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Construct Prefabs

Use the previously defined components to construct prefabs and create a puzzle.

Construct Prefabs
Learn to use this Beta feature, but use caution when shipping with it.

Prefabs are hierarchies of entities and components you can use to construct reusable gameplay objects in UEFN.

This page walks you through the creation of five different prefabs:

  • Prefab_TriggerableMesh

  • Prefab_TriggerableLight

  • Prefab_TriggerableMovingMesh

  • Prefab_PuzzleManager

  • Prefab_Trigger

Triggerable Mesh Prefab

The Prefab_TriggerableMesh is a prefab with the following hierarchy:

  • Entity: transform_component, mesh_component, triggerable_mesh_component

The transform_component is included on all entities by default. This is because all entities physically exist in the level and, in order to exist in the level, they must have a transform that enables them to be located. To create the Prefab_TriggerableMesh, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to the Quickly Add to Project button and place an actor by dragging Entities > entity into the level.  

    Add an entity to the scene from the Place Actors dropdown menu.
    Click to enlarge image.

  2. Rename the entity by right-clicking the entity in the Outliner and selecting Edit > Rename then changing the name to Prefab_TriggerableMesh.  

    Right click on an entity in the Outliner to rename it from the context menu.
    Click to enlarge image.

  3. Add the mesh_component.undefined

    • Navigate to your Prefab_TriggerableMesh entity then click the +Component button in the Details Panel and search for mesh_component.

      Add the mesh_component to the Prefab_TriggerableMesh entity.
      Click to enlarge image.

    • Once you search for mesh_component, you must choose a specific mesh. In this case, choose the provided plane basic shape mesh.

      Select a Plane from the mesh dropdown menu.
      Click to enlarge image.

  4. Add the triggerable_mesh_component. Navigate to your Prefab_TriggerableMesh entity then click the +Component button in the Details panel and search for triggerable_mesh_component.

    Add the triggerable_mesh_component to the Prefab_TriggerableMesh entity.
    Click to enlarge iamge.

  5. To make this a prefab, right-click on the Prefab_TriggerableMesh and select Save As Prefab…

    Save the Entity as a Prefab from the right-click context menu in the Outliner.
    Click to enlarge image.

  6. A Create New Prefab dialog pops up where you can change the name of your new class or choose the content path for your class. Once you are satisfied with your choices, choose Create Entity Class. You can now choose this prefab in the Content Browser and place it in the level to use and configure each instance as you want.

    Name your new entity class from the pop-up dialog.
    Click to enlarge image.

You'll repeat a similar process for the other prefabs you create in this project.

Triggerable Light PrefabThe Prefab_TriggerableLight is a prefab with the following hierarchy:

  • Entity: transform_component, triggerable_light_component

    • Entity: transform_component, mesh_component

    • Entity: transform_component, mesh_component, light_component

To create the Prefab_TriggerableLight, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to the Quickly Add to Project button and place an actor by dragging Entities > entity into the level.

    Add an entity from the Place Actors dropdown menu.
    Click to enlarge image.

  2. Rename the entity by right-clicking the entity in the Outliner and selecting Edit > Rename then change the name to Prefab_TriggerableMesh.

    Rename your entity using the Outliner's right-click context menu.
    Click to enlarge image.

  3. Add the triggerable_light_component. Navigate to your Prefab_TriggerableLight entity clicking the + Component button and searching for triggerable_light_component.

    Add the triggerable_light_component to the entity.
    Click to enlarge image.

  4. Navigate to the Prefab_TriggerableLight entity in the Outliner. Right-click on the entity and choose Add Entity… > entity. Rename this entity to LightOff.

    Select the Prefab_TriggerableLight entity then right-click and select Add Entity from the dropdown context menu.
    Click to enlarge image.

  5. Customize the LightOff entity.

    1. Choose the LightOff entity in the Outliner. Navigate to the Details Panel and click the +Component button to add a mesh_component, then choose the sphere mesh.

      Add a mesh component to the new entity.
      Click to enlarge image.

  6. Navigate to the Prefab_TriggerableLight entity in the Outliner. Right-click the entity and choose Add Entity… > entity. Rename this entity to LightOn.

  7. Customize the LightOn entity.

    1. Choose the LightOn entity in the Outliner. Navigate to the Details panel and click the +Component button to add a mesh_component, then choose sphere mesh. Change the following editable fields on the mesh_component to:  

      •   Uncheck the Enabled checkbox.  

      Click to enlarge image.

    2. Choose the LightOn entity in the Outliner. Navigate to the Details panel and click the + Component button to add a sphere_light_component. Change the following editable fields on the sphere_light_component to:

      • Uncheck the Enabled checkbox.

      • Intensity: 10.0

      • AttenuationRadius: 1000.0

      • SourceRadius: 50.0

      Click to enlarge iamge.

  8. To make this a prefab, right-click the Prefab_TriggerableLight and select Save As Prefab…

    Select the Prefab_TriggerableLight entity, then right-click and select Save as Prefab.
    Click to enlarge image.

  9. A Create New Prefab dialog pops up where you can change the name of your new class or choose the content path for your class. Once you are satisfied, choose Create Entity Class. You can now select this prefab in the Content Browser, place it in the level to use, and configure each instance as you want.

    Turn the prefab into an Entity Class.
    Click to enlarge image.

Triggerable Moving Mesh PrefabThe Prefab_TriggerableMovingMesh is a prefab with the following hierarchy:

  • Entity: transform_component, triggerable_movement_component, mesh_component

    • Entity: transform_component

    • Entity: transform_component

To create the Prefab_TriggerableMovingMesh, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to the Quickly Add to Project button and place an actor by dragging Entities > entity into the level.

    Open the Place Actors dropdown menu and select Entity > entity.
    Click to enlarge image.

  2. Rename the entity by right-clicking the entity in the Outliner and selecting Edit > Rename, then change the name to Prefab_TriggerableMovingMesh.

    Select the entity from the Outliner and use the right-click menu to rename the entity.
    Click to enlarge image.

  3. Add the triggerable_movement_component. Navigate to your Prefab_TriggerableMovingMesh entity clicking the +Component button and searching for triggerable_movement_component.

    Add the triggerable_movement_component to the Prefab_TriggerableMovingMesh.
    Click to enlarge image.

  4. Add the keyframed_movement_component. Navigate to your Prefab_TriggerableMovingMesh entity by clicking the +Component button and searching for keyframed_movement_component.

    Add the Keyframed_movement_component to the Prefab_TriggerableMovingMesh.
    Click to enlarge image.

  5. Add the mesh_component.

    • Navigate to your Prefab_TriggerableMovingMesh entity by clicking the +Component button and searching for mesh_component.

    • Once you search for mesh_component, you must choose a specific mesh. In this case, choose the provided plane basic shape mesh.

    Add a plane mesh to the Prefab_TriggerableMovingMesh entity.
    Click to enlarge image.

  6. Navigate to the Prefab_TriggerableMovingMesh entity in the Outliner. Right-click the entity and choose Add Entity… > entity. Rename this entity to TransformOne.

    Rename the new entity to Trasnform 1.
    Click to enlarge image.

  7. Navigate to the Prefab_TriggerableMovingMesh entity in the Outliner. Right-click the entity and choose Add Entity… > entity. Rename this entity to TransformTwo.

    Rename the new entity to Transform 2.
    Click to enlarge image.

  8. Make this a prefab by right-clicking the Prefab_TriggerableMovingMesh and selecting Save As Prefab…

    Save entities as a prefab.
    Click to enlarge image.

  9. A Create New Prefab dialog pops up where you can change the name of your new class or choose the content path for your class. Once you are satisfied , choose Create entity Class. You can now choose this prefab in the Content Browser, place it in the level to use, and configure each instance as you wish.

    Turn prefab into an entity class.
    Click to enlarge image.

Puzzle Manager Prefab

The Prefab_PuzzleManager is a prefab with the following hierarchy:

  • Entity: transform_component, puzzle_component

To create the Prefab_PuzzleManager, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to the Quickly Add to Project button and place an actor by dragging Entities > entity into the level.

    Open the Place Actors dropdown menu and select Entity > entity.
    Click to enlarge image.

  2. Rename the entity by right-clicking the entity in the Outliner, selecting Edit > Rename, and changing the name to Prefab_PuzzleManager.  

    Rename the entity.
    Click to enlarge image.

  3. Add the puzzle_component. Navigate to your Prefab_PuzzleManager entity clicking the +Component button and searching for puzzle_component.  

    Add the puzzle_component to the entity.
    Click to enlarge image.

  4. Make this a prefab by right-clicking the Prefab_PuzzleManager and selecting Save As Prefab… .

    Save the entity as a prefab.
    Click to enlarge image.

  5. A Create New Prefab dialog pops up where you can change the name of your new class or choose the content path for your class. Once you are satisfied, choose Create Entity Class. You can now choose this prefab in the Content Browser, place it in the level to use, and configure each instance as you wish.  

    Turn the prefab into an entity class.
    Click to enlarge image.

Trigger Prefab

The Prefab_Trigger is a prefab with the following hierarchy:

  • Entity: transform_component, trigger_component, mesh_component

To create the Prefab_Trigger, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to the Quickly Add to Project button and place an actor by dragging Entities > entity into the level.

    Select Entity form the Place Actors dropdown mene.
    Click to enlarge image.

  2. Rename the entity by right-clicking the entity in the Outliner, selecting Edit > Rename, and changing the name to Prefab_Trigger.

    Rename the entity to Prefab_Trigger.
    Click to enlarge image.

  3. Add the trigger_component. Navigate to your Prefab_Trigger entity by clicking the +Component button and searching for trigger_component.  

    Add the trigger_component to the entity.
    Click to enlarge image.

  4.   Add the mesh_component.

    • Navigate to your Prefab_Trigger entity by clicking the + Component button and searching for mesh_component.

    • Once you search for mesh_component, you must choose a specific mesh. In this case, choose the provided plane basic shape mesh.  

    Add a mesh_component to the entity and select a plane mesh.
    click to enlarge image.

  5. Make this a prefab by right-clicking the Prefab_Trigger and selecting Save As Prefab… .

    Save the entity as a prefab.
    Click to enlarge image.

  6. A Create New Prefab dialog pops up where you can change the name of your new class or choose the content path for your class. Once you are satisfied, choose Create Entity Class. You can now choose this prefab in the Content Browser, place it in the level to use, and configure each instance as you want.  

    Turn the prefab into an entity class.
    Click to enlarge image.

Next Steps

Now that all prefabs have been constructed from Scene Graph entities and components, all these pieces can be put together to create a puzzle in UEFN.

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