| name | unreal-actor-editing |
| description | Manage actors in UE levels via UCP. Use when the user asks to spawn, delete, move, duplicate, select, or otherwise manipulate actors in the Unreal Engine editor. |
Unreal Actor Editing
Manage actors in Unreal Engine levels through UCP's call command. This skill guides you to use engine-provided actor subsystems and libraries.
Prerequisite: The unreal-client-protocol skill must be available and the UE editor must be running with the UCP plugin enabled.
Engine Built-in Actor Libraries
UEditorActorSubsystem
CDO Path: /Script/UnrealEd.Default__EditorActorSubsystem
This is the primary API for actor manipulation in the editor:
| Function | Description |
|---|
GetAllLevelActors() | Get all actors in the current level |
GetAllLevelActorsOfClass(ActorClass) | Get all actors of a specific class |
GetSelectedLevelActors() | Get currently selected actors |
SetSelectedLevelActors(ActorsToSelect) | Set actor selection |
SelectNothing() | Deselect all actors |
SpawnActorFromClass(ActorClass, Location, Rotation) | Spawn a new actor |
SpawnActorFromObject(ObjectToUse, Location, Rotation) | Spawn from an existing asset |
DuplicateActor(ActorToDuplicate, ToWorld, Offset) | Duplicate an actor |
DuplicateActors(ActorsToDuplicate, ToWorld, Offset) | Duplicate multiple actors |
DestroyActor(ActorToDestroy) | Delete an actor |
DestroyActors(ActorsToDestroy) | Delete multiple actors |
SetActorTransform(Actor, WorldTransform) | Set actor transform |
ConvertActors(Actors, ActorClass) | Convert actors to a different class |
Examples
Get all actors in level:
{"object":"/Script/UnrealEd.Default__EditorActorSubsystem","function":"GetAllLevelActors"}
Get all static mesh actors:
{"object":"/Script/UnrealEd.Default__EditorActorSubsystem","function":"GetAllLevelActorsOfClass","params":{"ActorClass":"/Script/Engine.StaticMeshActor"}}
Spawn a point light:
{"object":"/Script/UnrealEd.Default__EditorActorSubsystem","function":"SpawnActorFromClass","params":{"ActorClass":"/Script/Engine.PointLight","Location":{"X":0,"Y":0,"Z":200}}}
Destroy an actor:
{"object":"/Script/UnrealEd.Default__EditorActorSubsystem","function":"DestroyActor","params":{"ActorToDestroy":"/Game/Maps/Main.Main:PersistentLevel.PointLight_0"}}
UGameplayStatics
CDO Path: /Script/Engine.Default__GameplayStatics
Useful for runtime/game queries:
| Function | Description |
|---|
GetAllActorsOfClass(WorldContextObject, ActorClass) | Find actors by class |
GetAllActorsWithTag(WorldContextObject, Tag) | Find actors by tag |
GetAllActorsOfClassWithTag(WorldContextObject, ActorClass, Tag) | Combined class + tag filter |
GetAllActorsWithInterface(WorldContextObject, Interface) | Find actors implementing an interface |
GetActorOfClass(WorldContextObject, ActorClass) | Get first actor of class |
FindNearestActor(WorldContextObject, Origin, ActorClass) | Find nearest actor of class to a location |
GetActorArrayAverageLocation(Actors) | Get average location of an array of actors |
GetActorArrayBounds(Actors, bOnlyCollidingComponents) | Get combined bounds of an array of actors |
GetPlayerPawn(WorldContextObject, PlayerIndex) | Get player pawn |
GetPlayerController(WorldContextObject, PlayerIndex) | Get player controller |
GetPlayerCameraManager(WorldContextObject, PlayerIndex) | Get camera manager |
UEditorLevelLibrary
CDO Path: /Script/EditorScriptingUtilities.Default__EditorLevelLibrary
Unique level editing functions not covered by UEditorActorSubsystem:
| Function | Description |
|---|
JoinStaticMeshActors(ActorsToJoin, JoinOptions) | Merge static meshes into one |
ReplaceSelectedActors(InAssetPath) | Replace selected actors with given asset |
GetPIEWorlds() | Get worlds from Play-In-Editor sessions |
Layer Management (ULayersSubsystem)
Get the instance via FindObjectInstances with ClassName set to /Script/UnrealEd.LayersSubsystem.
| Function | Description |
|---|
CreateLayer(LayerName) | Create a new layer |
DeleteLayer(LayerToDelete) | Delete a layer |
RenameLayer(OriginalLayerName, NewLayerName) | Rename a layer |
AddActorToLayer(Actor, LayerName) | Add a single actor to a layer |
RemoveActorFromLayer(Actor, LayerName) | Remove a single actor from a layer |
AddActorsToLayer(Actors, LayerName) | Add multiple actors to a layer |
GetActorsFromLayer(LayerName) | Get all actors in a layer |
SetLayerVisibility(LayerName, bIsVisible) | Show/hide a layer |
SelectActorsInLayer(LayerName) | Select all actors in a layer |
AddAllLayerNamesTo(OutLayers) | Get all layer names |
Examples
Find the LayersSubsystem instance:
{"object":"/Script/UnrealClientProtocol.Default__ObjectOperationLibrary","function":"FindObjectInstances","params":{"ClassName":"/Script/UnrealEd.LayersSubsystem"}}
Create a layer (use the instance path returned above):
{"object":"<layers_subsystem_instance_path>","function":"CreateLayer","params":{"LayerName":"Lighting"}}
Add an actor to a layer:
{"object":"<layers_subsystem_instance_path>","function":"AddActorToLayer","params":{"Actor":"/Game/Maps/Main.Main:PersistentLevel.PointLight_0","LayerName":"Lighting"}}
Actor Grouping (UActorGroupingUtils)
Get the CDO at /Script/UnrealEd.Default__ActorGroupingUtils, then call Get() on it to obtain the singleton instance.
| Function | Description |
|---|
GroupActors(Actors) | Group specified actors |
UngroupActors(Actors) | Ungroup specified actors |
GroupSelected() | Group currently selected actors |
UngroupSelected() | Ungroup currently selected actors |
LockSelectedGroups() | Lock selected groups |
UnlockSelectedGroups() | Unlock selected groups |
CanGroupActors() | Check if current selection can be grouped |
Examples
Get the grouping utils instance:
{"object":"/Script/UnrealEd.Default__ActorGroupingUtils","function":"Get"}
Group selected actors (use the instance returned by Get):
{"object":"<actor_grouping_utils_instance_path>","function":"GroupSelected"}
Actor Folders (on Actor instances)
Functions called directly on actor instance paths:
| Function | Description |
|---|
GetFolderPath() | Get the actor's folder path in the outliner |
SetFolderPath(NewFolderPath) | Set the actor's folder path in the outliner |
Examples
Get an actor's folder:
{"object":"/Game/Maps/Main.Main:PersistentLevel.PointLight_0","function":"GetFolderPath"}
Move an actor into a folder:
{"object":"/Game/Maps/Main.Main:PersistentLevel.PointLight_0","function":"SetFolderPath","params":{"NewFolderPath":"Lighting/Dynamic"}}
Actor Attachment (on Actor instances)
Functions called directly on actor instance paths:
| Function | Description |
|---|
K2_AttachToActor(ParentActor, SocketName, LocationRule, RotationRule, ScaleRule, bWeldSimulatedBodies) | Attach this actor to a parent actor |
K2_DetachFromActor(LocationRule, RotationRule, ScaleRule) | Detach this actor from its parent |
Rules are EAttachmentRule values: KeepRelative, KeepWorld, SnapToTarget.
Examples
Attach an actor to another:
{"object":"/Game/Maps/Main.Main:PersistentLevel.Cube_0","function":"K2_AttachToActor","params":{"ParentActor":"/Game/Maps/Main.Main:PersistentLevel.Sphere_0","SocketName":"None","LocationRule":"KeepWorld","RotationRule":"KeepWorld","ScaleRule":"KeepWorld","bWeldSimulatedBodies":false}}
Detach an actor:
{"object":"/Game/Maps/Main.Main:PersistentLevel.Cube_0","function":"K2_DetachFromActor","params":{"LocationRule":"KeepWorld","RotationRule":"KeepWorld","ScaleRule":"KeepWorld"}}
Level Management (ULevelEditorSubsystem + UEditorLevelUtils)
ULevelEditorSubsystem
Get the instance via FindObjectInstances with ClassName set to /Script/LevelEditor.LevelEditorSubsystem.
| Function | Description |
|---|
NewLevel(AssetPath) | Create a new level |
NewLevelFromTemplate(AssetPath, TemplatePath) | Create a new level from template |
LoadLevel(AssetPath) | Load a level |
SaveCurrentLevel() | Save the current level |
SaveAllDirtyLevels() | Save all modified levels |
SetCurrentLevelByName(LevelName) | Switch current level |
GetCurrentLevel() | Get the current level |
PilotLevelActor(ActorToPilot) | Pilot an actor in the viewport |
EjectPilotLevelActor() | Stop piloting an actor |
Examples
Find the LevelEditorSubsystem instance:
{"object":"/Script/UnrealClientProtocol.Default__ObjectOperationLibrary","function":"FindObjectInstances","params":{"ClassName":"/Script/LevelEditor.LevelEditorSubsystem"}}
Save the current level:
{"object":"<level_editor_subsystem_instance_path>","function":"SaveCurrentLevel"}
UEditorLevelUtils
CDO Path: /Script/UnrealEd.Default__EditorLevelUtils
| Function | Description |
|---|
CreateNewStreamingLevel(LevelStreamingClass, NewLevelPath, bMoveSelectedActors) | Create a new streaming level |
MoveActorsToLevel(ActorsToMove, DestLevel, bWarnAboutReferences, bWarnAboutRenaming) | Move actors to another level |
K2_AddLevelToWorld(World, LevelPath, LevelStreamingClass) | Add a sub-level to the world |
K2_RemoveLevelFromWorld(Level) | Remove a sub-level from the world |
SetLevelVisibility(Level, bShouldBeVisible, bForceLayersVisible) | Show/hide a level |
GetLevels(World) | Get all levels in a world |
Viewport & Camera (UUnrealEditorSubsystem)
Get the instance via FindObjectInstances with ClassName set to /Script/UnrealEd.UnrealEditorSubsystem.
| Function | Description |
|---|
GetLevelViewportCameraInfo(OutCameraLocation, OutCameraRotation) | Get the viewport camera position and rotation |
SetLevelViewportCameraInfo(CameraLocation, CameraRotation) | Set the viewport camera position and rotation |
GetEditorWorld() | Get the current editor world |
ScreenToWorld(ScreenPosition) | Convert screen coordinates to world coordinates |
WorldToScreen(WorldPosition) | Convert world coordinates to screen coordinates |
Also available via UEditorUtilityLibrary:
CDO Path: /Script/Blutility.Default__EditorUtilityLibrary
| Function | Description |
|---|
GetSelectionBounds(Origin, BoxExtent, SphereRadius) | Get bounding info of the current selection |
Examples
Find the UnrealEditorSubsystem instance:
{"object":"/Script/UnrealClientProtocol.Default__ObjectOperationLibrary","function":"FindObjectInstances","params":{"ClassName":"/Script/UnrealEd.UnrealEditorSubsystem"}}
Get viewport camera info:
{"object":"<unreal_editor_subsystem_instance_path>","function":"GetLevelViewportCameraInfo"}
Set viewport camera position:
{"object":"<unreal_editor_subsystem_instance_path>","function":"SetLevelViewportCameraInfo","params":{"CameraLocation":{"X":0,"Y":0,"Z":500},"CameraRotation":{"Pitch":-45,"Yaw":0,"Roll":0}}}
Get selection bounds:
{"object":"/Script/Blutility.Default__EditorUtilityLibrary","function":"GetSelectionBounds"}
Common Patterns
Discover and inspect actors
First get all actors, then inspect a specific actor (run as separate calls):
{"object":"/Script/UnrealEd.Default__EditorActorSubsystem","function":"GetAllLevelActors"}
{"object":"/Script/UnrealClientProtocol.Default__ObjectOperationLibrary","function":"GetObjectProperty","params":{"ObjectPath":"<actor_path>","PropertyName":"RelativeLocation"}}
Move an actor
Use the unreal-object-operation skill to set properties on the actor's root component:
{"object":"/Script/UnrealClientProtocol.Default__ObjectOperationLibrary","function":"SetObjectProperty","params":{"ObjectPath":"<actor_root_component_path>","PropertyName":"RelativeLocation","JsonValue":"{\"X\":100,\"Y\":200,\"Z\":0}"}}
Spawn, position, and select
Spawn an actor, then get selection (run as separate calls):
{"object":"/Script/UnrealEd.Default__EditorActorSubsystem","function":"SpawnActorFromClass","params":{"ActorClass":"/Script/Engine.PointLight","Location":{"X":0,"Y":0,"Z":300}}}
{"object":"/Script/UnrealEd.Default__EditorActorSubsystem","function":"GetSelectedLevelActors"}
Organize actors into folders
{"object":"/Script/UnrealEd.Default__EditorActorSubsystem","function":"GetAllLevelActorsOfClass","params":{"ActorClass":"/Script/Engine.PointLight"}}
Then set folder paths on each returned actor:
{"object":"/Game/Maps/Main.Main:PersistentLevel.PointLight_0","function":"SetFolderPath","params":{"NewFolderPath":"Lighting"}}
Attach actors together
{"object":"/Game/Maps/Main.Main:PersistentLevel.ChildActor_0","function":"K2_AttachToActor","params":{"ParentActor":"/Game/Maps/Main.Main:PersistentLevel.ParentActor_0","SocketName":"None","LocationRule":"KeepWorld","RotationRule":"KeepWorld","ScaleRule":"KeepWorld","bWeldSimulatedBodies":false}}
