82 lines
5.7 KiB
Markdown
82 lines
5.7 KiB
Markdown
# Blackboard
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## Description
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You can use the Blackboard to define, order, and categorize the [Properties](Property-Types.md) and [Keywords](Keywords.md) in a graph. From the Blackboard, you can also edit the path for the selected Shader Graph Asset or Sub Graph.
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## Accessing the Blackboard
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The Blackboard is visible by default, and you cannot drag it off the graph and lose it. However, you are able to position it anywhere in the [Shader Graph Window](Shader-Graph-Window.md). It always maintains the same distance from the nearest corner, even if you resize the window.
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## Adding properties and keywords to the Blackboard
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To create a new property or keyword, click the **Add (+)** button on the Blackboard's title bar and select a type. For a full list of property types, see [Property Types](Property-Types.md).
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## Editing properties and keywords
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Select a property or keyword in the Blackboard or graph to modify its settings in the Node Settings Menu.
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| Setting | Description |
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|-----------|-------------|
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| Name | The property's display name. The Editor strips quotation marks from display names and replaces them with underscores. Rename an item via the Blackboard by double-clicking on its name. |
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| Reference | The name that Shader Graph uses internally for this property. Although the Editor populates this value by default, you can modify it. To revert to the original reference name, right-click on the word **Reference** (not the entry field) and select **Reset Reference** in the context menu. If the Reference Name contains any characters that HLSL does not support, the Editor replaces those characters with underscores. |
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| Default | The default value of this property in any Material based on this Shader Graph. For example, if you have a Shader Graph for grass and expose the grass color as a property, you might set the default to Green.|
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| Precision | Set the precision mode for the property. See [Precision Modes](Precision-Modes.md). |
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| Exposed | Enable this setting to make the property available for you to edit via the C# API. Enabled by default. |
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## Modifying and selecting keywords and properties
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* To reorder items listed on the Blackboard, drag and drop them.
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* To delete items, use the Delete key on Windows or Command + Backspace keys on macOS.
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* To select multiple items, hold down the Ctrl key while making your selections.
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* To cancel the selection of one or multiple items, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on the items you want to remove from the selection.
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## Using Blackboard categories
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To make the properties in your shader more discoverable, organize them into categories. Expand and collapse categories to make the Blackboard easier to navigate.
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### Creating, renaming, moving, and deleting categories
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* To add a category, use **+** on the Blackboard.
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* To rename a category, double-click on the category name, or right-click and select **Rename**.
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* To move a category within the Blackboard, select and drag it.
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* To remove a category, select it and press **Delete**, or right-click and select **Delete**. Deleting a category also deletes the properties within it, so move those you wish to keep.
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### Adding, removing, and reordering properties and keywords
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* To add a property or keyword to a category, expand the category with the foldout (⌄) symbol, then drag and drop the property or keyword onto the expanded category.
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* To remove a property or keyword, select it and press **Delete**, or right-click and select **Delete**.
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* To re-order properties or keywords, drag and drop them within a category or move them into other categories.
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### Creating a category for specific properties and keywords
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Select multiple properties or keywords and use **+** on the Blackboard to create a category that contains all of the items you have selected.
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### Copying and pasting categories, with or without properties
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You can paste empty categories, categories with all of their properties, and categories with some of their properties into one or more graphs. To copy a category with all of its properties:
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1. Select the property.
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2. Copy it with **Ctrl+C**.
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3. Paste it into your target graph with **Ctrl+V**.
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To copy a specific set of properties:
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1. Select the category.
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2. Hold down the Ctrl key.
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3. Click the properties you do not want to include to remove them from the selection.
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4. Copy the property with **Ctrl+C**.
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5. Paste it into your target graph with **Ctrl+V**.
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### Using categories in the Material Inspector
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To modify a material you have created with a Shader Graph, you can adjust specific property or keyword values in the Material Inspector, or edit the graph itself.
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#### Working with Streaming Virtual Textures
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[Streaming Virtual Texture Properties](https://docs.unity3d.com/Documentation/Manual/svt-use-in-shader-graph.html) sample texture layers. To access these layers in the Material Inspector, expand the relevant **Virtual Texture** section with the ⌄ symbol next to its name. You can add and remove layers via the Inspector.
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## Exposing properties and keywords
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Unity exposes properties and keywords by default. This enables write access from scripts, so that you can edit them via the C# API, in addition to the graph. Exposed items have a green dot in their label. Enable or disable this feature in the **Node Settings** menu.
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## Creating nodes
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Drag a property or keyword from the Blackboard into the graph to create a node of that kind. Settings for a node in the graph are identical to those for the related property or keyword in the Blackboard. Expand these nodes to use a sub-member of the property value.
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Property node names include a green dot if the property is exposed.
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