UBlueprintFunctionLibrary class in Unreal Engine

Author: Vladimír Nepor
Published on

A base class for any function libraries exposed to blueprints. It is also useful for working with data, files and other properties right in the Editor mode.

UBlueprintFunctionLibrary is a very usefull Class when there's a need to e.g. work with data and files right in editor (for their preparation and simpliefied development), without need to switch to runtime.

Creating assets with C++ & UBlueprintFunctionLibrary

#include "Kismet/BlueprintFunctionLibrary.h" // Engine
UCLASS()
class UExampleClass : public UBlueprintFunctionLibrary
{
 GENERATED_BODY()

public:
/**
 * Editor Only - Will not work in packaged build.
 *
 * Create an asset.
 *
 * @param AssetPath	The path of where to create the asset: "/Game/Folder/MyAsset"
 * @param AssetClass	The class of the asset to create
 * @param AssetFactory	Optional. The factory to use to create the asset
 * @param bOutSuccess	If the action was a success or not
 * @param OutInfoMsg	More information about the action's result
 *
 * @return The created asset
 */
UFUNCTION(BlueprintCallable, Category = " ... ")
static UObject* CreateAsset(FString AssetPath, UClass* AssetClass, class UFactory* AssetFactory, bool& bOutSuccess, FString& OutInfoMsg);
}

.cpp file - CreateAsset function

#include "AssetToolsModule.h" // AssetTools (Editor Only)*

UObject* UExampleClass::CreateAsset(FString AssetPath, UClass* AssetClass, UFactory* AssetFactory, bool& bOutSuccess, FString& OutInfoMsg)
{
 // Get the asset tools module
 IAssetTools& AssetTools = FModuleManager::GetModuleChecked<FAssetToolsModule>("AssetTools").Get();

 // Find right factory
 UFactory* Factory = AssetFactory;
 if (Factory == nullptr)
 { 
   for (UFactory* Fac : AssetTools.GetNewAssetFactories())
   {
      if (Fac->SupportedClass == AssetClass)
      {
         Factory = Fac;
         break;
      }
   }

   if (Factory == nullptr)
   {
     bOutSuccess = false;
     OutInfoMsg = FString::Printf(TEXT("Create Asset Failed - Was not able to find factory for AssetClass. '%s'"), *AssetPath);
     return nullptr;
   }
 }

 // Can factory create the desired asset?
 if (Factory->SupportedClass != AssetClass)
 {
   bOutSuccess = false;
   OutInfoMsg = FString::Printf(TEXT("Create Asset Failed - Factory cannot create desired AssetClass. '%s'"), *AssetPath);
   return nullptr;
 }

 // Create asset
 UObject* Asset = AssetTools.CreateAsset(FPaths::GetBaseFilename(AssetPath), FPaths::GetPath(AssetPath), AssetClass, Factory);

  // Make sure it worked
  if (Asset == nullptr)
  {
    bOutSuccess = false;
    OutInfoMsg = FString::Printf(TEXT("Create Asset Failed - Either the path is invalid or the asset already exists. '%s'"), *AssetPath);
    return nullptr;
  }

  // Return the asset
  bOutSuccess = true;
  OutInfoMsg = FString::Printf(TEXT("Create Asset Succeeded - '%s'"), *AssetPath);
  return Asset;
}

* As of AssetToolsModule.h is AssetTools type of dependency, that is not attached to the project by default, it must be added to .Build.cs file manually.

PrivateDependencyModuleNames.AddRange
(
 new string[]
  { 
   // Default Modules
   "Core", 
   "CoreUObject", 
   "Engine", 
   // New Modules - Editor Only
   "AssetTools",
  }
);

Creating various kind of assets

  • World asset

    #include "Engine/World.h" // Engine
#include "Factories/WorldFactory.h" // "UnrealEd" (Editor Only) - dependency must be added to .Build.cs file
/**
 * Editor Only - Will not work in packaged build.
 *
 * Create a World asset.
 *
 * @param AssetPath	The path of where to create the asset: "/Game/Folder/MyAsset"
 * @param bOutSuccess	If the action was a success or not
 * @param OutInfoMsg	More information about the action's result
 *
 * @return The created asset
 */
UWorld* UExampleClass::CreateWorldAsset(FString AssetPath, bool& bOutSuccess, FString& OutInfoMsg)
{
  // Factory
  UWorldFactory* Factory = NewObject<UWorldFactory>();
  Factory->bInformEngineOfWorld = false;
  Factory->bCreateWorldPartition = false;
  Factory->FeatureLevel = ERHIFeatureLevel::ES3_1;

  // Create and return asset
  UObject* Asset = CreateAsset(AssetPath, UWorld::StaticClass(), Factory, bOutSuccess, OutInfoMsg);
  return Cast<UWorld>(Asset);
}

  • Material asset

    #include "Materials/Material.h" // Engine
#include "Factories/MaterialFactoryNew.h" //"UnrealEd" (Editor Only) - dependency must be added to .Build.cs file
/**
 * Editor Only - Will not work in packaged build.
 *
 * Create a Material asset.
 *
 * @param AssetPath		The path of where to create the asset: "/Game/Folder/MyAsset"
 * @param bOutSuccess	If the action was a success or not
 * @param OutInfoMsg	More information about the action's result
 *
 * @return The created asset
*/
UMaterial* UExampleClass::CreateMaterialAsset(FString AssetPath, bool& bOutSuccess, FString& OutInfoMsg)
{
  // Factory
  UMaterialFactoryNew* Factory = NewObject<UMaterialFactoryNew>();
  Factory->InitialTexture = nullptr;

  // Create and return asset
  UObject* Asset = CreateAsset(AssetPath, UMaterial::StaticClass(), Factory, bOutSuccess, OutInfoMsg);
  return Cast<UMaterial>(Asset);
}

  • LevelSequence asset

    #include "LevelSequence.h" // "LevelSequence" - dependency must be added to .Build.cs file
/**
 * Editor Only - Will not work in packaged build.
 *
 * Create a LevelSequence asset.
 *
 * @param AssetPath	The path of where to create the asset: "/Game/Folder/MyAsset"
 * @param bOutSuccess	If the action was a success or not
 * @param OutInfoMsg	More information about the action's result
 *
 * @return The created asset
 */
ULevelSequence* UExampleClass::CreateLevelSequenceAsset(FString AssetPath, bool& bOutSuccess, FString& OutInfoMsg)
{
  UObject* Asset = CreateAsset(AssetPath, ULevelSequence::StaticClass(), nullptr, bOutSuccess, OutInfoMsg);
  return Cast<ULevelSequence>(Asset);
}

  • NiagaraSystem asset

    #include "NiagaraSystem.h" // "Niagara" - dependency must be added to .Build.cs file
#include "BehaviorTree/BlackboardData.h"
/**
 * Editor Only - Will not work in packaged build.
 *
 * Create a NiagaraSystem asset.
 *
 * @param AssetPath	The path of where to create the asset: "/Game/Folder/MyAsset"
 * @param bOutSuccess	If the action was a success or not
 * @param OutInfoMsg	More information about the action's result
 *
 * @return The created asset
 */
UNiagaraSystem* UExampleClass::CreateNiagaraSystemAsset(FString AssetPath, bool& bOutSuccess, FString& OutInfoMsg)
{
  UObject* Asset = CreateAsset(AssetPath, UBlackboardData::StaticClass(), nullptr, bOutSuccess, OutInfoMsg);
  return Cast<UNiagaraSystem>(Asset);
}

  • SoundCue asset

    #include "Sound/SoundCue.h" // Engine
/**
 * Editor Only - Will not work in packaged build.
 *
 * Create a SoundCue asset.
 *
 * @param AssetPath	The path of where to create the asset: "/Game/Folder/MyAsset"
 * @param bOutSuccess	If the action was a success or not
 * @param OutInfoMsg	More information about the action's result
 *
 * @return The created asset
 */
USoundCue* UExampleClass::CreateSoundCueAsset(FString AssetPath, bool& bOutSuccess, FString& OutInfoMsg)
{
  UObject* Asset = CreateAsset(AssetPath, USoundCue::StaticClass(), nullptr, bOutSuccess, OutInfoMsg);
  return Cast<USoundCue>(Asset);
}

  • Enum asset

    #include "Engine/UserDefinedEnum.h" // Engine
/**
 * Editor Only - Will not work in packaged build.
 *
 * Create a Enum asset.
 *
 * @param AssetPath	The path of where to create the asset: "/Game/Folder/MyAsset"
 * @param bOutSuccess	If the action was a success or not
 * @param OutInfoMsg	More information about the action's result
 *
 * @return The created asset
 */
UUserDefinedEnum* UExampleClass::CreateEnumAsset(FString AssetPath, bool& bOutSuccess, FString& OutInfoMsg)
{
  UObject* Asset = CreateAsset(AssetPath, UUserDefinedEnum::StaticClass(), nullptr, bOutSuccess, OutInfoMsg);
  return Cast<UUserDefinedEnum>(Asset);
}

  • Struct asset

    #include "Engine/UserDefinedStruct.h" // Engine
/**
 * Editor Only - Will not work in packaged build.
 *
 * Create a Struct asset.
 *
 * @param AssetPath	The path of where to create the asset: "/Game/Folder/MyAsset"
 * @param bOutSuccess	If the action was a success or not
 * @param OutInfoMsg	More information about the action's result
 *
 * @return The created asset
 */
UUserDefinedStruct* UExampleClass::CreateStructAsset(FString AssetPath, bool& bOutSuccess, FString& OutInfoMsg)
{
  UObject* Asset = CreateAsset(AssetPath, UUserDefinedStruct::StaticClass(), nullptr, bOutSuccess, OutInfoMsg);
  return Cast<UUserDefinedStruct>(Asset);
}