Prefabs in Scene2Ds

In order to use Prefabs, one must understand the different ways to manipulate them. This is detailed in the following sections:

• Creating Prefabs

  • Objects Within a Frame

  • Objects Outside of a Frame

• Editing the Prefab Asset

• Editing a Prefab Instance

• Unpacking a Prefab

Creating Prefabs

To create a Prefab, go to the Scene Outliner and select the Objects that will compose the Prefab, then right-click and click on Make Prefab. This will create a Prefab consisting of the selected Objects and a new Prefab Asset will be generated in the Asset Manager.

Creating a Prefab.

New instances of the Prefab can be created by either duplicating the existing Prefab in the Scene Outliner or by dragging the Prefab Asset from the Asset Manager to the Scene Outliner or the Scene.

Creating new instances of a Prefab.

For creating Prefabs in Scene2Ds, there are two cases to consider: if Objects are already a part of a Frame or if they are standalone.

Objects Within a Frame

Making a Prefab in a Scene2D from an already existing Frame will create a new Prefab and put the Frame child Objects into a Prefab (essentially a Frame), and not the original Frame itself. All the properties of the initial Frame will be copied into the newly created Prefab.

See an example below. Here, a Prefab is created from a Frame with a vertical Layout that contains two Sliders.

Before Making into Prefab.

After Making into Prefab.

Note that the Prefab consists of the two Sliders that were children of the Frame, as well as the Frame's Layout property that was set to vertical.

Objects Outside of a Frame

Creating a Prefab from multiple Objects that are not already part of a Frame will result in a Prefab (essentially a Frame). It will contain default properties and all the Objects that were packed into the Prefab.

See an example below:

Before Making into Prefab.

After Making into Prefab.

Editing the Prefab Asset

To edit the Prefab Asset, double-click the Prefab in the Asset Manager. This will open the Prefab View in both the Scene Outliner and Attribute Editor. It is also possible to right-click on the Prefab in the Scene Outliner and click the Edit Prefab button.

Editing Prefab from Scene Outliner.

Editing the Prefab Asset.

The Prefab View is indicated by a purple circle. Changes made here affect all instances of the Prefab.

For the changes made in the Prefab Asset to take effect, it is necessary to save them by pressing the Save prefab button on the top right corner of the Viewport.

Prefab view.

Editing a Prefab Instance

Each Instance of a Prefab can be modified on its own and this overrides the Attributes from the Prefab Asset. To do this, simply edit the Object in the Prefab instance.

Prefab instance override.

Unpacking a Prefab

Unpacking a Prefab in a Scene2D will result in a new Frame that has all the properties that were set for the Prefab. The new Frame is essentially a copy of the Prefab.

Before Unpacking.

After Unpacking.

In the case of a Prefab that contains only one Frame as a child, the Frame will be moved to the position of the Prefab parent.

Before Unpacking.

After Unpacking.

When unpacked, the Objects of a Prefab will be moved to the same level in the Scene Hierarchy that the Prefab was on. This means that the parent of the Prefab is now the parent of the Objects and not the Prefab. The Prefab Instance is also deleted.

Any edits given to Objects of a Prefab via overrides remain once unpacked.