Set Actor Location and Rotation

November 30, 2017

UE4 Version: 4.18.3

Github Link: https://github.com/Harrison1/unrealcpp/tree/master/SetActorLocationAndRotation

For this tutorial we are using the standard first person C++ template with starter content. If you don't know how to add a new actor class to your project, please visit the Add C++ Actor Class post.

In this tutorial we will learn how to use the SetActorLocationAndRotation function. Create a new C++ actor class and call it SetActorLocationAndRotation. In the header file make a FVector and FQuat variable and make them editable anywhere by setting UPROPERTY to EditAnywhere. We'll put all of the variables inside the Location category to keep them together and separate from other attributes. Below is the final header script.

SetActorLocationAndRotation.h

#pragma once

#include "CoreMinimal.h"
#include "GameFramework/Actor.h"
#include "SetActorLocationAndRotation.generated.h"

UCLASS()
class UNREALCPP_API ASetActorLocationAndRotation : public AActor
{
	GENERATED_BODY()
	
public:	
	// Sets default values for this actor's properties
	ASetActorLocationAndRotation();

protected:
	// Called when the game starts or when spawned
	virtual void BeginPlay() override;

public:	
	// Called every frame
	virtual void Tick(float DeltaTime) override;

	UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere, Category = Location)
	FVector NewLocation;

	UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere, Category = Location)
	FQuat NewRotation;
	
};

In this example we will call the SetActorLocationAndRotation function in the BeginPlay function. To learn more about the SetActorLocationAndRotation function, click here. Below is the final .cpp file.

SetActorLocationAndRotation.cpp

#include "SetActorLocationAndRotation.h"


// Sets default values
ASetActorLocationAndRotation::ASetActorLocationAndRotation()
{
 	// Set this actor to call Tick() every frame.  You can turn this off to improve performance if you don't need it.
	PrimaryActorTick.bCanEverTick = true;

}

// Called when the game starts or when spawned
void ASetActorLocationAndRotation::BeginPlay()
{
	Super::BeginPlay();

	SetActorLocationAndRotation(NewLocation, NewRotation, false, 0, ETeleportType::None);	
	
}

// Called every frame
void ASetActorLocationAndRotation::Tick(float DeltaTime)
{
	Super::Tick(DeltaTime);

}

Compile the code. Drag and drop your new actor into your game. Add a static mesh component to the actor. In the editor, set a value for NewLocation and NewRotation and then when you push play the actor will locate and rotate to those coordinates.

Author

Harrison McGuire

Harrison McGuire