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Create Custom Actor Component Dropdown

Development Discussion C++ Gameplay Programming
#1

Hi,

I have an Actor that has several actor components: componentA, componentB, componentC and component D.
What I want to do, is to be able to select, in the editor, one of the components A to C from component D.

What I managed to do so far is:

  • add a string array to componentD
  • add the names of the components (eg. componentA and componentB) in the array
  • in BeginPlay of the componentD, I add the references to componentA and componentB by name. (add all components of type to a TMap<name, component>, and retrieve them from there)

I am sure this is not the ideal solution, so I tried, with no luck, to find another method of selecting components in the editor.

I am working with C++, so any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

#2

The Editor doesn’t (unfortuantely) provide any means for you to change the component class of a C++ inherited component right now. It’s something that’s been requested for a long time IIRC.

You can declare a component pointer UPROPERTY() and mark it with “EditDefaultsOnly” instead of “VisibleDefaultsOnly / VisibleAnywhere” etc. - and while that does give you a dropdown it does create some other problems like not showing all properties in the details panel etc.

#3

Thank you for your fast answer.
I am sorry I did not explain my problem better, but I do not want to change the component class of a C++ inherited component.

My setup is something like this:

On the same actor I have:

  • three CameraComponents
  • one CameraSelectorComponent

In the CameraSelectorComponent I would like to display a list of all CameraComponents that are added to that same owner actor, and select one or more.