How to programmatically add Tilemaps to Grid

Hello,

I want to make a map system entirely in code (since my game will have multiple maps and they will be binary files).

I don't want to draw every map (or at least not in Unity directly) and I'm struggling right in the beginning (new to Unity).

Can we add Tilemaps (layers) to an empty grid just by code?
I know I can just draw layers without using a grid but it seems like 2D Tilemaps are widely used and I'm not sure what's the right way...

Thank you.

 

Yes, you can do that. Here's the basic code:

Create a Grid GameObject:

Code (csharp):

1. var grid = new GameObject("Grid").AddComponent<Grid>();

Create a Tilemap child GameObject:

Code (csharp):

1. var tilemap = new GameObject("Tilemap").AddComponent<Tilemap>();
2. tilemap.transform.SetParent(grid.gameObject);

Set a tile:

Code (csharp):

1. Tilemaps.TileBase tile; // Assign a tile asset to this.
2. tilemap.SetTile(new Vector3Int(0,0,0), tile); // Or use SetTiles() for multiple tiles.

 

What if I wanted to do this in reverse? I am wanting to find a tilemap in a grid at runtime.

 

@MrShinyhelmet

It is a different question, so why necro an old thread? Why not ask this in its own thread?

Besides, Tilemap is just a GameObject that is a child of GameObject that has the Grid. So you can get it like any child GameObject in Unity. Google for "unity get child gameobject" (or transform).

 

You have full articles on the Unity blog about that:

• https://blogs.unity3d.com/2018/05/29/procedural-patterns-you-can-use-with-tilemaps-part-i/
• https://blogs.unity3d.com/2018/06/07/procedural-patterns-to-use-with-tilemaps-part-ii/

At the end of part II, you have a link to a project you can download from Git that contains examples and scripts you can study and use for yourself.

 

How do you find which cell(or tile) was clicked on?

 

Is there a more modern version of this that should be used? When trying to work with the code provided, this third line throws a "Argument 1: cannot convert from 'UnityEngine.GameObject' to 'UnityEngine.Transform'" error.

I am ashamed to admit I have spent an entire day trying to figure out how to create a Grid + Tilemap via script, so I thought I'd revisit this old question. Any help is appreciated.

 

That looks like a typo. Try SetParent(grid.transform)