From bd575c5fe56c7c03b727d3f0e322312bb80ed0ea Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: vPumpking <monmonerp71@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 21 May 2023 18:04:03 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] Add 'get_tree_string()' and 'get_tree_string_pretty()' to
 Node class to complement printing methods

---
 doc/classes/Node.xml | 30 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 scene/main/node.cpp  | 42 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++---------------
 scene/main/node.h    |  6 ++++--
 3 files changed, 61 insertions(+), 17 deletions(-)

diff --git a/doc/classes/Node.xml b/doc/classes/Node.xml
index 7510d6bb640..dda550bcc4a 100644
--- a/doc/classes/Node.xml
+++ b/doc/classes/Node.xml
@@ -448,6 +448,36 @@
 				Returns the [SceneTree] that contains this node.
 			</description>
 		</method>
+		<method name="get_tree_string">
+			<return type="String" />
+			<description>
+				Returns the tree as a [String]. Used mainly for debugging purposes. This version displays the path relative to the current node, and is good for copy/pasting into the [method get_node] function. It also can be used in game UI/UX.
+				[b]Example output:[/b]
+				[codeblock]
+				TheGame
+				TheGame/Menu
+				TheGame/Menu/Label
+				TheGame/Menu/Camera2D
+				TheGame/SplashScreen
+				TheGame/SplashScreen/Camera2D
+				[/codeblock]
+			</description>
+		</method>
+		<method name="get_tree_string_pretty">
+			<return type="String" />
+			<description>
+				Similar to [method get_tree_string], this returns the tree as a [String]. This version displays a more graphical representation similar to what is displayed in the Scene Dock. It is useful for inspecting larger trees.
+				[b]Example output:[/b]
+				[codeblock]
+				 ┖╴TheGame
+				    ┠╴Menu
+				    ┃  ┠╴Label
+				    ┃  ┖╴Camera2D
+				    ┖╴SplashScreen
+				       ┖╴Camera2D
+				[/codeblock]
+			</description>
+		</method>
 		<method name="get_viewport" qualifiers="const">
 			<return type="Viewport" />
 			<description>
diff --git a/scene/main/node.cpp b/scene/main/node.cpp
index d8a50c4313a..4ba1c1be6f7 100644
--- a/scene/main/node.cpp
+++ b/scene/main/node.cpp
@@ -2157,30 +2157,40 @@ int Node::get_persistent_group_count() const {
 	return count;
 }
 
-void Node::_print_tree_pretty(const String &prefix, const bool last) {
-	String new_prefix = last ? String::utf8(" ┖╴") : String::utf8(" ┠╴");
-	print_line(prefix + new_prefix + String(get_name()));
-	_update_children_cache();
-	for (uint32_t i = 0; i < data.children_cache.size(); i++) {
-		new_prefix = last ? String::utf8("   ") : String::utf8(" ┃ ");
-		data.children_cache[i]->_print_tree_pretty(prefix + new_prefix, i == data.children_cache.size() - 1);
-	}
-}
-
 void Node::print_tree_pretty() {
-	_print_tree_pretty("", true);
+	print_line(_get_tree_string_pretty("", true));
 }
 
 void Node::print_tree() {
-	_print_tree(this);
+	print_line(_get_tree_string(this));
 }
 
-void Node::_print_tree(const Node *p_node) {
-	print_line(String(p_node->get_path_to(this)));
+String Node::_get_tree_string_pretty(const String &p_prefix, bool p_last) {
+	String new_prefix = p_last ? String::utf8(" ┖╴") : String::utf8(" ┠╴");
 	_update_children_cache();
+	String return_tree = p_prefix + new_prefix + String(get_name()) + "\n";
 	for (uint32_t i = 0; i < data.children_cache.size(); i++) {
-		data.children_cache[i]->_print_tree(p_node);
+		new_prefix = p_last ? String::utf8("   ") : String::utf8(" ┃ ");
+		return_tree += data.children_cache[i]->_get_tree_string_pretty(p_prefix + new_prefix, i == data.children_cache.size() - 1);
 	}
+	return return_tree;
+}
+
+String Node::get_tree_string_pretty() {
+	return _get_tree_string_pretty("", true);
+}
+
+String Node::_get_tree_string(const Node *p_node) {
+	_update_children_cache();
+	String return_tree = String(p_node->get_path_to(this)) + "\n";
+	for (uint32_t i = 0; i < data.children_cache.size(); i++) {
+		return_tree += data.children_cache[i]->_get_tree_string(p_node);
+	}
+	return return_tree;
+}
+
+String Node::get_tree_string() {
+	return _get_tree_string(this);
 }
 
 void Node::_propagate_reverse_notification(int p_notification) {
@@ -3279,6 +3289,8 @@ void Node::_bind_methods() {
 	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("get_index", "include_internal"), &Node::get_index, DEFVAL(false));
 	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("print_tree"), &Node::print_tree);
 	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("print_tree_pretty"), &Node::print_tree_pretty);
+	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("get_tree_string"), &Node::get_tree_string);
+	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("get_tree_string_pretty"), &Node::get_tree_string_pretty);
 	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("set_scene_file_path", "scene_file_path"), &Node::set_scene_file_path);
 	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("get_scene_file_path"), &Node::get_scene_file_path);
 	ClassDB::bind_method(D_METHOD("propagate_notification", "what"), &Node::propagate_notification);
diff --git a/scene/main/node.h b/scene/main/node.h
index feda200b24b..2a45b701390 100644
--- a/scene/main/node.h
+++ b/scene/main/node.h
@@ -217,8 +217,8 @@ private:
 
 	Ref<MultiplayerAPI> multiplayer;
 
-	void _print_tree_pretty(const String &prefix, const bool last);
-	void _print_tree(const Node *p_node);
+	String _get_tree_string_pretty(const String &p_prefix, bool p_last);
+	String _get_tree_string(const Node *p_node);
 
 	Node *_get_child_by_name(const StringName &p_name) const;
 
@@ -476,6 +476,8 @@ public:
 
 	void print_tree();
 	void print_tree_pretty();
+	String get_tree_string();
+	String get_tree_string_pretty();
 
 	void set_scene_file_path(const String &p_scene_file_path);
 	String get_scene_file_path() const;