportList &reports)
 {
   Main &bmain = *CTX_data_main(&C);
   SpaceNode &snode = *CTX_wm_space_node(&C);
   bNodeTree &edit_tree = *snode.edittree;
 
   bNodeTree *node_group = reinterpret_cast<bNodeTree *>(
-      asset::get_local_id_from_asset_or_append_and_reuse(bmain, asset));
+      ED_asset_get_local_id_from_asset_or_append_and_reuse(&bmain, asset, ID_NT));
   if (!node_group) {
     return false;
   }
@@ -427,9 +431,8 @@ static int node_add_group_asset_invoke(bContext *C, wmOperator *op, const wmEven
   if (!library_ref) {
     return OPERATOR_CANCELLED;
   }
-  bool is_valid;
+  const AssetRepresentation *asset = CTX_wm_asset(C);
-  const AssetHandle handle = CTX_wm_asset_handle(C, &is_valid);
+  if (!asset) {
-  if (!is_valid) {
     return OPERATOR_CANCELLED;
   }
 
@@ -442,7 +445,7 @@ static int node_add_group_asset_invoke(bContext *C, wmOperator *op, const wmEven
 
   snode.runtime->cursor /= UI_DPI_FAC;
 
-  if (!add_node_group_asset(*C, handle, *op->reports)) {
+  if (!add_node_group_asset(*C, asset, *op->reports)) {
     return OPERATOR_CANCELLED;
   }
 
@@ -460,12 +463,11 @@ static char *node_add_group_asset_get_description(struct bContext *C,
                                                   struct wmOperatorType * /*op*/,
                                                   struct PointerRNA * /*values*/)
 {
-  bool is_valid;
+  const AssetRepresentation *asset = CTX_wm_asset(C);
-  const AssetHandle handle = CTX_wm_asset_handle(C, &is_valid);
+  if (!asset) {
-  if (!is_valid) {
     return nullptr;
   }
-  const AssetMetaData &asset_data = *ED_asset_handle_get_metadata(&handle);
+  const AssetMetaData &asset_data = *AS_asset_representation_metadata_get(asset);
   if (!asset_data.description) {
     return nullptr;
   }

source/blender/makesdna/DNA_asset_types.h

@@ -140,6 +140,10 @@ typedef struct AssetLibraryReference {
  * Not part of the core design, we should try to get rid of it. Only needed to wrap FileDirEntry
  * into a type with PropertyGroup as base, so we can have an RNA collection of #AssetHandle's to
  * pass to the UI.
+ *
+ * \warning Never store this! When using #ED_assetlist_iterate(), only access it within the
+ *          iterator function. The contained file data can be freed since the file cache has a
+ *          maximum number of items.
  */
 #
 #

source/blender/makesrna/intern/rna_asset.c

@@ -578,6 +578,17 @@ static void rna_def_asset_handle(BlenderRNA *brna)
   rna_def_asset_handle_api(srna);
 }
 
+static void rna_def_asset_representation(BlenderRNA *brna)
+{
+  StructRNA *srna;
+
+  srna = RNA_def_struct(brna, "AssetRepresentation", NULL);
+  RNA_def_struct_ui_text(srna,
+                         "Asset Representation",
+                         "Information about an entity that makes it possible for the asset system "
+                         "to deal with the entity as asset");
+}
+
 static void rna_def_asset_catalog_path(BlenderRNA *brna)
 {
   StructRNA *srna = RNA_def_struct(brna, "AssetCatalogPath", NULL);
@@ -610,6 +621,7 @@ void RNA_def_asset(BlenderRNA *brna)
   rna_def_asset_data(brna);
   rna_def_asset_library_reference(brna);
   rna_def_asset_handle(brna);
+  rna_def_asset_representation(brna);
   rna_def_asset_catalog_path(brna);
 
   RNA_define_animate_sdna(true);