Optimizando nuestro custom editor

How can I customize the inspector in Unity?

When working on projects within Unity, customizing the inspector can significantly improve the user and designer experience. Customizing the inspector allows you to display only the relevant elements and properties, which makes it easier to manage and edit content efficiently.

How do I start the drawing process in the inspector?

To start customizing the inspector, we must make sure that the properties are stored correctly. We can go into "debug mode" in Unity to check that the information is saved properly, even if it is not visible in the GUI while we are in normal mode. The next step is to work on the code to start drawing the inspector in a more visual and functional way.

Next, we use GUILayout to make the design process easier. For example, we can create an object field that allows us to enter references, such as when adding an icon to the sprite renderer. This is accomplished by passing a specific property to the object field and setting up an empty GUIContent for the inspector's aesthetics.

// Create an Object Field for the icon propertyicon = (Sprite)EditorGUILayout.ObjectField("", icon, typeof(Sprite), false);

How to display a preview of the icon in Unity?

To visually enrich our inspector, it is useful to display a preview of the icon. Unity offers several classes that allow to preview thumbnails and assets. We use AssetPreview to get a 2D image of the icon to handle.

// Get the preview of the icon as aTexture2D textureiconPreview = AssetPreview.GetAssetPreview(icon);

Subsequently, the texture is drawn using EditorGUI so that it is clearly visible in the inspector. This way you can evaluate if the icon is in the desired format.

// Draw the icon texture in the inspectorGUILayout.Label(iconPreview, GUILayout.Width(100), GUILayout.Height(100));

How to arrange the elements in the inspector?

The layout of elements is crucial for an efficient user interface. You can use GUILayout to create groups of controls, arranging the elements horizontally or vertically as needed.

// Create a horizontal group to align elementsGUILayout.BeginHorizontal();GUILayout.EndHorizontal();

This type of organization ensures a clear and logical arrangement of information, allowing designers to quickly understand which properties to adjust.

How to manage the change of properties and the saving system?

When working with editable properties in the inspector, it is crucial to correctly manage their changes to ensure that any modifications are properly saved. This is achieved by updating the serialized object each time the GUI is edited.

// Update and apply changes to the serialized objectserializedObject.Update();EditorGUILayout.PropertyField(property);serializedObject.ApplyModifiedProperties();

Additionally, a decision system can be implemented by means of a switch statement to select which properties to display according to the defined object type. This allows for a dynamic and flexible inspector that solves common problems when designing interactive elements.

What are the advantages of customizing the inspector?

Customizing the inspector in Unity not only improves the display of content, but also optimizes the workflow for designers:

• Efficiency: It allows direct access to properties without the need for complicated navigation.
• Clarity: Only properties relevant to the object type are shown.
• Flexibility: Adaptable to different data types and structures, such as sprites, textures, among others.
• Error prevention: Reduces the possibility of designers entering incorrect values by displaying only relevant options.

By integrating these settings into larger projects, collaboration in development teams is strengthened, allowing designers to focus on the creative aspects without worrying about unnecessary technical details. This boost in productivity and clarity translates into higher quality deliverables.