Text object can't be searched for with GameObject.Find

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Using Unity 5.1. I am creating a network (multiplayer) instantiated player object that has four cameras the player can choose from (forward, back, left, right). I also have a GUI HUD with a Text object names "Camera Label" for displaying the name of the currently active camera. The problem is getting a reference to Camera Label from the script that controls the camera switching (attached to the player prefab). For instance, if I do the following . . .

 Text cameraLabel = GameObject.Find ("Canvas/Camera Label");

. . . I get the following error:

 Assets/Scripts/CameraControl.cs(22,25): error CS0029: Cannot implicitly convert type `UnityEngine.GameObject' to `UnityEngine.UI.Text'

Looks like UI objects don't inherit from GameObject. Any suggestions here? How can I get a reference to a Text object at runtime? (Yes, I know that in normal circumstances, I could make the Text variable public and then link it to Camera Label in the inspector. But remember, this is a network-instantiated prefab, so the link needs to happen in the Start() function. I can't rely on public variables.)

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

Best Answer

Answer by MrMeows · Oct 25, 2015 at 03:48 AM

That error will occur with all components, not just UI.Text. You need to use GetComponent.

Text cameraLabel = GameObject.Find ("Canvas/Camera Label").GetComponent[UnityEngine.UI.Text]();

Replace those square brackets with angle brackets, and it will work fine.

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fafase · Oct 25, 2015 at 06:50 AM 0

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the

are showing fine in code section why using []?

MrMeows fafase · Oct 25, 2015 at 04:44 PM 1

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Are there supposed to be angle brackets in that comment? If so, I do not see them.

fafase MrMeows · Oct 25, 2015 at 05:21 PM 0

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Damn they showed for a while and...left...Logically, those that cannot be written are showing in code section. At least they used to before the move to the new Unity Answers.

starikcetin · Oct 26, 2015 at 05:25 PM 0

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For performance and readability reasons, if a type is being used more than a reasonable amount in the script, then it would be a good idea to add it's namespace at the top of the script like using blah.blah;

Answer 2

Answer by OncaLupe · Oct 25, 2015 at 04:51 PM

GameObject.Find returns the object, but you're trying to get a specific component on that object. Try this:

 Text cameraLabel = GameObject.Find("Canvas/Camera Label").GetComponent<Text>();

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MrMeows · Oct 25, 2015 at 05:10 PM 0

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There is no component called "Text." You have to use "UnityEngine.UI.Text."

fafase · Oct 25, 2015 at 05:22 PM 1

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You can add at the top:

 using UnityEngine.UI;

Answer 3

Answer by theOtherHolmes · Oct 26, 2015 at 12:02 PM

@MrMeows - your solution worked (with angle brackets, of course). Thanks.

(BTW, @OncaLupe and @fafase - I had UnityEngine.UI in my "using" statements, but your suggestion still produced this error: " Assets/Scripts/CameraControl.cs(23,25): error CS0428: Cannot convert method group GetComponent' to non-delegate type UnityEngine.UI.Text'. Consider using parentheses to invoke the method.")

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OncaLupe · Oct 26, 2015 at 04:36 PM 0

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Make sure you have the () after the angle brackets on the GetComponent, since it's a method you're calling they are needed.

Text object can't be searched for with GameObject.Find

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