Adding data

Before we get started using TilemapExtended, let's look at names and basic tool structure for a moment.

Naming overview

Classes and objects where named in order to:

1. distinguish Unity's own data structures and components (Grid) from the ones used in this API (GridExtended),
2. distinguish between visual representation (Tiles) and data (Cells).

Defining CellData

At this point it's finally time to define some data to store, retrieve and modify later.

For this example scene, I'm thinking of a base builder game and I want to know the following from every tile:

• The type of terrain
• If the tile is walkable
• The movement speed multiplier
• If the tile can be build on
• The fertility of the tile

To store these values, let's create a new C# script called MyCellData. In order to be stored, MyCellData needs to inherit from TExtended.CellData. The script should look like this:

using TExtended;
using UnityEngine;

public class MyCellData : CellData {
    //Insert data here
}

Handling the movement data is easy - CellData already contains the fields MovementMultiplier and IsObstacle. Consequently, MyCellData inherits those field and we don't have to worry about them at this stage.

For the type of terrain, I created a TerrainType enum in a separate C# file:

public enum TerrainType {
    Grass,
    Sand,
    Ocean,
    Foliage,
}

The final action is to create an asset menu, since data will be stored in a scriptable object which needs to be created in the editor. So with this in mind, MyCellData could look something likes this:

using TExtended;
using UnityEngine;

[CreateAssetMenu(menuName = "CellData/MyCellData", fileName = "New MyCellData")]
public class MyCellData : CellData {
    public TerrainType terrainType;
    public bool canBuildOn;
    public int fertility;
}

Let's create an instance of MyCellData in the editor to modify values:

Right click > Create > CellData > MyCellData

Next, we will look at modifying data objects and assign Tiles by creating rules.