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NFT Shareable Links

Overview

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the Text Entry Box to display an NFT (Non-fungible Token) URL that players can copy which can then be used in their web browser.

Current solutions for linking players to an NFT require either them typing out the full URL that would be displayed in-game, or having a device so a QR code can be scanned. Using the Text Entry Box, players can easily copy the text contents directly from the game into their browser.

  • Skills you will learn:
    • Displaying an NFT image.
    • Using a trigger to show UI.
    • Set the text of a Text Entry Box and focus it.

Import Picture Frame Template

To display NFTs, a picture frame template has been created that you can import into your project. The template contains a small bit of geometry along with some UI for the NFT image and NFT name. A trigger has also been added that will be will be connected in a Lua script later.

Save the image to your computer, then drag and drop it into the Core Editor. If done correctly, the template will show up in Project Content.

!Info

Add Picture Frame to Hierarchy

The picture frame will be used to display the NFT image and name. This template will be updated to contain a script so that the frame can be placed anywhere, and can also be duplicated to have multiple instances of it.

  1. Create a Client Context in the Hierarchy.
  2. Add the NFT Picture Frame template to the client context folder.
  3. Deinstance the template so it can be edited.
  4. Place the picture frame where you want in the scene.

In the image below, 3 picture frames have been placed on a wall.

!Frames

When the player interacts with the trigger, some UI will pop up that contains a text entry box that will be focused so the text is highlighted automatically.

  1. Create UI Container in the client context folder.
  2. Create a UI Panel inside the UI Container and name it Link Panel.
  3. Set the Visibility property on the Link Panel in the Properties window to Force Off.
  4. Create a Text Entry Box inside the Link Panel and name it URL Text Entry.

Feel free to design the UI how you like.

!UI

Create NFTShareableLinkClient Script

Create a new script called NFTShareableLinkClient. This script needs to be placed inside the NFT Picture Frame folder in the Hierarchy. This is because it will allow you to update the template later so it can be used elsewhere in the scene.

!Create Script

Create Custom properties

The NFTShareableLinkClient script needs references to a few different things so they can be accessed via the Lua script.

  1. Add a string custom property called ContractAddress.
  2. Add a string custom property called TokenID.
  3. Add the Trigger object as a custom property called Trigger.
  4. Add the Info UI Text object as a custom property called Info.
  5. Add the Picture UI Image object as a custom property called Picture.
  6. Add the Link Panel object as a custom property called LinkPanel.
  7. Add the Text Entry object as a custom property called TextEntry.

!Properties

Create Property References

Open up the NFTShareableLinkClient script and add the variables to the properties so you have references for each one.

local CONTRACT_ADDRESS = script:GetCustomProperty("ContractAddress")
local TOKEN_ID = script:GetCustomProperty("TokenID")
local TRIGGER = script:GetCustomProperty("Trigger"):WaitForObject()
local INFO = script:GetCustomProperty("Info"):WaitForObject()
local PICTURE = script:GetCustomProperty("Picture"):WaitForObject()
local LINK_PANEL = script:GetCustomProperty("LinkPanel"):WaitForObject()
local TEXT_ENTRY = script:GetCustomProperty("TextEntry"):WaitForObject()

Create Variable

A reference to the local player is needed. This can be done by storing the returned value from Game.GetLocalPlayer() in a variable.

local LOCAL_PLAYER = Game.GetLocalPlayer()

Load NFT Token

The first thing to do is load the NFT token for the picture frame. When loading an NFT from the blockchain, it is recommended to check if it was a success. When calling GetToken, it will yield the script while it attempts to retrieve the token data. It's best to always check the status code when making blockchain calls so you can display an error to the player.

If the token data is successfully retrieved, then the INFO text is set to the token.name value. The PICTURE also has the image set by using the SetBlockchainToken function while passing in the token as an argument.

Notice that the TRIGGER is now set to be interactable. This is done after the data has been retrieved successfully so that the player can open up the UI.

local token, success, err = Blockchain.GetToken(CONTRACT_ADDRESS, TOKEN_ID)

if success == BlockchainTokenResultCode.SUCCESS then
    INFO.text = token.name
    PICTURE:SetBlockchainToken(token)
    TRIGGER.isInteractable = true
else
    print(err)
end

Create OnTriggerInteracted Function

Create a function called OnTriggerInteracted. This function will be called when the player interacts with the TRIGGER. It will enable the cursor, and display the LINK_PANEL UI. At the same time, the text for the TEXT_ENTRY is updated to point to the NFT page on OpenSea by concatenating the CONTRACT_ADDRESS and TOKEN_ID together to form a valid URL.

When the player interacts with the trigger that will open the UI, the TEXT_ENTRY needs to be focused so the player can copy and paste it right away. This can be done by using the Focus function.

local function OnTriggerInteracted(trigger, other)
    if other == LOCAL_PLAYER then
        UI.SetCanCursorInteractWithUI(true)
        UI.SetCursorVisible(true)

        trigger.isInteractable = false
        LINK_PANEL.visibility = Visibility.FORCE_ON
        TEXT_ENTRY.text = "https://opensea.io/assets/ethereum/" .. CONTRACT_ADDRESS .. "/" .. TOKEN_ID
        TEXT_ENTRY:Focus()
    end
end

Create OnTriggerExit Function

Create a function called OnTriggerExit. This function will disable the cursor, turn off the visibility of the LINK_PANEL, and also set the trigger to be interactable again. This is so the label is shown to the player.

local function OnTriggerExit(trigger, other)
    if other == LOCAL_PLAYER then
        UI.SetCanCursorInteractWithUI(false)
        UI.SetCursorVisible(false)

        LINK_PANEL.visibility = Visibility.FORCE_OFF
        trigger.isInteractable = true
    end
end

Connect Trigger Events

Connect up the 2 events for the trigger so that they call the connected functions.

TRIGGER.interactedEvent:Connect(OnTriggerInteracted)
TRIGGER.endOverlapEvent:Connect(OnTriggerExit)

The NFTShareableLinkClient Script

NFTShareableLinkClient 
local CONTRACT_ADDRESS = script:GetCustomProperty("ContractAddress")
local TOKEN_ID = script:GetCustomProperty("TokenID")
local TRIGGER = script:GetCustomProperty("Trigger"):WaitForObject()
local INFO = script:GetCustomProperty("Info"):WaitForObject()
local PICTURE = script:GetCustomProperty("Picture"):WaitForObject()
local LINK_PANEL = script:GetCustomProperty("LinkPanel"):WaitForObject()
local TEXT_ENTRY = script:GetCustomProperty("TextEntry"):WaitForObject()

local LOCAL_PLAYER = Game.GetLocalPlayer()
local token, success, err = Blockchain.GetToken(CONTRACT_ADDRESS, TOKEN_ID)

if success == BlockchainTokenResultCode.SUCCESS then
    INFO.text = token.name
    PICTURE:SetBlockchainToken(token)
    TRIGGER.isInteractable = true
else
    print(err)
end

local function OnTriggerInteracted(trigger, other)
    if other == LOCAL_PLAYER then
        UI.SetCanCursorInteractWithUI(true)
        UI.SetCursorVisible(true)

        trigger.isInteractable = false
        LINK_PANEL.visibility = Visibility.FORCE_ON
        TEXT_ENTRY.text = "https://opensea.io/assets/ethereum/" .. CONTRACT_ADDRESS .. "/" .. TOKEN_ID
        TEXT_ENTRY:Focus()
    end
end

local function OnTriggerExit(trigger, other)
    if other == LOCAL_PLAYER then
        UI.SetCanCursorInteractWithUI(false)
        UI.SetCursorVisible(false)

        LINK_PANEL.visibility = Visibility.FORCE_OFF
        trigger.isInteractable = true
    end
end

TRIGGER.interactedEvent:Connect(OnTriggerInteracted)
TRIGGER.endOverlapEvent:Connect(OnTriggerExit)

Test the Game

Test the game by entering a contract address and token ID into the custom properties on the NFTShareableLinkClient script. After a few seconds, an NFT image should load, along with the name. The trigger will then become interactable, which will open up the UI to copy the URL.

Create NFTShareableLinkServer Script

You may have noticed that when you attempt to copy the text from the text entry box, it forces the player into crouching. You can solve this by creating a server script that will listen for a broadcast to disable crouching for the player when they interact with the trigger. When the player leaves the trigger, it will allow them to crouch again.

Create a new script called NFTShareableLinkServer and place it in a Server Context in the Hierarchy.

Create DisableCrouch Function

Create a function called DisableCrouch. This function will set the property isCrouchEnabled to false to prevent the player from crouching.

local function DisableCrouch(player)
    player.isCrouchEnabled = false
end

Create EnableCrouch Function

Create a function called EnableCrouch. This function will set the property isCrouchEnabled to true to allow the player to crouch.

local function EnableCrouch(player)
    player.isCrouchEnabled = true
end

Connect Events

Connect up the events.

Events.ConnectForPlayer("DisableCrouch", DisableCrouch)
Events.ConnectForPlayer("EnableCrouch", EnableCrouch)

The NFTShareableLinkServer Script

NFTShareableLinkServer 
local function DisableCrouch(player)
    player.isCrouchEnabled = false
end

local function EnableCrouch(player)
    player.isCrouchEnabled = true
end

Events.ConnectForPlayer("DisableCrouch", DisableCrouch)
Events.ConnectForPlayer("EnableCrouch", EnableCrouch)

Edit NFTShareableLinkClient Script

The NFTShareableLinkClient script needs to be modified so it can broadcast to the server at certain points.

Modify OnTriggerInteracted Function

Modify the OnTriggerInteracted function so that it broadcasts to the server to disable the player's crouch.

local function OnTriggerInteracted(trigger, other)
    if other == LOCAL_PLAYER then
        Events.BroadcastToServer("DisableCrouch")

        UI.SetCanCursorInteractWithUI(true)
        UI.SetCursorVisible(true)

        trigger.isInteractable = false
        LINK_PANEL.visibility = Visibility.FORCE_ON
        TEXT_ENTRY.text = "https://opensea.io/assets/ethereum/" .. CONTRACT_ADDRESS .. "/" .. TOKEN_ID
        TEXT_ENTRY:Focus()
    end
end

Modify OnTriggerExit Function

Modify the OnTriggerExit function so that it broadcasts to the server to enable the player's crouch.

local function OnTriggerExit(trigger, other)
    if other == LOCAL_PLAYER then
        Events.BroadcastToServer("EnableCrouch")

        UI.SetCanCursorInteractWithUI(false)
        UI.SetCursorVisible(false)

        LINK_PANEL.visibility = Visibility.FORCE_OFF
        trigger.isInteractable = true
    end
end

The NFTShareableLinkClient Script

NFTShareableLinkClient 
local CONTRACT_ADDRESS = script:GetCustomProperty("ContractAddress")
local TOKEN_ID = script:GetCustomProperty("TokenID")
local TRIGGER = script:GetCustomProperty("Trigger"):WaitForObject()
local INFO = script:GetCustomProperty("Info"):WaitForObject()
local PICTURE = script:GetCustomProperty("Picture"):WaitForObject()
local LINK_PANEL = script:GetCustomProperty("LinkPanel"):WaitForObject()
local TEXT_ENTRY = script:GetCustomProperty("TextEntry"):WaitForObject()

local LOCAL_PLAYER = Game.GetLocalPlayer()
local token, success, err = Blockchain.GetToken(CONTRACT_ADDRESS, TOKEN_ID)

if success == BlockchainTokenResultCode.SUCCESS then
    INFO.text = token.name
    PICTURE:SetBlockchainToken(token)
    TRIGGER.isInteractable = true
else
    print(err)
end

local function OnTriggerInteracted(trigger, other)
    if other == LOCAL_PLAYER then
        Events.BroadcastToServer("DisableCrouch")

        UI.SetCanCursorInteractWithUI(true)
        UI.SetCursorVisible(true)

        trigger.isInteractable = false
        LINK_PANEL.visibility = Visibility.FORCE_ON
        TEXT_ENTRY.text = "https://opensea.io/assets/ethereum/" .. CONTRACT_ADDRESS .. "/" .. TOKEN_ID
        TEXT_ENTRY:Focus()
    end
end

local function OnTriggerExit(trigger, other)
    if other == LOCAL_PLAYER then
        Events.BroadcastToServer("EnableCrouch")

        UI.SetCanCursorInteractWithUI(false)
        UI.SetCursorVisible(false)

        LINK_PANEL.visibility = Visibility.FORCE_OFF
        trigger.isInteractable = true
    end
end

TRIGGER.interactedEvent:Connect(OnTriggerInteracted)
TRIGGER.endOverlapEvent:Connect(OnTriggerExit)

Test the Game

Test the game to make sure when copying the text from the text entry box, the player doesn't crouch. When leaving the trigger area, the crouch will be enabled for the player.

Learn More

Text Entry Box | Pet Namer Tutorial | Text Entry Validation Tutorial | Blockchain API | Text Entry Box API

Last update: September 6, 2022