What's The Proper Way To Get Game Object From Editor Script As A Buffer?

[vini-guerrero]

Hello!, hey there.

Considering a Unity Plugin/Tool based on a custom Editor Window, what's the correct approach to load a buffer and retrieve it's GameObject (no instancing, just dynamic reference of the game object)?
I'm not storing the file locally, project requires a buffer since it will be used just for rendering a thumbnail.

// asset_glb - httpResponse.Content.ReadAsByteArrayAsync().Result Buffer
var gameObj = new GameObject();
var gltf = new GltfImport();
gameObj = gltf.LoadGltfBinary(asset_glb);

[atteneder]

Hi,

not sure I understand. You want to load a glTF-binary from a byte[] and access a GameObject without instantiation of a scene?

That is not really feasible. Do you mean you want to query (parital) information without displaying the scene or having the glTF's content show up? Please elaborate your use-case.

[vini-guerrero]

Yes, correctly, because the intention is for this dynamic Game Object to be used as input for Unity's PreviewRenderUtility (AddSingleGO).
It will be the source for Editor Window render a thumbnail of the mesh/material.
The goal is to not change user's project hierarchy or store unnecessary local files since it's just a thumbnail (multiple API results).
What's the recommended approach for loading this buffer with glTFast?

It's not meat for a "Runtime" in Game, rather an Editor tool, but not using Unity's Import/Export menus.

[atteneder]

I see.
There's no way around creating an instance. What I'd try is to create the GameObject(s) hidden by default (root GameObject not active and hidden in hierarchy).

You might have to create a custom IInstantiator, but maybe something like this does the trick:

// asset_glb - httpResponse.Content.ReadAsByteArrayAsync().Result Buffer
var gameObj = new GameObject("root");
gameObj.SetActive(false);
gameObj.hideFlags = HideFlags.HideInHierarchy;
var gltf = new GltfImport();
await gltf.LoadGltfBinary(asset_glb);
await gltf.InstantiateMainSceneAsync(gameObj.transform);

hth

[vini-guerrero]

But this still requires it to run under Play Mode correct? Will throw the same error for Editor Window plugin.

[atteneder]

It should work in edit mode as well, as long as you don't run it async. See GltfImporter as an example.

[vini-guerrero]

Thanks @atteneder I will give it a try!