How to initialize (set) a Skinned Mesh Variable thats inside Actor Component?

[XxNotAGamerxX]

1. What are the nodes to create a “Skinned Mesh” Variable (from a SK mesh or whatever building block) - that is inside an Actor Component?

• (I will only have a ref to Owner’s (CharBP) “Skinned Mesh” variable, which has the animation/skel data, and which will be a Parent to the [Child] “Skinned Mesh” Variable that is inside the Actor Component.)

UE4.27:

1. I made an Actor Component (BPC) to hold all my code & variables (for a Modular mesh system) - so that I dont have to make 20 variables inside CharBP.
2. I added this BPC to CharBP (as an Actor Component).

• And (from within CharBP code), I only want to feed the Character “Mesh” to BPC’s custom Event. (This “Mesh” gives me 1 PARENT “Skinned Mesh component” to work with > which I can use to set the [Pose of the] CHILD “Skinned Mesh component” which is inside the BPC.)

3. In BPC, I made a variable > type = “Skinned Mesh Component.” (this will be the Child Mesh that I eventually want to attach to the Parent Mesh inside CharBP.)
4. But how do I initialize/make/set this “Skinned Mesh Component” variable to something other than None [on BeginPlay or Event]?

• I.e. how do I make a “Skinned Mesh Component” from scratch, when my code is not inside a CharacterBP (thus I cannot create Components [in an Actor Component], I can only create blank variables)?
• • And I cannot (dont want to) feed a Child Skinned Mesh comp (variable) > from CharBP > to BPC - because then I’d have to create a copy of Skinned Mesh comp (variable) inside CharBP, …
• • which defeats my goal of having a Modular Component (an Actor Component (BPC) that I can add to any CharBP, and change custom variables inside the BPC, instead of in CharBP).

Goals:

1. I know how to set a Modular Mesh system inside a CharBP. But I want the logic to be inside an Actor Component, which is INSIDE the CharBP. Thus Goal 1 is how to initialize/make/set the “Skinned Mesh Variable” to something other than None, at begin play of the BPC.
2. So that during Runtime, I can trigger an Event inside CharBP >> then:

• trigger Event inside BPC (send only Char’s Parent Mesh) >>
  

  

• then change BPC’s internal “Skinned Mesh Variable” to a new SK > and Set it to copy Master Pose (using Char’s Parent Mesh) >>
  

  

• then display/attach [BPC’s internal “Skinned Mesh Variable”] to CharBP’s Parent Mesh.

Please help, ty

[XxNotAGamerxX]

So Actor Components seem too restrictive for Mesh ops. (And thus wasting my exploring time, not giving me the option to move Mesh ops outside of CharBP.)

• I cant copy this node into Component graph: “Add Skeletal Mesh Component” (Even if I cant attach Comps to Actor Comp, I wanted the pin (green circle) to be fed from Char BP, while the Event/node fires within the Actor Comp).
  
  

1. The original question was how to make a Skinned Mesh variable (which is actually a Component variable, not Object variable).
2. And the purple circle pin gives me an output of Skeletal Mesh COMP, which I need to get a Skinned Mesh COMP > so that I can use the Set Skel Mesh node.
3. And I wanted to put this [create Mesh comp > Set mesh SK] code in an Actor component (“BPC”), on an array (add meshes as needed), instead of putting messy code in CharBP. But now I cant (since I cant paste Add Skel Mesh Comp node into the Actor Component BPC).

And Child Actor also seems too restrictive > cant set variables of Child actor, in the Instance of Parent BP. (I.e. if I place CharBP in map, then I cant edit Child actor’s vars > to make unique characters. I want Parent’s Construct to use updated Child’s vars > and produce a change (unique characters). But it doesnt work.)

Anyone know a workaround to compartmentalize? (to put all my Mesh ops/set Master/Leader code in [somewhere other than CharBP])