Python : Get selected objects in outliner

Question

To get the selected object in viewport, we use :

bpy.context.selected_objects

But in outliner, if i select some objects there, then what is the python function to get/collect the selected objects in outliner ?

Answer 1

As of this commit you can use Context.selected_ids (undocumented for now) to get references for all object types selected in the outliner. Notice that the context of selected_ids attribute is restricted to the Outliner so you'd have to implement an Operator.

---

I'd also suggest use the bl_rna.identifier attribute to test against the actual type of object in order to filter the selection. Run the script, move your mouse over to the ouliner, press F3 and type Simple Outliner Op... and hit Return:

import bpy

class SimpleOperator(bpy.types.Operator):
    """Tooltip"""
    bl_idname = "outliner.simple_operator"
    bl_label = "Simple Outliner Operator"
    
    @classmethod
    def poll(cls, context):
        return context.area.type == 'OUTLINER'

    def execute(self, context):
        objects_in_selection = {}
        for item in context.selected_ids:
            if item.bl_rna.identifier == "Collection":
                objects_in_selection.setdefault("Collections",[]).append(item.name)
            elif item.bl_rna.identifier == "Object":
                if item.type == 'MESH':
                    objects_in_selection.setdefault("Meshes",[]).append(item.name)
                elif item.type == 'LIGHT':
                    objects_in_selection.setdefault("Lights",[]).append(item.name)
                elif item.type == 'CAMERA':
                    objects_in_selection.setdefault("Cameras",[]).append(item.name)
            elif item.bl_rna.identifier == "Material":
                objects_in_selection.setdefault("Materials",[]).append(item.name)
        
        # Print the dict to the console
        print (objects_in_selection)
        return {'FINISHED'}

def register():
    bpy.utils.register_class(SimpleOperator)
def unregister():
    bpy.utils.unregister_class(SimpleOperator)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    register()

Console Output: {'Collections': ['Collection', 'Collection.001'], 'Cameras': ['Camera', 'Camera.001'], 'Meshes': ['Cube', 'Cube.001'], 'Lights': ['Light', 'Light.001']}

Answer 2

@brockmann's answer works perfect. I just copied his functionality for an easier use for python beginners:

Here in addition is just an answer you can just execute by copy and paste without to execute the add-on in the outliner:

import bpy
from bpy import context

for window in context.window_manager.windows:
    screen = window.screen
    for area in screen.areas:
        if area.type == 'OUTLINER':
            with context.temp_override(window=window, area=area):
                objects_in_selection = {}
                for item in context.selected_ids:
                    if item.bl_rna.identifier == "Collection":
                        objects_in_selection.setdefault("Collections",[]).append(item.name)
                    elif item.bl_rna.identifier == "Object":
                        if item.type == 'MESH':
                            objects_in_selection.setdefault("Meshes",[]).append(item.name)
                        elif item.type == 'LIGHT':
                            objects_in_selection.setdefault("Lights",[]).append(item.name)
                        elif item.type == 'CAMERA':
                            objects_in_selection.setdefault("Cameras",[]).append(item.name)
                    elif item.bl_rna.identifier == "Material":
                        objects_in_selection.setdefault("Materials",[]).append(item.name)
                
                # Print the dict to the console
                a = objects_in_selection.get("Collections")
                if a:
                    print ("selected collections are", a)
            

Answer 3

The following code could be used to get the value of context.selected_ids without limiting an Operator's execute() to the Outliner area:

def get_outliner_area(context):
    for area in context.screen.areas:
        if area is None:
            continue
        if area.type != 'OUTLINER':
            continue
        return area

def get_outliner_window(area):
   for region in area.regions:
       if region.type != 'WINDOW':
           continue
       return region

# we will override context to be able to access selected_ids

# assuming that context is defined
outliner_area = get_outliner_area(context)
outliner_window = get_outliner_window(outliner_area)

# deprecated since 3.2 but easy to use
context_overridden = context.copy()
context_overridden['area'] = outliner_area
context_overridden['region'] = outliner_window

# @brockmann's solution can then be used to output a nice dictionary
print(context_overridden['selected_ids'])

Console output: [bpy.data.objects['Material'], bpy.data.objects['Camera'], bpy.data.objects['Material.001'], bpy.data.objects['Material.002'], bpy.data.objects['Material.003'], bpy.data.objects['Armature']]