(39) Rama's Extra Blueprint Nodes for You as a Plugin, No C++ Required!

[John Alcatraz]

Hey Rama, you have these 2 nodes in your plugin:




So I can load a Texture from a file and get a PixelArray and I can also get a specific pixel value from a PixelArray, thats awesome. But what I would like to see is to also get the PixelArray from an existing Texture2D or an existing RenderTarget2D. Would that be possible to add as a node? I searched for a way to do this through blueprint and I only found a lot of people asking for how to do it but no answer except "use c++"

Cheers!

[Maelgrim]

Hey Rama,

Did god send you down from the heavens to assist me in making a game that will transcend time and space to deliver the most entertainments we can currently conceive of?

If yes, thanks!

[Rama]

I have no idea why it does what it does. This is just a cube exported from blender.

Edit: I think there are twice v then vn because the cube is not smooth so each edge consider it's faces as seperated meshes. This is why you will see a bigger verts count inside a game engine.

This is a rather massive project for me to work on at the moment give my current work load, I will keep it in mind though! I think its time for you to do more C++ yourself and then maybe I could help out along the way

Keep in mind I do offer tutoring sessions in UE4 C++!



Rama

[Rama]

Yes

Hey Rama,

Did god send you down from the heavens to assist me in making a game that will transcend time and space to deliver the most entertainments we can currently conceive of?

If yes, thanks!

Yes, and I am pretty sure you came to help many others have fun too!



Rama

[Rama]

Hey Rama, you have these 2 nodes in your plugin:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]59780[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]59781[/ATTACH]

So I can load a Texture from a file and get a PixelArray and I can also get a specific pixel value from a PixelArray, thats awesome. But what I would like to see is to also get the PixelArray from an existing Texture2D or an existing RenderTarget2D. Would that be possible to add as a node? I searched for a way to do this through blueprint and I only found a lot of people asking for how to do it but no answer except "use c++"

Cheers!

Thine request is granted, see below!



Rama

[Rama]

Load Pixel or Pixels from Texture 2D to complete Rama's Texture BP Node Suite!

Dear Community,

I've now completed my suite of Image BP Nodes!

You can now get a single pixel or the entire pixel array from a Texture2D!

1. Get Pixel From T2D
2. Get Pixels Array From T2D!

I've tested and verified that these nodes work with all my other pixel nodes, including:

1. Get Pixel (By Coordinates, Row,Col)
2. Save Pixels To File
3. Load Image From File

Yay!

~~~

Image Made Via Victory BP Library

Here I make a 3x3 image and set several color values.

I use my Victory BP Library to save these pixels to a file on my computer, creating my own PNG image!



~~~

Get Pixels From T2D!

Here I am now retrieving the pixel values of a T2D that was just loaded from disk, loaded from the file that I saved in the picture above!



It woorks, Woohoo!

Now you can Get Pixels from Texture2D's too!

♥

Rama

~~~

Latest plugin download on the UE4 Wiki:
https://wiki.unrealengine.com/File:VictoryPlugin.zip

Latest plugin packaged binaries, Win32 Shipping and Win64 Development on UE4 Wiki:
https://wiki.unrealengine.com/File:V...inPackaged.zip

Editor binaries and Packaged binaries in one file:
Win32 Shipping and Win64 Development Supported
https://www.mediafire.com/?g6uf9kt5ueb2upj

Donations:
Donate to Rama

♥

Rama

[John Alcatraz]

Awesome, thanks Rama

There is just the problem that the "GetPixelFromT2D" node does not work with RenderTarget2Ds unfortunately... Could you support RT or is there anything which would prevent the node from accessing the information out of a RT?

[Rama]

Awesome, thanks Rama

There is just the problem that the "GetPixelFromT2D" node does not work with RenderTarget2Ds unfortunately... Could you support RT or is there anything which would prevent the node from accessing the information out of a RT?

That will require more research, in the meantime please enjoy the fact that you can now read the pixels of Texture 2D's loaded from file!



Rama

[John Alcatraz]

That will require more research, in the meantime please enjoy the fact that you can now read the pixels of Texture 2D's loaded from file!

I am absolutely enjoying it and I'm sure a lot of other people do it too since it makes the whole image BP nodes a lot more complete

I have an other question, I had to compile 4.9.2 myself to add a very small fix (only a few lines of code) but now when I start the project I get this:



What do I have to do to make it work with a custom version of 4.9.2?

Edit: I compiled the plugin myself and now it works

[Sahkan]

This is a rather massive project for me to work on at the moment give my current work load, I will keep it in mind though! I think its time for you to do more C++ yourself and then maybe I could help out along the way

Keep in mind I do offer tutoring sessions in UE4 C++!



Rama

I'v just played a around with the proceduralMesh component in blueprint. The annoying thing is getting the triangles indexes array right.
I want to add the the ability to make walls with this component in my MapBuilder.
Is there any chance you add a node to your plugin that extrudes triangles like you would it 3ds max?

[Rama]

Edit: I compiled the plugin myself and now it works

Nice work John Alcatraz!



Rama

Is there any chance you add a node to your plugin that extrudes triangles like you would it 3ds max?

I've not yet worked on extrusion due to time constraints, but if you choose to let me know what you come up with!



Rama

[Rama]

Dear Community,

The code in this node was first presented by Epic staff, Marc Audy, as code used in Fortnite.

I've fully implemented the code as well as making it user-friendly.

In particular I've presented a solution for ensuring you can spawn multiple instances of the same UE4 level, by giving you an "Instance Number" that you should increment each time you spawn an instance of a level.

This allows me to enable you to easily create as many uniquely translated and rotated instances of a level as you want!

This is ideal for Dynamic Level Generation!

~~~





~~~

Can Include Landscapes and Other Fancy Level Features!

In my demo I included a landscape in my level "tile."

~~~

Level Scripting / Level Blueprint

You can also include level scripting that will run uniquely per level isntance!

~~~

Victory Load Level Instance



~~~

Latest plugin download on the UE4 Wiki:
https://wiki.unrealengine.com/File:VictoryPlugin.zip

Latest plugin packaged binaries, Win32 Shipping and Win64 Development on UE4 Wiki:
https://wiki.unrealengine.com/File:V...inPackaged.zip

~~~

Victory Plugin on Media Fire

If your browser is not updating the Wiki download page to the most recent version, you can use my alternative Media Fire download link!

Please note clicking this link will not start a download instantly, it will just take you to the Media Fire file description.

Editor binaries and Packaged binaries in one file:
Win32 Shipping and Win64 Development Supported
https://www.mediafire.com/?g6uf9kt5ueb2upj

~~~

Note on Packaging Victory Plugin

https://forums.unrealengine.com/show...l=1#post368790

Enjoy!



Rama

[AlexM]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]58625[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]58626[/ATTACH]

Dear Community,

The code in this node was first presented by Epic staff, Marc Audy, as code used in Fortnite.

I've fully implemented the code as well as making it user-friendly.

In particular I've presented a solution for ensuring you can spawn multiple instances of the same UE4 level, by giving you an "Instance Number" that you should increment each time you spawn an instance of a level.

This allows me to enable you to easily create as many uniquely translated and rotated instances of a level as you want!

This is ideal for Dynamic Level Generation!

~~~

Can Include Landscapes and Other Fancy Level Features!

In my demo I included a landscape in my level "tile."

~~~

Level Scripting / Level Blueprint

You can also include level scripting that will run uniquely per level isntance!

~~~

Victory Load Level Instance

[ATTACH=CONFIG]58627[/ATTACH]

~~~

C++ Code For You

Here's my implemenation of the code Marc Audy originally presented to the Community, exactly as it is in my Victory BP Library:

bool UVictoryBPFunctionLibrary::VictoryLoadLevelInstance(
	UObject* WorldContextObject, 
	FString MapFolderOffOfContent, 
	FString LevelName, 
	int32 InstanceNumber,
	FVector Location, FRotator Rotation)
{
    if(!WorldContextObject) return false;
	 
	UWorld* const World = GEngine->GetWorldFromContextObject(WorldContextObject);
	if(!World) return false;
	//~~~~~~~~~~~
 
	//Full Name
	FString FullName = "/Game/" + MapFolderOffOfContent + "/" + LevelName;
	  
	FName LevelFName = FName(*FullName);
    FString PackageFileName = FullName;   
	
    ULevelStreamingKismet* StreamingLevel = NewObject<ULevelStreamingKismet>((UObject*)GetTransientPackage(), ULevelStreamingKismet::StaticClass());
 
	if(!StreamingLevel)
	{
		return false;
	}
	
	//Long Package Name
	FString LongLevelPackageName = FPackageName::FilenameToLongPackageName(PackageFileName);
	
	//~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
	// Here is where a unique name is chosen for the new level asset
	//    Ensure unique names to gain ability to have multiple instances of same level!
	//	   <3 Rama
	
	//Create Unique Name based on BP-supplied instance value
	FString UniqueLevelPackageName = LongLevelPackageName;
	UniqueLevelPackageName += "_VictoryInstance_" + FString::FromInt(InstanceNumber);
     
    //Set!
    StreamingLevel->SetWorldAssetByPackageName(FName(*UniqueLevelPackageName));
	//~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
	 
    if (World->IsPlayInEditor())
    {
        FWorldContext WorldContext = GEngine->GetWorldContextFromWorldChecked(World);
        StreamingLevel->RenameForPIE(WorldContext.PIEInstance);
    }
 
    StreamingLevel->LevelColor = FColor::MakeRandomColor();
    StreamingLevel->bShouldBeLoaded = true;
    StreamingLevel->bShouldBeVisible = true;
    StreamingLevel->bShouldBlockOnLoad = false;
    StreamingLevel->bInitiallyLoaded = true;
    StreamingLevel->bInitiallyVisible = true;
 
	//Transform
    StreamingLevel->LevelTransform = FTransform(Rotation,Location);
 
    StreamingLevel->PackageNameToLoad = LevelFName;
          
    if (!FPackageName::DoesPackageExist(StreamingLevel->PackageNameToLoad.ToString(), NULL, &PackageFileName))
    {        
        return false;
    }
  
	//~~~
	
	//Actual map package to load
	StreamingLevel->PackageNameToLoad = FName(*LongLevelPackageName);
	
	//~~~
	
    // Add the new level to world.
    World->StreamingLevels.Add(StreamingLevel);
     
    return true;
 }

~~~

Latest plugin download on the UE4 Wiki:
https://wiki.unrealengine.com/File:VictoryPlugin.zip

Latest plugin packaged binaries, Win32 Shipping and Win64 Development on UE4 Wiki:
https://wiki.unrealengine.com/File:V...inPackaged.zip

~~~

Victory Plugin on Media Fire

If your browser is not updating the Wiki download page to the most recent version, you can use my alternative Media Fire download link!

Please note clicking this link will not start a download instantly, it will just take you to the Media Fire file description.

Editor binaries and Packaged binaries in one file:
Win32 Shipping and Win64 Development Supported
https://www.mediafire.com/?g6uf9kt5ueb2upj

~~~

Note on Packaging Victory Plugin

https://forums.unrealengine.com/show...l=1#post368790

Enjoy!



Rama

Thanks for this Rama. I've been working on my own similar solution for the last few weeks in my spare time and while I got something working I find your method a better implementation than what I had going.

The only thing I notice is that the level loaded callback doesn't seem to work when using your method. Do you have any idea why this is? Right now I use that to determine when all the levels are loaded and streamed in so I can do the next step in my process.

Here is my original function in which the callback did fire.

void ADreamProjectGameMode::SetupNonStreamingLevelLoad()
{  
	auto positionOffset = FVector();
	auto mapNames = GetAllMapNames();
	for (auto mapName : mapNames)
	{ 
		FString fullMapPath = FString::Printf(TEXT("/Game/Rooms/Maps/%s"), *mapName);
		UE_LOG(LogTemp, Warning, TEXT("Loading level %s"), *fullMapPath); 
		ULevelStreaming* pStreaming = UGameplayStatics::GetStreamingLevel(GetWorld(), *fullMapPath);

		if (pStreaming)
		{
			UE_LOG(LogTemp, Warning, TEXT("Streaming level setup for %s with transform offset of %f "), *fullMapPath, positionOffset.Y);
			//pStreaming->LevelTransform = FTransform(positionOffset); 
			pStreaming->bShouldBeLoaded = true;
			pStreaming->bShouldBeVisible = true;
			pStreaming->OnLevelLoaded.AddDynamic(this, &ADreamProjectGameMode::OnLevelLoaded);
			numLevelsToLoad++;
			positionOffset.X += 10;
		}
		else
		{
			UE_LOG(LogTemp, Warning, TEXT("Unable toload map %s"), *fullMapPath);
		}
	} 
}

[AlexM]

So a followup. I did manage to get the callback firing. I had upgraded my engine and it seemed to no longer like UFUNCTION being on a private method so I removed the markup. I didn't realize that was a prerequisite for using delegates.

That said I'm still suffering one issue where the transform applied to the streaming level does nothing. I can get the level to transform if I do it after the level is loaded via a function who's name escapes me right now (ULevel member function called applytransform or something to that effect) but I get a lot of warnings about transforming static objects. My hopes were that applying the transform to the streaming level before it's loaded would avoid those warnings. I'm not sure how critical they are but nevertheless I don't like to have a lot of warnings.

I'm considering just authoring the different rooms in my level at non-overlapping positions and doing away with the whole transformation stuff for now because this issue is taking my time away from actually working on my game and since this is more of a small learning project for me it's not absolutely critical that I author all rooms at 0,0,0 (although in a real project this would indeed be critical).

So between both Rama's method and my method not seeming to use the level transform my guess is that something about the way I've authored my levels is causing the streaming transform to get ignored. I'll post back if I can figure out why this is.

[Rama]

So between both Rama's method and my method not seeming to use the level transform my guess is that something about the way I've authored my levels is causing the streaming transform to get ignored. I'll post back if I can figure out why this is.

Did you add this line to my version to trigger the delegate?

pStreaming->OnLevelLoaded.AddDynamic(this, &ADreamProjectGameMode::OnLevelLoaded);

it would go here:

    StreamingLevel->LevelColor = FColor::MakeRandomColor();
    StreamingLevel->bShouldBeLoaded = true;
    StreamingLevel->bShouldBeVisible = true;
    StreamingLevel->bShouldBlockOnLoad = false;
    StreamingLevel->bInitiallyLoaded = true;
    StreamingLevel->bInitiallyVisible = true;