Editor Script - I cannot instantiate a prefab from a LoadPrefabContents

I am writing a script that creates prefabs from a mesh that is split up into tiles. I have the mesh loading, splitting and saving as assets.

The problem comes with prefabs. I want to:

If there is a prefab, instantiate a bunch at various rotations.
If there isn't, create the prefab with a link to its mesh.

I have the "create" side working, although different to my explanation here because nested meshes cannot be edited after. It suits me to save them separately anyway.

Code (CSharp):

1.  
2. private (GameObject prefab, GameObject instance) CreateAndSavePrefab(Tile tile, Mesh mesh)
3.         {
4.             var prefabGo = new GameObject($"{tile.Name}");
5.             TileView tileView = prefabGo.AddComponent<TileView>();
6.  
7.             var meshFilter = prefabGo.AddComponent<MeshFilter>();
8.             meshFilter.sharedMesh = tile.Mesh;
9.  
10.             MeshRenderer meshRenderer = prefabGo.AddComponent<MeshRenderer>();
11.             meshRenderer.material = Material;
12.  
13.             prefabGo.gameObject.layer = gameObject.layer;
14.  
15.             var prefab = PrefabUtility.SaveAsPrefabAssetAndConnect(prefabGo, PrefabPathFromName(tile.Name), InteractionMode.AutomatedAction);
16.             return (prefab, prefabGo);
17. }

The output of that goes into a dictionary, keyed by prefab.

I can then loop through the keys of that dictionary and do:

var newView = PrefabUtility.InstantiatePrefab(prefab) as GameObject;

I need a "Load" way of doing the "SaveAsPrefabAssetAndConnect". I've tried:

Code (CSharp):

1. var prefab = PrefabUtility.LoadPrefabContents($"Assets/Resources/Tiles/{tile.Name}.prefab");
2.                     var instance = PrefabUtility.InstantiatePrefab(prefab) as GameObject;

Prefab is loaded but instance is not. I don't understand. What am I doing wrong? I can't find any examples of this; the code in the API uses "Selection". Apologies for the tone, I have precious little spare time and what should be easy to do is eating it fast.

Many thanks!

 

I have a solution of sorts - although I don't know why this works and

LoadPrefabContents

doesn't.

Code (CSharp):

1. var prefab = AssetDatabase.LoadAssetAtPath<GameObject>(PrefabPathFromName(tile.Name));
2. var instance = PrefabUtility.InstantiatePrefab(prefab) as GameObject;

Using this area of the API is really unsettling and confusing and that's coming from someone who used to code DCOM.