I came here to report this very bug.

Attached files can illustrate this issue:
link-target-empty.blend will allow to import "Group" from link-source.blend
link-target-then deleted.blend will not allow this.

Been using R2.68 rc up to build r58250.
ubuntu 13.04 64 bits.

It's not *really* a bug, although a bit confusing behavior:

1) When first linking the group a new Empty object will be created to make an initial instance of that group in the scene (readfile.c, give_base_to_groups).

2) Deleting the object will do just that: it deletes the group instance Empty object, but NOT the group itself (user counting for groups is a bit peculiar, the group will not have 0 users after deleting the last instance and will persist after reload. i don't fully understand it yet)

3) When re-linking the group it will be found existing in the library already and not be replaced. No new object will be created for the group either, since it is tagged as existing.

So the easiest thing to do is just to create a new group instance, you don't need to relink from the file. If you want to delete the group explicitly you can do that in the outliner by switching to "Groups" and hit "Unlink Group".

I think it's ok that the group is kept after removing the object, however to me it seems like a bug that the group is not being instanced when linking again.

Fix for that now in svn revision 59773.

Hi all,

Thanks for you explanation.

Personally, I think it will be better if whenever you erase a group and refresh the scene, this would disappear (the same way it happens with the materials). I usually find quite useful to work with the groups tab in the Outliner (for hiding/showing objects), and it's a bit confusing when you have groups names that are not in the scene anymore. Also, other times I just want to erase a group because I spelled the name incorrectly.

I found that when you change the name Datablock in a linked group, this disappears in the main file. I think it would be better if linked Groups content would be "refreshed" every time you open the main file, no matter how many objects have you added or changed name.

Also, Blender doesn't remembers when you have Restrict/Allow Visibility in the Outliner from a linked Group. This is a bit annoying, as sometimes you link some group you don't want to render or see, and you have to click on the icons every time you open it. I have reported that as a bug here: http://bit.ly/1dXSmzE

Kind regards

I don't disagree with the points you make, but this is the current design, and changing the design of groups and linking is outside the scope of this bug tracker.