Can't GameObject.Find() on UI Text

Unity Engine
1

I’m sure that this is a simple question regarding the new UI system… One that’s probably been asked a million times, but I can’t seem to locate the answer by searching the forums :frowning: (My search-fu is lacking)…

I have a Text object in my canvas and a script attached to a game manager (empty) object to deal with various things. For whatever reason, the following code is failing with a null reference exception in the Start function (which of course means that ClickedButton will also fail). I’ve double checked all of the object names with no success. Is it not possible to use GameObject.Find with the new UI components? Or is there something I’m missing?

using UnityEngine;
using UnityEngine.UI;
using System.Collections;

public class MenuManager : MonoBehaviour {
   
    public Text my_text;
   
    void Start() {
        my_text = GameObject.Find("text_object_name").GetComponent<Text>();
    }
   
    public void ClickedButton() {
        my_text.text = "Testing...";
    }

}

Any help is appreciated.

31 Likes
2

sigh COMPLETELY disregard!!! (I don’t think I can delete the thread)
Apparently I was in “play” mode while checking the names, so they didn’t take. ForeheadSlap()

6 Likes
3

You helped me with the “.GetComponent()” part of the Start method so this thread was not useless already :wink:
I just couldn’t figure out how to .Find a UI Text gameobject…
ANYWAYS Thanks :slight_smile:

15 Likes
4

As krrisztian said, that GetComponent part on the end helped me out with my problem too.

5

That sneaky little GetComponent()…Thanks for this post!
:slight_smile:

1 Like
6

The same for me!!! thanks for your question that became my answer.
while(true) {ForeheadSlap();}

7

How can I find a GameOBject with a concatenated string…?
Something like this
objectString = “fCanvas/fPanel/galleryContainer/Panel/img” + i;

GameObject.Find (objectString).GetComponent ().texture = Resources.Load (landmarkConcat) as Texture;

Those line of codes is in side a loop… Sadly I can’t seem to make it work… Got a Object Reference Error in the GameObject.Find line of code…

8

I’ve tested this code works

  • using UnityEngine;
  • using UnityEngine.UI;
  • using System.Collections;
    • public Text my_text;
  • public Button B;
  • void Start() {
  • B.onClick.AddListener(() => {

my_text.text = “Testing…”;

});

  • }
        • }
9

Made an account just to say you helped me out as well. Same problem. This continues to be relevant.

1 Like
10

GameObject.Find(“text_object_name”).GetComponent();

This!!! You help me a lot thanks!

1 Like
11

Thanks a lot! You r my lifesaver!

12

and even in 2019, there are still people, who are thankful for your post haha… thx dude

2 Likes
13

End bit helped me too…lol

14

and early 2020, i found this thread helped me… thanks!

15

you can do other think to find Text :
public GameObject obj;
public Text txt;

void Start(){
obj= GameObject.Find(“name_of_obj_in_scene”);
txt= txt.GetComponent();
}
// it’s same object , first declare as gameObject and after getComponent as Text
Good Luke

16

duuude you’re genius

17

Same!

18

Yet another person helped by this thread. GetComponent()…

19

First use :

using UnityEngine.UI;

init your var :

public GameObject Canvas; //Var to get the player UI Canvas

And use this where you want (function or Update() for ex)

Canvas = GameObject.Find("PlayerUI"); // PlayerUI  : my Player UI Canvas
foreach (Transform eachChild in Canvas.transform) {
    if (eachChild.name == "Score") { // Score : my GameObject where is the Text with the Player Score
        foreach (Transform eachChild2 in eachChild.transform) {
            if (eachChild2.name == "points") { // The Child of Score : the Text object...
                //Debug.Log ("Child found. Name: " + eachChild2.name);
                Score = eachChild2.GetComponent<Text>();
            }
        }
    }
}

So now you don’t have to drag & drop a txt GameObject (UI) into a [SerializeField] var

I’ve spend hours, like you, to find a solution. Maybe we can do a recursive function to simplify…

20

For those comming from 2020 :smile::smile::smile: make sure that you use Text and not Text mesh pro in order to use GameObject.Find(“Name of text in scene hirarchy”).GetComponent().text = “your new text”;