Convert a variable type in C#

I am trying to write a script that lets my animate either the Image or the SpriteRenderer component of a gameobject, depending on which of the two is attached. I've noticed that my logic works for both types, but I don't know if and how it's possible to convert a variable type depending on what kind of component my script finds in Awake.

Code (CSharp):

1. spriteRenderer.sprite = SetMyCurrentFrame();
2. image.sprite = SetMyCurrentFrame();

Is it possible in C# to create some kind of Object variable and convert its type to whatever is attached to the gameobject? I'm trying something like this (pseudo code):

Code (CSharp):

1. public Object myRenderingComponent; //can be Image or SpriteRenderer
2.  
3. void Awake() {
4.     try
5.     {
6.         myRenderingComponent = GetComponent<Image>();
7.     }
8.     catch (myRenderingComponent == null)
9.     {
10.         myRenderingComponent = GetComponent<SpriteRenderer>();
11.     }
12.     catch (myRenderingComponent == null)
13.     {
14.     Debug.Log("Please attach an Image or SpriteRenderer component!");
15.     }
16. }
17.  
18. void Update() {
19.     //do my rendering code
20.     myRenderingComponent.enabled = true;
21.     myRenderingComponent.sprite = SetMyCurrentFrame();
22.     //...
23. }

Thanks a lot for any tips!

 

Could do it like:

Code (CSharp):

1.  
2. public Component renderingComponent;
3. public Sprite TheSprite;
4.  
5. void Awake()
6. {
7.    renderingComponent = GetComponent<Image>() ?? GetComponent<SpriteRenderer>();
8.  
9.    if(renderingComponent)
10.    {
11.      theSprite = renderingComponent.sprite;
12.    }
13.    else
14.    {
15.     Debug.Log("Please attach an Image or SpriteRenderer component!");
16.    }
17. }
18.  
19.  
20. void Update()
21. {
22.    renderingComponent.enabled = true;
23.    theSprite = SetMyCurrentFrame();
24. }
25.  

 

Thanks, that looks elegant, but Unity is giving me an error that the type "Component" doesn't contain a definition for "enabled" or "sprite".

Maybe I need a custom type converter to cast from Image to SpriteRenderer or some custom class.

 

enabled is strangly removed in Unity3D (bug?) but I don't know if that works if you use active.

Code (CSharp):

1. Component.active = true;

And for convert a Image to SpriteRenderer and the inverte you can use a fonction like this:

Code (CSharp):

1.    public void UIImageFromSpriteRenderer(ref Image OutputImage,SpriteRenderer spriterenderer)
2.     {
3.         OutputImage.color = spriterenderer.color;
4.         OutputImage.sprite = spriterenderer.sprite;
5.         OutputImage.material = spriterenderer.material;
6.     }
7.    public void SpriteRendererFromUIImage(Image OutputImage, ref SpriteRenderer spriterenderer)
8.     {
9.         spriterenderer.color = OutputImage.color;
10.         spriterenderer.sprite = OutputImage.sprite;
11.         spriterenderer.material = OutputImage.material;
12.     }

 

Component doesn't have an enabled property (never has).

SpriteRenderer is descended from Renderer, which defines an enabled property.

UnityEngine.UI.Image is descended from Behaviour, which defines a different enabled property.

A simplified family tree is:

• Component (no enabled property)
  • Renderer (enabled property)
    • SpriteRenderer
  • Behaviour (enabled property)
    • (a bunch of other classes)
      • Image

You can still use this line from @A.Killingbeck -

Code (csharp):

1. renderingComponent = GetComponent<Image>() ?? GetComponent<SpriteRenderer>();

But in your Update(), call a method similar to this:

Code (csharp):

1. void SetFrame(Component renderingComponent) {
2.     if (renderingComponent is SpriteRenderer) {
3.         var spriteRenderer = renderingComponent as SpriteRenderer;
4.         spriteRenderer.enabled = true;
5.         spriteRenderer... //(set your other SpriteRenderer-specific stuff here)
6.     } else if (renderingComponent is UnityEngine.UI.Image) {
7.         var image = renderingComponent as UnityEngine.UI.Image;
8.         image.enabled = true;
9.         image... //(set your other Image-specific stuff here)
10.     }
11. }

 

Thank you! TonyLi's suggestion works and also clears up the inheritance of the mentioned classes.