how to create instances?

Development Programming & Scripting Blueprint
1

hi, i´m a complete noob in bp but i guess now it´s time to learn it…

i´m using ue4.19.2 and i have an map in which i will create hundrets of some static meshes.

for performance it´s not so good to duplicate them, so i decided to buy the “instance tool”- plugin from the marketplace.
unfortunately it doesn´t work in my ue4.19.2-version…

so i decided, to learn it with an tutorial…

there are some at google (with tons of tweaking-stuff), which i do´nt need…

so here is my question:
can somebody give me an link to an tutorial, which dicribes the way of duplicating an static mesh 100(?) times or so?

thanks a lot!

greetz
loopon

2

The way I have done this is make a new actor blueprint, open it and add component and find instance static mesh. Then on static mesh find mesh you want then go to instance array below materials and click + button, this will give you one you can click for more and move them in blueprint. I use this to spawn towns and stuff as i can pre set them in the bp then spawn them in level when i need to. Hope it helps I have 1000’s of meshes rendering this way and takes nothing from performance.

3

Instance Tool Plugin should works with 4.19?

4

Hi there,

The Instance Tool works on 4.19 (I have the tool). However, its valuable to also know how to do it manually. However, here’s the question - do you need to spawn the instances at runtime, or do you need to simply place them in your level?

If you just need to place them, figure out the Instance Tool. If you need to spawn them during runtime, then do this via a BP.

5

@OptimisticMonkey

hi OptimisticMonkey!

thanks for your fast reply!

i´ve done everything:

  • i saw the vids (some parts are real fast)
  • read the documentation (thanks for the link!)

and after all i tried my best in ue4.19.2 with the “instance tool” :

  • i took my hierarchy meshes and converted them into “actors” (hisma).

  • those actors are shown in my viewport properly!

  • but when i duplicate these actors, they are invisible in my viewport…

and thats not so good for me :wink:

do you see, where my error could be?

thanks :slight_smile:

6

@CoquiGames

hi CoquiGames!

thanks for your fast reply!

i just want to simply place the instanced static meshes / actors into my map without bringing down my performance.

that was the reason i bought “instance tool”

i´ve done everything befor using it:

  • i saw the vids (some parts are real fast)
  • read the documentation

and after all i tried my best in ue4.19.2 with the “instance tool” :

  • i took my hierarchy meshes and converted them into “actors” (hisma).

  • those actors are shown in my viewport properly!

  • but when i duplicate these actors, they are invisible in my viewport…

and thats not so good for me :wink:

maybe you can give me an advice where my error could be?

thanks :slight_smile:

7

@onimike

hi onimike,

thanks for your fast reply!

i will try to use your way…
but i´m completely new to bp and so all this stuff is a little bit cryptical to me :wink:

greetz

8

hmmm not sure what would cause that.

Are you duplicating by alt-dragging?

9

Hi there,

I’m thinking maybe its the way you are converting your actors to HISM. Take a look at this video where I show how I use the Instance Tool to create a city. This was in 4.18, but workflow should be the same in 4.19. Can you do it my way? Or do you still have issues?

Go to the 3min mark!

10

@OptimisticMonkey

no…i´m doing it within the menue bar

11

thank you very much CoquiGames for the link!!

you´ve done an amazing job with your tutorial:
i understand it now :slight_smile:

and the best of all: in your way it works :slight_smile:

@All
thank you very much for your help!
this community is really great!

12

Glad I was able to help :slight_smile: