Unity_access, major updates and release status

In the past two to three weeks, work on Unity_access has been ongoing. Unity_access is a plugin for the Unity Editor that enhances the accessibility of previously inaccessible features for screen reader users. This devlog will detail the significant updates since the last feature showcase.

One of the major limitations of the Unity Editor is the inaccessibility of the Project Window. Unity_access now includes an Assets Viewer to address this issue. This viewer allows users to view files and folders, delete files and folders, move assets, and rename assets. The initial release of the Assets Viewer is meant to serve as a foundation for future enhancements.

A new Options Menu for Scene Objects has been introduced, accessible by pressing Shift+F10. This menu provides users with object-specific options similar to those available to sighted developers. The Options Menu includes options such as rename, delete, duplicate, set parent, unparent, and create Prefab. The developers intend to expand the menu in the future to offer even more functionality.

The ability to create Prefabs has been significantly improved. With this update, users of Unity_access can now create Prefabs of objects. This feature allows users to generate a Prefab with all components, scripts, child objects, and properties attached to the selected object. This feature can be accessed through the Options Menu.

While Unity_access includes a basic Console for reading logs, messages, and errors from Unity or external programs, the Console also allows users to copy messages using Ctrl+C. Additionally, Unity_access now allows users to create new scenes, providing options to select from scene templates or create an empty scene. The Project Settings window has been redesigned as an accessible version, enabling users to edit product information, add, edit, and remove Tags and Layers.

The Build Profile window allows users to control the build of their project. Current options include switching profiles, controlling scene selection, setting the target platform, and selecting the type of build. In addition to these features, Unity_access can be accessed through the GitHub repository retro-coder64/unity_access. This editor plugin, developed using Unity Editor API and NVDA API, aims to make the Unity Editor more accessible to visually impaired game developers.

The project was coded using openai codex and is primarily written in C#. To install the plugin, users must clone the GitHub repository into a folder, copy the "editor" folder (found in the "Assets" folder), paste it into the "Assets" directory of their Unity project, and open the Unity Editor to compile the new scripts. Useful shortcuts include Ctrl+2 for entering the game view, h for opening the accessible hierarchy, and Ctrl+P for playing the scene. The developers welcome any feedback from experienced Unity users or blind game developers.