Question Is it possible to inherit from FormerlySerializedAsAttribute?

Hi there

I was experimenting with creating my own FomerlySerializedAsAttribute to rename AutoProperties without having to write

FormerlySerializedAs("<MyOldName>k__BackingField")

This is what i came up with:

Code (CSharp):

1. public class FormerlySerializedAsAutoProperty : FormerlySerializedAsAttribute
2. {
3.     public FormerlySerializedAsAutoProperty(string oldName) : base($"<{oldName}>k__BackingField")
4.     {
5.     }
6. }

Which then should be used like this:

Code (CSharp):

1. [field: SerializeField]
2. [field: FormerlySerializedAsAutoProperty("OldName")]
3. public float Value {get; private set;}

However that did not work, my attribute is just ignored. This left me wondering if this even is supposed to work? How is Unity calling and using the Built-in Attributes? Or am i missing something to make this work?

Looking forward to your insights!

 

Even if you make your own attribute inherited from

FormerlySerializedAsAttribute

(which should be sealed, honestly), Unity is not looking for it at all in whatever internal part of the engine manages this and thus will do nothing.

So, no this won't ever work.

 

Yeah i was assuming this was the case, thanks for confirming!