Build settings and scene order in Unity - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Build settings and scene order

📖 Scenario: You are creating a simple Unity game with multiple scenes. You want to set up the build settings so the game knows which scenes to include and in what order they will appear when the game runs.

🎯 Goal: Set up the build settings in Unity by creating a list of scenes and arranging their order. This will help the game load scenes in the correct sequence.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a list of scenes with exact names

Create a variable to hold the build index threshold

Use a loop to add scenes to the build settings list in order

Print the final list of scene names in build order

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Setting up build settings and scene order is essential for Unity games to load scenes correctly and in the right sequence.

💼 Career

Game developers and Unity programmers often configure build settings to control game flow and optimize user experience.

1

Create the list of scenes

Create a list called scenes with these exact scene names as strings: "MainMenu", "Level1", "Level2", "GameOver".

Unity

# Create the list of scenes
# Your code here

Hint

Use square brackets [] to create a list and put the scene names inside quotes separated by commas.

2

Create the build index threshold

Create an integer variable called build_index_threshold and set it to 2.

Unity

scenes = ["MainMenu", "Level1", "Level2", "GameOver"]
# Create the build_index_threshold variable
# Your code here

Hint

Use = to assign the value 2 to the variable build_index_threshold.

3

Add scenes to build list based on threshold

Create an empty list called build_scenes. Use a for loop with variable index to iterate over the range of the length of scenes. Inside the loop, add the scene at scenes[index] to build_scenes only if index is less than build_index_threshold.

Unity

scenes = ["MainMenu", "Level1", "Level2", "GameOver"]
build_index_threshold = 2
# Create build_scenes list and add scenes with index less than build_index_threshold
# Your code here

Hint

Use range(len(scenes)) to loop over indexes. Use append() to add items to the list.

4

Print the build scenes list

Write a print statement to display the build_scenes list.

Unity

scenes = ["MainMenu", "Level1", "Level2", "GameOver"]
build_index_threshold = 2
build_scenes = []
for index in range(len(scenes)):
    if index < build_index_threshold:
        build_scenes.append(scenes[index])
# Print the build_scenes list
# Your code here

Hint

Use print(build_scenes) to show the list.

Practice

1. What does the Build Settings window in Unity control?

easy

A. Which scenes are included in the final game build

B. The resolution of the game window

C. The color scheme of the editor

D. The physics settings of the game

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of Build Settings

   The Build Settings window lists scenes to include in the game build and their order.

2. Step 2: Identify what Build Settings controls

   It controls which scenes are packaged into the final game, not editor or physics settings.

3. Final Answer:

   Which scenes are included in the final game build -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Build Settings = Scenes included [OK]

Hint: Build Settings = scenes included in game build [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Build Settings with editor appearance
• Thinking it controls physics or resolution
• Assuming it sets scene start order only

2. Which of the following is the correct way to add a scene to the build in Unity?

easy

A. Drag the scene file into the Build Settings window's Scenes In Build list

B. Right-click the scene in Project and select 'Add to Build'

C. Open the scene and press Ctrl+B

D. Rename the scene file to include 'build' in its name

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall how to add scenes to build

   In Unity, you add scenes by dragging them into the Scenes In Build list in Build Settings.

2. Step 2: Evaluate the options

   Only dragging the scene file into Build Settings is correct; other options are invalid or do nothing.

3. Final Answer:

   Drag the scene file into the Build Settings window's Scenes In Build list -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Add scene = drag to Build Settings [OK]

Hint: Add scenes by dragging into Build Settings list [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to add scenes by renaming files
• Using keyboard shortcuts that don't add scenes
• Expecting context menu to add scenes automatically

3. Given the following scenes in Build Settings in order: ["Menu", "Level1", "Level2"], what will SceneManager.LoadScene(1) load?

medium

A. The scene named "Menu"

B. The scene named "Level1"

C. The scene named "Level2"

D. An error because index 1 is invalid

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand scene indexing in Build Settings

   Scenes are indexed starting at 0 in the order listed in Build Settings.

2. Step 2: Identify scene at index 1

   Index 0 = "Menu", index 1 = "Level1", index 2 = "Level2".

3. Final Answer:

   The scene named "Level1" -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Index 1 = second scene = Level1 [OK]

Hint: Scene index starts at 0 in Build Settings [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming index 1 is the first scene
• Confusing scene names with indexes
• Thinking index 1 causes an error

4. You try to load a scene by index using SceneManager.LoadScene(3), but get an error. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. SceneManager.LoadScene only accepts strings

B. You must use scene names, not indexes

C. The scene file is missing from the Project folder

D. The scene at index 3 is not added to Build Settings

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand scene indexing and Build Settings

   Scene indexes correspond to the order in Build Settings; index 3 means the fourth scene.

2. Step 2: Identify cause of error

   If index 3 is out of range, it means fewer than 4 scenes are added to Build Settings.

3. Final Answer:

   The scene at index 3 is not added to Build Settings -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Index out of range = scene missing in Build Settings [OK]

Hint: Check Build Settings scene count before loading by index [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking indexes are unrelated to Build Settings
• Believing LoadScene only accepts names
• Assuming missing file causes this specific error

5. You want your game to start with the "Intro" scene, but currently the "MainMenu" scene is first in Build Settings. How can you fix this without renaming scenes?

hard

A. Call SceneManager.LoadScene("Intro") in the first scene's script

B. Change the scene file name to "00_Intro"

C. Drag the "Intro" scene to the top of the Scenes In Build list

D. Remove "MainMenu" from Build Settings

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand scene start order in Build Settings

   The first scene in the Scenes In Build list is the one that starts when the game runs.

2. Step 2: Adjust scene order without renaming

   Drag the "Intro" scene to the top of the list to make it the first scene loaded.

3. Final Answer:

   Drag the "Intro" scene to the top of the Scenes In Build list -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   First scene in Build Settings = start scene [OK]

Hint: First scene in Build Settings list starts game [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Renaming files instead of reordering scenes
• Removing scenes unnecessarily
• Relying only on script calls without build order