Scripting tool from the outside

Help and Feedback Scripting Support
#1

Hi, I want to script a tool from the outside (script inside StarterPlayerScripts). How can I reference my tool and connect to it’s functions? Usually tool scripts are a child of the tool, and the tool is referenced using script.Parent. I prefer to place my scripts inside of StarterPlayerScripts to make them more easily accessible. I’m sure this is a simple question but I can’t seem to figure it out.

#2

You can just point a variable to the tool location:

local myTool=workspace.GameTools.MyTool
#3

The way to do this chief is to use whats called a object value and manually link it by clicking on it from starter tool

#4

I hate to be that guy on the forums but I think a more proper statement would be you could just create a variable to the tools location

1 Like
#5

Yeah, don’t be that guy, nobody likes that guy :joy:
But yeah you are technically correct

1 Like
#6

The tool isn’t in the workspace, but in StarterPack. It then gets cloned to every player’s Backpack. I can’t reference the tool from a LocalPlayer’s Backpack…

#7

Let me know if this works.

local tool = script.Parent.Parent:WaitForChild("BackPack"):WaitForChild("ToolName")

Sent from mobile.

#8

I mean you could do something like this.

local player = game.Players.LocalPlayer

local Backpack = player:WaitForChild("Backpack")

Backpack.ChildAdded:Connect(function(child)
     if child:IsA("Tool") then
           --code here
           child.Activated:Connect(function()
                print("Activated")
           end)
     end
end)
#9

Assuming what you mean by ‘connect to its functions’ is using a tool’s events to connect to tool functions, just make a variable in your local script that references the tool:

local tool = --location of tool
tool.Equipped:Connect(function()
    --code here
end)
tool.Unequipped:Connect(function()
    --code here
end)
#10

Doesn’t work. The script infinitely yields.

#11

The ChildAdded event doesn’t fire if I place the tool inside StarterPack.

#12

wait, are you using a local script? because you have to

#13

Try this?

local Player = game.Players.LocalPlayer
local Character = Player.Character or Player.CharacterAdded:Wait()

print("[Client] Script Online")

Character.ChildAdded:Connect(function(NewChild)
    if NewChild:IsA("Tool") then
        local Tool = NewChild
        print("[Client] Found a tool, waiting for a event to fire")
        Tool.Activated:Connect(function()
            print("[Client] Activated the Tool from outside the tool object")
        end)
    end
end)
#14

Yes I am.
I’m not having trouble connecting to the tool’s events, I’m having trouble referencing the tool.

#15

this is likely ur problem

if it’s not already, put the script inside StarterCharacterScripts and not StarterPlayerScripts, then reference the tool like so:

local user = game.Players.LocalPlayer

user.CharacterAdded:Connect(function()
    local tool = --tool location
    tool.Equipped:Connect(function()
        print('equipped')
    end)
    tool.Unequipped:Connect(function()
        print('unequipped')
    end)
end
1 Like
#16

Can you show me where your script is exactly located. Is it inside the StarterPlayerScripts folder, or is it inside a folder in the StarterPlayerScripts folder?

#17

The script is parented to StarterPlayerScripts. With no folders in between.

#18

My bad… It’s Backpack, not BackPack.

local tool = script.Parent.Parent:WaitForChild("Backpack"):WaitForChild("ToolName")

Remember to replace ToolName with the name of your tool!

#19

If I understood correctly, you want to obtain the tool from a LocalScript that is not inside it and there create functions, when a player equips a tool it is put inside its character, what it should do is:

local Player = game.Players.LocalPlayer
local Character = Player.Character or Player.CharacterAdded:Wait()

local Tool = Character.ToolName

And from the variable “Tool” do the functions.

#20

Why reference the character if you’re not using it?
Also, using :WaitForChild() is better because you’re sure it won’t error.

and this is kinda unrelated but im actually addicted to :WaitForChild() i even use it in server scripts lol