🔗 Dependency System

The MakeIt3D plugin uses a dependency system that creates relationships between your Construct 3 objects and their 3D representations. Understanding this system is crucial for effectively managing 3D objects in your project.

📋 Overview

Instead of creating 3D objects directly, MakeIt3D uses placeholder objects from Construct 3 as references. This approach provides several advantages:

• Unified Management: All 3D objects are tied to familiar Construct 3 objects
• Multiple Instances: Create many 3D objects from a single placeholder
• Easy Identification: Clear naming system for object tracking
• Flexible Workflow: Use any Construct 3 object as a placeholder

🎯 How It Works

Placeholder Objects

A placeholder object can be:

• Any object from your MakeIt3D plugin
• Any existing Construct 3 object (Sprite, Text, etc.)
• An empty object specifically created for 3D references

Best Practice

Create dedicated empty objects as placeholders to keep your project organized and avoid confusion with gameplay objects.

Unique ID Generation

When you create a 3D object, MakeIt3D generates a unique identifier using this formula:

Unique ID = PlaceholderName + "_" + UID + "_" + InstanceID

Example: Hero_3_0

• Hero = Placeholder object name
• 3 = Object's UID in Construct 3
• 0 = Instance ID you provide

🔢 Understanding the Components

1. Placeholder Object Name

The name of your Construct 3 object that serves as the reference.

// If your placeholder object is named "Hero"
PlaceholderName = "Hero"

2. UID (Unique Identifier)

Every object in Construct 3 has a UID visible in the Properties panel.

Finding UID

Select your object → Check the Properties panel → Look for the UID value (usually a number like 2, 3, 5, etc.)

3. Instance ID

A number you provide when creating the 3D object to create multiple instances.

// Creating multiple instances of the same placeholder
InstanceID = 0  // First instance
InstanceID = 1  // Second instance  
InstanceID = 2  // Third instance

🎮 Practical Examples

Creating Multiple Characters

Let's say you have a placeholder object named "Hero" with UID 3:

// Create different enemy instances
CreateObject("Hero", 0)  // Creates: Hero_3_0
CreateObject("Hero", 1)  // Creates: Hero_3_1  
CreateObject("Hero", 2)  // Creates: Hero_3_2

Now you have three different 3D enemies, all based on the same placeholder!

Accessing Object Properties using expressions

To get the X position of a specific instance:

// Get position X of Enemy_5_1
var posX = MakeIt3D.PositionX("Enemy_5_1");

// Breaking it down:
// "Enemy" = placeholder name
// "5" = UID from Construct 3
// "1" = instance ID

🎯 Using Conditions

Pick Object By Instance ID

Use this condition to select a specific instance for actions:

1. Action: Pick Object By Instance ID
2. Parameters:
   • Placeholder Object: Select your reference object
   • Instance ID: Enter the instance number

// This selects Enemy_5_2 for subsequent actions
PickObjectByInstanceID(EnemyPlaceholder, 2)

After picking, you can perform actions like:

• Change position
• Modify materials
• Update colors
• Transform the object

📝 Best Practices

1. Organized Naming

Use clear, descriptive names for placeholder objects:

✅ Good: "PlayerCharacter", "Enemy_Orc", "Pickup_Coin"
❌ Avoid: "Object1", "Temp", "Thing"

2. Instance ID Management

Keep track of your instance IDs:

// Use meaningful instance IDs
Player instances: 0
Enemy instances: 1-10  
Pickups: 11-20
Environment: 21-30

3. Documentation

Document your placeholder objects and their purposes:

Placeholder	UID	Purpose	Instance Range
Hero	3	Player character	0
Enemy_Goblin	5	Basic enemies	1-5
Coin	7	Collectibles	10-20

⚠️ Common Issues

Issue: Object Not Found

Problem: MakeIt3D.PositionX("Hero_3_0") returns undefined

Solutions:

1. ✅ Verify the placeholder object name matches exactly
2. ✅ Check the UID in Properties panel
3. ✅ Confirm the instance was created with ID 0
4. ✅ Ensure the object exists before accessing properties

Issue: Wrong Object Selected

Problem: Actions affect the wrong 3D object

Solutions:

1. ✅ Use "Pick Object By Instance ID" before actions
2. ✅ Double-check your instance ID parameters
3. ✅ Verify placeholder object reference is correct

🚀 Advanced Usage

Dynamic Instance Creation

// Create enemies in a loop
for (let i = 0; i < enemyCount; i++) {
    CreateObject("Enemy", i);
    // Each enemy gets ID: Enemy_5_0, Enemy_5_1, Enemy_5_2...
}

Conditional Object Management

// Pick and modify specific instances
if (playerLevel > 5) {
    PickObjectByInstanceID(BossPlaceholder, 0);
    // Modify boss properties
}

📊 Quick Reference

Component	Description	Example
Unique ID Format	Name_UID_InstanceID	Hero_3_0
Creating Objects	Specify placeholder + instance ID	CreateObject("Hero", 0)
Picking Objects	Use condition with placeholder + instance	PickObjectByInstanceID(Hero, 0)
Accessing Properties	Use full unique ID in expressions	MakeIt3D.PositionX("Hero_3_0")

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You're Ready!

With this dependency system, you can efficiently manage complex 3D scenes while maintaining clear relationships between your Construct 3 logic and 3D objects.