SKTextureAtlas outside app.bundle

Question

I have placed some of my texture atlases outside my app.bundle. This does not seem to work. Although the path is correct, and I use the compressed texture output (.atlasc) the SKTextureAtlas command can't find the atlas? Anyone have any idea?

The Apple documentation says: "An SKTextureAtlas object is a collection of related texture objects created from a texture atlas stored inside the app bundle." .

So that doesn't seem hopeful. But I can't imagine why this would be. For example if you have a game downloading extra levels with textures. This would not be possible if you can't load the textures outside of the app.bundle.

To further explain; After purchase the app downloads an in-app purchase package, from that package the app copies some texture atlases (like Textures.atlasc) to the documents folder. And from the documents folder I try to load the textures something like this;

NSString *roadTextures = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@Textures.atlasc",mapPath];
self.textures = [SKTextureAtlas atlasNamed:roadTextures];

I've tried different methods, by not including .atlasc or any extension at all. I have checked if the files are in the document folder and they are.

Can you post the code which you use to move the files there, and the code for accessing them? — ZeMoon
You are expected to provide an app update if you want to distribute extra levels with extra graphics to your users. — LearnCocos2D
What would be the use of the in-app purchase when downloaded stuff can't be used? — DionMes
I am gonna choose this method now, but I don't agree with you. In-app purchases have a download option, either via apple or your own hosted content. You should be able to use that downloaded content in your app. Otherwise I don't see the reason to download content. — DionMes
Thanks to Benny Khoo! This solution will help. github.com/bennyk/MyTextureAtlas — Den

henryeverett henryeverett · Accepted Answer · 2014-05-27T08:38:20

I'm pretty sure that you can't use SKTextureAtlas like that. SKTextureAtlas accepts a name for the .atlas file and then from that obviously looks for a compiled .atlasc. You can't override this behaviour unfortunately. And if you did, Apple probably wouldn't approve it. I think you will have to do this manually by parsing the .plist file yourself or by just using normal SKTextures.

SKTextureAtlas outside app.bundle

1 Answers