What are good ways to store a simple set of data/variables on an object

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Hi, I am currently working on a project that involves a slot inventory system and everything about how the items being picked up/used/crafted etc, are identified is from a set of variables in a script on the object representing the item or icon representing it in the inventory. This is working great but the script I am storing them in is just a normal monobehaivour script with public variables that i fill in inspector. I am assuming that because the script is literally just holding some variables and not actually doing/running anything that there may be a better way to store the variables on the item objects. Also like mentioned I need to make these variables public which by my understanding is good to avoid if possible.

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Answer by Stratosome · Jul 15, 2018 at 09:46 PM

So, you have a MonoBehaviour that is just a set of variables? And do you have another MonoBehavior then that actually manages your inventory system and just gets the other scripts variables? You could always make just a basic class that doesn't extend MonoBehaviour and then make a variable for that class in your main script. A struct could also do the same (similar to a class, but isn't passed around by reference). If you need to be able to modify these variables, there are a few options. If you make a class or struct to hold these variables, you could add [System.Serializable] above the class/struct to get it to show up in the inspector. Another cool way to go about this is to use ScriptableObjects. It's a way to kind of make a prefab that holds configuration settings for something in your scene. Or that's at least one example of how to use them. I also don't think that just having a MonoBehaviour to hold some variables for inventory settings isn't all that bad. Not sure what the BEST way to do it is, but those are some options.

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MezFo · Jul 15, 2018 at 10:26 PM 0

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Just been reading the docs on those, looks like exactly what i'm looking for. Thanks!

Stratosome MezFo · Jul 15, 2018 at 10:39 PM 0

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Awesome. Let me know if you have other questions on them. It's about the best I could do given the details of your initial question.

Answer 2

Answer by ShadyProductions · Jul 15, 2018 at 09:38 PM

I usually make an xml file with the item structure in it, where I setup all my items. And write some custom xml parser class to load in all my items at startup based on the xml file using Linq-to-xml, This also allows (mod support) in the future if people wanna add items of their own. Another good way is to use Scriptable Objects.

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Stratosome · Jul 15, 2018 at 09:47 PM 0

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Yup, that's another way to do it. Haven't used xml stuff myself yet.

What are good ways to store a simple set of data/variables on an object

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