Forcing TextureCubeArray and the Unity shader compiler to be friends

I am attempting to bind and use a TextureCubeArray in a shader that exists within Unity. The TextureCubeArray is created in a native plugin and bound to a texture register. However, Unitys compiler does not seem to like TextureCubeArray. I am assuming it does reflection and becomes puzzled when it finds a texture type it is not used to. I am wondering if there is any way to get the following code to compile, and if not, any chance it could be added in a future patch? I am currently atlasing cubemaps using equirectangular projection, but I'd much prefer the simplicity of a cubemap array.

I am completely fine with a hacky solution, if one exists. As long as I can bind a TextureCubeArray, created in native code, to a Unity shader I am a happy camper.

The error when compiling the shader

The shader code

Code (CSharp):

1. Shader "CubemapArray"
2. {
3.     Properties
4.     {
5.     }
6.  
7.     SubShader
8.     {                    
9.         Pass
10.         {          
11.             CGPROGRAM
12.             #pragma vertex vert
13.             #pragma fragment frag
14.             #pragma target 5.0
15.             #pragma only_renderers d3d11
16.          
17.             struct a2v
18.             {
19.                 float4 vertex     : POSITION;
20.                 float3 normal     : NORMAL;
21.             };
22.          
23.             struct v2f
24.             {
25.                 float4 pos         : SV_POSITION;
26.                 float3 normal    : TEXCOORD0;
27.             };
28.        
29.             TextureCubeArray myCubeArray : register(t0);
30.             SamplerState mySamplerState : register(s0);
31.          
32.             v2f vert(a2v v)
33.             {
34.                 v2f o;
35.                      
36.                 o.pos         = mul(UNITY_MATRIX_MVP, v.vertex);
37.                 o.normal     = normalize(mul(v.normal, (float3x3)_World2Object));
38.              
39.                 return o;
40.             }
41.          
42.             float4 frag(v2f i) : COLOR
43.             {        
44.                 return myCubeArray.Sample(mySamplerState, float4(1,0,0,0));
45.             }
46.          
47.             ENDCG
48.         }
49.     }
50. }
51.  
52.  

 

Bumping this, hoping for an answer

 

Perhaps making that code HLSL only will help?
I'm aware that your already setting a shader model 5, but unity might still try to handle it it's own way?

Not to mention, is your sampler set up for this?
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb509644(v=vs.85).aspx
(Note the "array size"?)

 

Any resolution for this @Aras - anyone at unity seems ongoing...

 

Love how you suggested Aras straight up... I'm not surprised you did though, judging by some of this amazing posts.

 

Or maybe he's responsible for helping design unity's entire shader system as it is today.