I’m currently looking through the example project for VFX Graphs provided by Unity.
Since I’m attempting to learn how these things are put together, one thing I’m trying right now is to see what is compatible with recreating in URP instead of HDRP.
My problem is that the nodes themselves are not named or discoverable in a consistent way, which makes it REALLY hard to try and learn the system.
I can see what someone else has made, but it’s impossible to try and grab parts and apply it in another space when you cannot look up the node type.
If you right click it, there could at least be information about the node:
Realistically, I’d like if the nodes gave some “?” button like all the MonoBehaviors provided by Unity so that I could navigate to the documentation of a given node type.
I guess you are right, this is confusing, however if you select node you can see all the properties in the inspector.
The thing is there are no separate nodes for every single combination, instead there is one node with various settings.
For example Multiply Size, Add Size, Set Size is exactly the same node, but with different setting. That said if you see node like “Set Color Random” you can assume there is some base node “Set Color” and it has settings to make it random.
Morning, and thanks for your feedbacks.
I do agree with you, at the moment the Search library organization is far from ideal, and we have some issues with the learning curve and discoverability of our Blocks.
I would say that it’s a known issue, and we’re working on it.
In the meantime, as @Qriva said, usually when you type something like “Position” the search will show you all the variants of the “Set attribute” block, “Set Attribute from Curve” Block and “Set attributes from Map” Block.
Those Variants are created from those Block types (Set Attribute, Attribute from curve, Attribute from Map) different options that can be configured like the “composition mode” or other options like the “Sample Mode”.
You can find the Block type and Composition Mode in the inspector when selecting a Block:
The Sample Mode or other options can be set, usually directly on the Block itself:
A example of a **"Set Attribute from curve "**block, that is, changing the “Size” attribute with a “Composition Mode” to “Add” and a Sample mode to “Over Life”.
Now With the Block selected, in the inspector there’s a “?” that will send you to the corresponding documentation page:
Again, I do agree with you that a tooltip with the description of the Block should be present directly on the Block.
Tooltips, at the moment, are provided for each “Slots” and/or settings of a block when the mouse is over it.
If you want to know what a Block is exactly doing, you can also go to the “Preferences> Visual Effects> Show Additional Debug Info.” Now in the Inspector you’ll have access to the “Computed Source Code” of the Block, but also more information regarding the Attributes and parameters.
I hope that this will provide some guidance, and please do continue to share your feedbacks while you’re learning VFX Graph. Have a great day.
