Z Ordering multiple object types

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if there was a way to z-sort multiple object types using the system action "zSort" and benefit from the performance of it instead of relying on loops.

Currently I have a project with characters that wear weapons, have text object for their names and informations, and visual effects. All these characters are z-sorted by their y position. So to have their respective objects following their z-order, I have to manually move in front or behind everything, which is slower.

The sorted objects are from different object types and can't be all sorted at once inside a family. Also each of these objects are allways relative to their wearer. That is why I thought of a suggestion to make here https://construct3-21h2.ideas.aha.io/ideas/C321H2-I-244 for adding an option "Pin to Z-Index" to the Pin behavior and make the pinned object maintains its relative Z position according to the object it's pinned to.

What do you think of it ? Did someone already had to deal with it ? Any solution or workaround ?

Here is a solution (not mine) using a bit of JS:

dropbox.com/s/16cj2nyykhhxcby/sort_different_object_type.c3p

Be aware that it may work slower than the system "Sort Z order" action.

Why not just use hierarchies? Seems like you're already doing multi-part units.

Make sure each hierarchy has an object that's part of the z sort family.

newt, is there any way to make hierarchy follows z-ordering ? I have a sprite that is part of the zSort family and some objects created at runtime and added to the hierarchy as children. When the sprites are sorted, the z-index of children do not follow. All I have as options is z-elevation which is a different thing.

I guess the z-order isn't inherited.

You might have to pick the children, and place them there.

It's either a bug, or a feature request.

dop2000, thank you for the javascript example, that is nice and simple. That corresponds correctly to the topic title, which was inaccurate. Some cases remain uncovered like for weapons attached to a sprite's image point. They must be on top of their parent sprite regardless of their x,y coodinates, becaused they are pinned. So they can't be included into the z-sorting action.

I found some answers to this topic https://www.construct.net/en/forum/construct-3/general-discussion-7/scene-graph-154671 of users requesting Scene Graph and Hierarchy to support z-ordering.

TackerTacker : "Something to consider is how z-sorting will work."

https://www.construct.net/en/forum/construct-3/general-discussion-7/scene-graph-154671#forumPost1020323

simstratic : "I also tend to think that children should inherit z-order"

https://www.construct.net/en/forum/construct-3/general-discussion-7/scene-graph-154671/page-3#forumPost1021422

eleanorjmorel : "Will you also add whether we can Zordering or not, and on top or bottom of the parent?"

https://www.construct.net/en/forum/construct-3/general-discussion-7/scene-graph-154671/page-4#forumPost1022358

So this is more about a request to add z-ordering inheritance for Hierarchies or z-order to Pin Behavior. Suggestion => https://construct3-21h2.ideas.aha.io/ideas/C321H2-I-244

You don't have to wait for a response to a feature request, you can already do it using JS.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pbz3e5ihrbe6gyz/sorted_advanced.c3p?dl=1