Syncvar Hook - How to update a new client?

I'm still trying to understand server/client interaction. The documentation often leaves me with more questions than answers.

This is a 2d top down game where the client players are just pannable cameras looking down on a board game.
A Unit on the board is a gameobject with a child. The child also has a sprite renderer. NetworkTransform takes care of moving the object around, but the child sprite needs updating.

Unit Script

Code (CSharp):

1. public class Unit : NetworkBehaviour {
2.  
3. [SyncVar(hook="UpdateSprite")]
4.     public string spriteName;
5.  
6. void UpdateSprite (string newVal) {
7.         spriteName = newVal;
8. //This is a reference to the child sprite renderer
9.         spriteRenderer.sprite = SpriteAssets.GetUnit(newVal);
10.     }
11.  
12. }
13.  

Network Player Script (Only works on host)
The following works once for the host. When spriteName is changed the syncvar hook is called and updates the sprites. However, when another player is added this does not work. I assume that setting the name to the same value does not trigger SetDirtyBit.

Code (CSharp):

1. public class NetworkPlayer : NetworkBehaviour {
2.  
3. public override void OnStartClient() {
4.  
5.         CmdBuildUnits();
6.  
7.     }
8.  
9. [Command]
10.     public void CmdBuildUnits() {
11.  
12. //update character sprites
13.         foreach(Unit unit in UnitManager.GetPlayerUnits().Values )
14.         {
15.             //send information to clients
16.             unit.spriteName = unit.unitData.character.tokenName;
17.         }
18. }

Network Player Script (Works for host and clients)
The following works for new clients. Is this the best way to go about this? Can I set that syncvar as dirty to have it update without creating an RPC? I really wish the documentation had some better use examples. The example projects didn't help much.

Code (CSharp):

1. [Command]
2.     public void CmdBuildUnits() {
3.  
4. //update character sprites
5.         foreach(Unit unit in UnitManager.GetPlayerUnits().Values )
6.         {
7.             //send information to clients
8.             RpcUpdateUnit(unit.gameObject,unit.unitData.character.tokenName);
9.         }
10.  
11.   public void RpcUpdateUnit(GameObject unitGO, string spriteNameIn) {
12.  
13.         unitGO.GetComponent<Unit>().spriteRenderer.sprite = SpriteAssets.GetUnit(spriteNameIn);
14. }

Network Player Script (Works for host and clients) Most likely NOT the way to do this?
The following does update the sprites on a new client. I'm pretty sure this is NOT the way to get the syncvar to update on clients. I've looked around for SetDirtyBit(), but I don't understand how to use it from the limited documentation about it. Can I force a syncvar to update? Or should I just use a RPC to update the client?

Code (CSharp):

1.  
2.  
3. [Command]
4.     public void CmdBuildUnits() {
5.  
6. //update character sprites
7.         foreach(Unit unit in UnitManager.GetPlayerUnits().Values )
8.         {
9.             //send information to clients
10. unit.spriteName = "blah";
11.             unit.spriteName = unit.unitData.character.tokenName;
12.         }
13. }

 

I am calling it from OnStartClient. The issue is the host does it first and sets the syncvar. When a client connects all the units have the default sprite of the prefab. Then I try to set the syncvar using OnStartClient to match the server syncvar value. But the value is the same so apparently it doesn't update the client. See my three different examples. My question is about how should one go about forcing the client to update. Should I just create a RPC for newly connecting clients? Can I set the syncvar as dirty?

It appears that I am already doing what you suggested. See the examples.

 

any progress? Having the same problem. something like setdirty or syncnow for a syncvar would be nice.. my guess was to change the variable to 0 then back to its value whenever a new client connects to force the server to sync it

 

http://answers.unity3d.com/questions/1143773/syncvar-synchronizes-correctly-but-not-the-text-co.html

This may helps