How can I implement an undo feature similar to Ctrl+Z in my game’s level editor?

Implementing an Undo Feature in a Game’s Level Editor

Understanding Undo Functionality

Implementing an undo feature similar to Ctrl+Z in a game’s level editor requires a well-planned approach to handle user actions efficiently. The primary goal is to allow users to revert changes in a non-destructive and intuitive manner. This is particularly critical in level editors where users often make adjustments that need to be retracted.

Architecture of Undo System

• Command Pattern: Use the Command pattern to encapsulate all changes made to the level. Each user action—such as adding, deleting, or moving objects—can be represented as a command object that executes the action and knows how to undo it.
• Action Stack: Maintain a stack data structure to keep track of executed commands. Pushing a command onto this stack whenever an action is performed allows the last action to be undone by simply popping the stack and executing the command’s undo method.
• Redo Stack: Implement a second stack to track redoable actions. Whenever an undo operation is performed, push the undone command onto the redo stack. Clear this stack when a new command different from a redo is executed.

Code Example

// Example in C# for a command in Unitypublic interface ICommand {    void Execute();    void Undo();}
public class MoveCommand : ICommand {    private GameObject _object;    private Vector3 _previousPosition, _newPosition;    public MoveCommand(GameObject obj, Vector3 newPosition) {        _object = obj;        _previousPosition = obj.transform.position;        _newPosition = newPosition;    }    public void Execute() {        _object.transform.position = _newPosition;    }    public void Undo() {        _object.transform.position = _previousPosition;    }}

Integrating with Keyboard Shortcuts

Incorporate keyboard shortcuts to activate the undo functionality seamlessly. Detect keypresses (e.g., Ctrl+Z for Undo and Ctrl+Y for Redo) using the game engine’s input handling systems. Ensure that the undo stack and redo stack work coherently with these shortcuts.

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Best Practices

• Limit Stack Size: To prevent excessive memory usage, consider limiting the stack size. Clear old actions from the stack after some threshold.
• Concatenate Similar Actions: Optimize the stack by combining similar consecutive actions to prevent excessive steps in reverting changes.
• Testing: Thoroughly test the undo functionality to ensure that it works reliably across all features of the level editor.