Bug 2021.2. Swapping texture with same name makes it lose sprite references

Hi, previously I deleted texture/sprite sheet and then added new one with same name (sliced it) and all refrences like in animator stayed. Currently (2021.2.1) all references are lost doing the same thing.

 

References are done by GUID and sometimes a sub-number. If that remains the same, the link stays, otherwise it is gone. Names do not matter at all.

It is possible Unity has changed how it identifies individual-sprites, but you should instantly see this if you are using source control and properly tracking your meta files for the image import.

Some info about Missing script warnings, GUIDs, renaming GUIDs, etc:

https://forum.unity.com/threads/problem-with-git-and-missing-scripts.1090876/#post-7024801
https://forum.unity.com/threads/scr...ead-after-loading-editor.998413/#post-6487297
https://forum.unity.com/threads/scr...ead-after-loading-editor.998413/#post-6488230

EVERYTHING in Unity is connected to the above GUID. It is super-easy to inadvertently change it by renaming outside of Unity. Don't do that. Instead:

- close Visual Studio (important!)
- rename the file(s) in Unity
- in Unity do Assets -> Open C# Project to reopen Visual Studio
- now rename the actual classes, and MAKE SURE THE FILE NAMES DO NOT CHANGE!

If you are NOT using source control while you do this, renaming files is an EXTREMELY dangerous process. Use source control at all times so that you can trivially revert if you miss a critical step and damage your project.

 

Thanks, I just described how it worked previously and now it doesn't, so i can't really update any texture/sprite sheet without losing all references doing stuff as i did in some cases before (i don't know relation of GUID with names, if such exists, but it worked only if i saved the same name). Maybe it's not a bug and some internal changes you mentioned

 

Thanks for answer, yeah, replace is the best choice for sure.

 

There must have been a change from Unity 2018 to 2021 in terms of data on deleted assets. In 2018, you could have a sprite, with mode set to multiple, all sliced up and used for an animation. Then If you wanted to edit the animation, you could edit the png in whatever program, then delete the sprite (2018 must have kept the meta data), and add the new file with the same name and re-slice and it would fill back in the animation. 2021 doesn't do this which is a pain.

How would I replace the texture as you described to where I don't have to re-do every animation?

 

Yes I meant the image file. But just dragging a new file in doesn't fix the problem... it makes a copy of the file, and a copy of the meta. So regardless, you still have to go through every animation and re add the sprites.

There is never an option to replace the current identical file which would solve the problem.

And big thanks for popping back to this old thread offering help Ted_Wikman

 

Sorry I should have said I tried both. When you do it in file explorer, or at least for me using Windows10, it goes "fileName - Copy. Same with meta. With no option to replace or copy or anything. Tried with Unity open and closed to see if that mattered.

I did find out just now if I have the game's folder open in Assets, and another file of some images, I can delete just the image file in the folder and drag the same file (but edited image) from the images folder into the game folder, and it keeps the old meta.

So I see what you are saying now. When deleting directly in unity it also deletes the meta, where as keeping the folder open, and not clicking in editor, you can replace the image file with same name file and all data is kept. Awesome, so that def works. Thanks for guiding me there.