Game Master: Entity Property Creation – Arma Reforger

Entity Properties are properties the Game Master can modify by using the Edit Properties option on an entity; the properties can be fuel, health, bleeding etc. This guide will help in setting up these Properties and how to create a custom property layout.

Preparation

There are a few questions to be considered regarding properties:

What will the property affect/edit

Properties always need a replicated target. In most cases this are entities such as Characters, Vehicles and so on. In some cases for more global usage the Game Mode is the target (or the respawn component for Game End Attributes).

If a property targets a specific entity then it generally edits that entity's properties (like character health), whereas more global properties that use the Game Mode as a target tend to use it to make sure that all the properties are in one place but then get other components (like the TimeAndWeatherManagerEntity or the RespawnComponent) to actually change settings (so this is outside of the game mode rather then the gamemode itself).

In which mode(s) will the property be available

In general properties are specific to an editor mode. Like changing a player character's health can only be done in Edit mode whereas changing the player's access to modes can only be done in Admin mode.

The type of layout

Will the property modification UI be a drop-down, checkbox, slider or maybe even something more custom.

Have all these questions been addressed? Good! This guide will now explain the creation of a simple property as well as a custom property layout.

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In game files, Properties are called Attributes.

Script Creation

Base Classes

Attribute scripts are located in Data\scripts\Game\Editor\Containers\Attributes.

Class	Description
SCR_RespawnEnabledEditorAttribute	Global attribute Uses a Bool
SCR_AmbientSoundToggleEditorAttribute	Global attribute Uses a Bool
SCR_FuelEditorAttribute	Entity attribute Uses a Float
SCR_PlayableFactionsEditorAttribute	Button attribute Slightly more advanced Uses an Int as flag

Methods

Method	Description	Usage
ReadVariable()	This is where the attribute variable is created, somewhat equal to an init combined with the ShouldShow method. The attributeVar is the variable that the Attribute layout will get and set. Event though there are type-dedicated static methods (CreateInt, CreateBool, CreateFloat and CreateVector), data will always be saved as a Vector.	Check if the Managed item is the item your attribute uses If not return null Check if any other scripts that the attributes need to exist; e.g editorManager or Respawn component If not return null If it passes the tests above then you will create your AttributeVar. Do this by using one of the following methods: return SCR_BaseEditorAttributeVar.CreateInt(YOUR_INT); return SCR_BaseEditorAttributeVar.CreateBool(YOUR_BOOL); return SCR_BaseEditorAttributeVar.CreateFloat(YOUR_FLOAT); return SCR_BaseEditorAttributeVar.CreateVector(YOUR_VECTOR); The attribute will now be displayed as it will return the SCR_BaseEditorAttributeVar instead of null.
WriteVariable()	Similar to ReadVariable() but instead this is where you actually get the changed SCR_BaseEditorAttributeVar to set it again. Note that AttributeVars that were not changed by the user will never get their WriteVariable() called. The system will handle this.	First add a safety if the var exists. if (!var) return; Same as the checks for any scripts that this attribute needs which you checked in ReadVariable() If you needed editorManager then once again check if it exists else return Once that is done you can use the AttributeVar to get the get variable again you set in a similar way: var.GetInt(); var.GetBool(); var.GetFloat(); var.GetVector(); Use these var to change anything in the component/entity you want
GetEntries()	Use this to send over any additional data for the attribute. Think of the buttons that need to be displayed or the min, max and steps of the slider. Note that this is not replicated even if using the IsServer value (See Config Modding below)	Most existing scripts already handle this data as they inherit from: SCR_BasePresetsEditorAttribute - used for buttons SCR_BaseMultiSelectPresetsEditorAttribute - used for multi select buttons SCR_BaseFloatValueHolderEditorAttribute - used for drop downs and Spin boxes SCR_BaseValueListEditorAttribute - used for sliders
PreviewVariable()	Is called every time the variable is set via the user input; use this if you want to display previews	See SCR_WeatherInstantEditorAttribute how it is used there

Layout Selection

Most of the times, the default layouts will be enough to cover an attribute. Attribute layouts are located in UI\layouts\Editor\Attributes\AttributePrefabs.

Layout	Variable Type	Description
AttributePrefab_Checkbox.layout	Bool	A simple true/false checkbox
AttributePrefab_Slider.layout	Float	A slider which sets a float
AttributePrefab_Dropdown.layout	Int	Gets an array of elements and uses int as index and only one element can be selected
AttributePrefab_Spinbox.layout	Int	Gets an array of elements and uses int as index and only one element can be selected
AttributePrefab_ButtonBox_Selection.layout	Int	Gets an array of elements and uses int as index and only one element can be selected
AttributePrefab_ButtonBox_MultiSelection.layout	Vector	A bit more complicated as it uses flags to allow multiselection of elements (buttons)

Layout Creation

1. Create a new layout
2. Drag in Attributes.layout as a child. This takes care of all the sizing, descriptions, locking and unlocking attributes when multi editing entities and so on.
3. Locate the AttributeHolder widget within the Hierarchy. This is where we will be adding the actual unique attribute.
4. The attribute system uses the widget library, so the WLib_Slider.layout slider will be used for the example. Drag this to the new attribute layout and set it as a child of the AttributeHolder Widget.
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   It is also possible to create a more custom layout; check Date.layout for a very custom attribute, although it still uses the widget library for the elements within it.
5. It is time to add the layout component to the widget's root - the Slider one already exists and we can add it: SCR_SliderEditorAttributeUIComponent. Note that each attribute variable type will have its layout script and you might want to have your own custom script here.
6. Lastly we will need to fill in the variables. Some of them are already filled in.

Variable	Description
UI Component Name	This is the name of the widget added to the Attribute Holder - "SliderRoot0" in the case of our slider
Conflicting Attribute UI Info	Set the Class by pressing the button and fill it in the same as the image or use the drop down below to fill in the the variables of the UIInfo. The system will complain if these fields are not filled in as well as if it is not a global attribute. Copy the following to the UI info to make sure it is filled in correctly. You can also check the existing attributes as examples. Description: #AR-Editor_AttributeConflicting_Description Icon: Attribute_Locked.edds ⓘ This system may be refactored, changed or removed in the future as it needs to be filled for every new attribute and it is prone to mistakes.

Layout Scripting

We will go over some methods of the layout script. Each of the above layouts have their own scripts that inherit from SCR_BaseEditorAttributeUIComponent.

Method	Description
Init()	This is where the system can get any data sent via the GetEntries() method
SetVariableToDefaultValue()	This is the value displayed if multi selecting entities and those entities have conflicting values for the same attribute
SetFromVar()	This is called on init and reset and sets the attribute UI to the actual value of the AttributeVar
OnChange()	Use this method to get and then set the AttributeVar eg: var.SetBool(x);

Config Modding

Add to Config

With the knowledge above you can create a basic Bool attribute. In Script Editor, create a new attribute script which inherits from SCR_BaseEditorAttribute. Take SCR_RespawnEnabledEditorAttribute as an example (ReadVariable() and WriteVariable() methods only). Once the attribute is made, locate the config to which you want to add the attribute. Locate the correct config to which to add the attribute; attribute configs are located in Data\Configs\Editor\AttributeLists.

Config	Description
Edit.conf	The default editor mode a.k.a Game Master mode. This is typically the mode to which you want to add most of the new attributes. The fact that any player can technically become Game Master must be considered.
Photo.conf	This is the photomode all players (by default) have access to. It typically has only global attributes.
Admin.conf	This is the admin mode to which only server admins (host or config-declared admins) have access. Here should be added any attribute that should be handled with care, e.g setting mode access for all players.

Open the config, click the + button and select the wanted attribute class.

Fill UI Info

Press the "Set Class" button to create the UI Info for the attribute.

Variable	Description
Name	The name of the attribute
Description	Displayed when focusing on the attribute to explain what the attribute does
Icon	Only used if using the OverrideDescription(), this will display an icon in front of the description
Description Icon Color	Used in combination with Icon and sets the color of said icon when displayed

Additional Properties

The following are some additional attribute variables that are required as well as some more advanced attributes and their variables.

Variable	Description
Is Server	If the ReadVariable() and WriteVariable() are only called on server. Take note that it does not affect most other methods, those are still called on client like GetEntries() and PreviewVariable().
Category Config	This determents which tap in the attribute UI the attribute is displayed. Currently all attribute categories are listed in Data\Configs\Editor\AttributeCategories
Layout	This is the layout as described in the steps above

Slider

Inherit from SCR_BaseValueListEditorAttribute to easily use sliders - this will provide the following variables:

Variable	Description
Slider Value formating	How the slider value will be displayed, %1 being the float value
Min	The minimum value of the slider
Max	The maximum value of the slider
Steps	Each step of the slider will add/remove this amount
Decimals	When displaying the value how many decimals are shown

Note that theses values can be set within the GetEntries() so you do not need to fill them in the config.

Dropdown/Spinbox

Inherit from SCR_BaseFloatValueHolderEditorAttribute for Dropdowns and Spinboxes. This will give you a Values array. Each element in the array correspond with an element in the Dropdown/Spinbox. As with all these you do not need to fill in the array within the config but instead dynamically fill it in within the GetEntries() method.

Variable	Description
Icon	Not supported by default for dropdowns and spinboxes
Entry name	Name of element as displayed in dropdown/spinbox
Entry Description	Not supported by default for spinboxes and dropdowns
Float value	This value can be obtained within the WriteVariable() using the AttributeVar.GetInt as index

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Check the GetEntries() method in SCR_WindDirectionEditorAttribute to see a dynamically filled-in array, and check SCR_KillfeedTypeEditorAttribute to see how to set up an Enum array that does not count up from 0 as by default the attribute works with indexes and not enum values.

Selection Button

A selection button only allows for one button to be selected at the time. Inherent from SCR_BasePresetsEditorAttribute to use this.

Variable	Description
Values	See Dropdown/Spinbox as it is mostly the same. It is highly advised to fill this dynamically. Use CreatePresets() for this.
Values > Icon	Icon of element within the button if "Use Icon" (below) is true
Values > Description	If hovering over the button this is the description given. This means the user can get some more information about what each button does. Only shown if Has "Button Description:  (below) is true. And will be %1 within the "Button Description" string (below)
Buttons On Row	How many buttons will be displayed on one row
Has Randomize Button	Will have a randomize button that if selected will select any of the other buttons at random
Randomize button Icon	The icon used for the randomize button
Use Icon	It will use the Icon used in the Values array if true. Else it will add the Name as text
Button Description	The description shown when hovering over buttons. %1 param that is filled in with the Element Description
Button Height	Height of the buttons

Multiselection Button

This is the most complicated of the attribute types as it uses flags to set values, though there is some support for this. Inherit from SCR_BaseMultiSelectPresetsEditorAttribute which has methods to convert an array of bools to flags and converting the flags back to a readable array of bools. Check SCR_PlayableFactionsEditorAttribute for a use case. The most important part is that super.ReadVariable() and super.WriteVariable() need to be called at the right locations.

You can also use custom flags instead of an array of bools. See SCR_ModesEditorAttribute and the layout component SCR_OverrideModesEditorAttributeUIComponent for a use case.

We will not go into further details, just know that the variables in the config are the same as Selection Button - only the layout is different.

Dynamic Description

The Dynamic Description system changes the attribute's description depending on its value. It is great if you want to warn the player that something major will happen if the attribute changes are applied, like setting a character's blood to 0 will kill the character. It is possible to have multiple descriptions.

Variables

Some base variables to highlight:

Variable	Description
Description Display info	This is similar to the attribute UI info and the variables: description, Icon and color are used to display the description. Only Description is required.
Enabled	If false, the description will never show.
Only Show if Condition Changed	This is available for most base attributes (though not always available for custom) If true it will only set the description if the value changed. If you open the attributes and the Dynamic description is valid to display it will not if this is set to true, only when it is set to it.

Classes

SCR_BoolAttributeDynamicDescription	Shows a custom description if the bool value is met (either true or false) and mainly used for checkboxes.
SCR_ValueAttributeDynamicDescription	Shows a custom description if a specific value is met. This could be anywhere to if the value equals, greater than, less than etc.