Attach text to an unit

I am having a problem finding a way to attach a text to a unit on the map in a 2d game.

To keep it simple lets say it's tank combat 2d game and a hero has many tanks on the map. Each tank has the same sprite map that I change the UV to display which ever model I want. I want to also display the tank's armor percentage as text.

GUItext attaches to the camera from what I read so that's out.

If I instantiate the tank there is no text.

If I pause the game to change the text to see what's wrong the graphic UV gets all messed up for the tank.

I did 3 hours of research to find an answer so now I am down to asking the better programmers.

 

You can use a TextMesh ("3D Text") for this, or you can use GUI.Label (though you'll have to do some annoying math to get it to the right place).

A GUIText would work, if you use Camera.WorldToViewportPoint to set its position.

 

Certainly possible, but not as trivial as you might like.

Two solutions, either of which involves some scripting:

First option, associate each tank with a GUIText. Use a script to make sure that the text's screen position matches the tank's. Generally, you'll make use of Camera.WorldToViewportPoint.

Second option, associate each tank with a TextMesh, and create a second UI camera that captures ONLY those text meshes after the world is rendered. Use a script to make sure that the text's screen position matches the tank's. This gives you a bit more control, but is also harder to manage.

 

Thanks.

 

Nope. http://wiki.unity3d.com/index.php?title=ObjectLabel

--Eric

 

I'll take a look at that.

 

Seems like I can make an object. Move my prefab under it. Make the Text3d prefab, move it under the object. Then move the object to become a prefab. I then have a prefab with two child prefabs under it?

If I could do that I think I can solve quite easily the text problem,

 

Hmm it worked.

#1 move Army prefab to Hierarchy
#2 move Text prefab to Army prefab in the hierarchy
#3 move it back to the projust

Now the text follows it around and all I have to do is modify it?!?!

I thought you couldn't create a child in a prefab?

 

There's never been a problem having children in prefabs. You may be thinking of nested prefabs, which isn't the same thing.

--Eric