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Data Tables

(2024)

A tool built for s&box that adds similar functionality as Data Tables from Unreal Engine

LangC#Size~2,800 LOCLicenseMITDepss&boxSourceGitHub

Data Tables lets you define a .dt file to hold a list of structs for you.

This list of structs is fully editable from the s&box editor, reducing the need to hardcode values.

Changes Safe-Guarded Through Saving

Fig. 1Modifications won’t be loaded unless you explicity save the .dt file

I felt it was absolutely necessary for any changes you make to only be reflected once you’ve saved the file.

I personally hate making a change that I want to undo, only to find out I can’t go back. So having this, coupled with an undo system, prevented any of those type of headaches.

Runtime Editing

Fig. 2Changes to the .dt file can be made while the game is running. Staying true to s&box’s hotloading focus.

It’s an obvious thing to implement, but this actually took up most of the development time.

At the time, I had to roll my own JSON serializer that piggy-backed off of s&box’s provided API. This part was the most fun for me; it was a decently stimulating problem to solve.

Why I made this

s&box is by far my favorite game engine to work in. When a Tech Jam was announced, I just had to participate.

It was the perfect opportunity to learn something new. I had never made an editor tool before, so this project absolutely taught me things I had never really considered before.

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