Set View Target

December 01, 2017

UE4 Version: 4.18.3

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

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 simple tutorial we will simply change the view target of the player when the game begins.

Create a new C++ actor class and call it SetViewTarget. In the header file we will declare an actor variable and call it MyActor. Make the new actor editable anywhere.

SetViewTarget.h

#pragma once

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

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

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

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

	// declare variables
	UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere)
	AActor* MyActor;
	
};

First, in order to possess the player we need to #include the Kismet/GameplayStatics.h file.

include files

#include "SetViewTarget.h"
// include gameplay statics header file
#include "Kismet/GameplayStatics.h"

In this example all of our logic will go inside the BeginPlay function. We need to possess the current player by doing UGameplayStatics::GetPlayerController(this, 0). This will get the first player in the game scene. Next we are going to set our possessed player's view target with to our MyActor variable by using SetViewTarget(MyActor). Below is the final .cpp file.

SetViewTarget.cpp

#include "SetViewTarget.h"
// include gameplay statics header file
#include "Kismet/GameplayStatics.h"


// Sets default values
ASetViewTarget::ASetViewTarget()
{
 	// 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 ASetViewTarget::BeginPlay()
{
	Super::BeginPlay();

	//Find the actor that handles control for the local player.
	APlayerController* OurPlayerController = UGameplayStatics::GetPlayerController(this, 0);

	//Cut instantly to our actor on begin play.
	OurPlayerController->SetViewTarget(MyActor);
	
}

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

}

Compile the code. Drag and drop your new actor into your game. In the editor add a static mesh to the MyActor variable in the actor's detail's panel. Push play and the player's camera will be on the new actor.

Author

Harrison McGuire

Harrison McGuire