Automated Testing of Action Bindings in Enhanced Input: Issue with Execute Function for Enhanced Input

Development Programming & Scripting
, ,
1

I’m writing automated tests where a character needs to perform various actions like jumping or running using the Enhanced Input system in Unreal Engine. Previously, in the old input system, testing BindAction could be done with a simple Execute(Key) function call. However, in Enhanced Input, this approach doesn’t work because the Execute function expects an InputActionInstance structure where no values can be changed.

Example 1:

void DoInputAction(UInputComponent* Input, const FString& ActionName, const FKey& Key)
{
    if (!Input) return;

    const int32 ActionIndex = GetActionBindingIndexByName(Input, ActionName, EInputEvent::IE_Pressed);
    if (ActionIndex != INDEX_NONE)
    {
        const auto ActionBind = Input->GetActionBinding(ActionIndex);
        ActionBind.ActionDelegate.Execute(Key);  // This approach doesn't work for Enhanced Input
    }
}

Example 2:

for (auto& ActionBinding : InputComp->GetActionEventBindings())
{
    const ETriggerEvent TriggerEvent = ActionBinding->GetTriggerEvent();
    const FString ActionName = ActionBinding->GetAction()->GetName();

    if (TriggerEvent == ETriggerEvent::Triggered && ActionName == "IA_Move")
    {
        FInputActionInstance InputActionInstance;
        ActionBinding->Execute(InputActionInstance);  // This code doesn't work due to InputActionInstance structure limitations
    }
}

How to elegantly write automated tests for Action Bindings in Enhanced Input, considering the constraints of the InputActionInstance structure and the inability to use Execute to trigger actions?