unity-prefab-workflow

Prefab Lifecycle

Create, open, edit, and instantiate prefabs. Read references/prefab-edit-mode.md when you need a safe sequence for edit mode, scene handoff, or instantiation checks.

Use When

• The user wants to create or update a prefab asset.
• The task requires entering prefab edit mode and saving changes back to the asset.
• The user wants to instantiate prefab assets into a scene with specific transforms.

Do Not Use When

• The request is about editing ordinary scene objects with no prefab asset involved.
• The task is only about creating a scene from scratch.

Commands

# Create prefab from scene object
unity-cli raw create_prefab --json '{"gameObjectPath":"/Player","prefabPath":"Assets/Prefabs/Player.prefab"}'

# Prefab editing mode
unity-cli raw open_prefab --json '{"prefabPath":"Assets/Prefabs/Player.prefab"}'
unity-cli raw save_prefab --json '{}'
unity-cli raw exit_prefab_mode --json '{}'

# Instantiate
unity-cli raw instantiate_prefab --json '{"prefabPath":"Assets/Prefabs/Player.prefab","position":{"x":0,"y":0,"z":0}}'

# Modify prefab properties
unity-cli raw modify_prefab --json '{"prefabPath":"Assets/Prefabs/Player.prefab","modifications":{"name":"UpdatedPlayer"}}'

Workflow

1. open_prefab to enter edit mode
2. Make changes (add components, modify properties)
3. save_prefab to persist
4. exit_prefab_mode to return to scene

Examples

• "Create a prefab from /Player and save it under Assets/Prefabs/Player.prefab."
• "Open an existing prefab, change it, save it, and exit prefab mode."
• "Instantiate a prefab at the origin for a test scene."

Common Issues

• Changes do not persist: call save_prefab before exiting edit mode.
• The editor remains stuck in prefab mode: explicitly call exit_prefab_mode before switching scenes.
• The user actually wants to edit a scene instance, not the prefab asset: switch to unity-gameobject-edit.
• Use explicit position or rotation values during instantiation when placement matters.