Batch Actor Replacer

Module: Design · Category: LevelDesign · Tool ID: BatchActorReplacer

Two-list batch replacement tool. Scan the level, pick a source class, narrow to specific instances via per-row checkboxes, pick a target asset (any placeable: StaticMesh, SkeletalMesh, Blueprint, Niagara, Decal, etc.), click Replace Selected. Every checked instance is swapped while preserving transform, tags, and layer assignment. Full undo support.

Replacer with class list on left showing scanned classes + counts, instance list on right with per-row checkboxes, target asset configured at the bottom.

When to use it

• Swapping placeholder cubes for the real meshes after blockout
• Replacing one Blueprint with a refactored version across the whole level
• Bulk-converting old AStaticMeshActor to new modular pieces
• Migrating placed Niagara systems to a newer template

What it isn’t for

• Don’t use this for one-off replacements. UE’s regular drag-replace is faster.
• Don’t expect this to handle non-placeable assets. Only assets with a registered ActorFactory work.

Opening the tool

1. Open the EQLabs Hub and search for Batch Actor or Replace (or browse to Design → LevelDesign).
2. Click the tool card.
3. Click Scan Level.

Interface tour

Class list (top)

Section	What it does
Scan Level	Walks the active level, groups actors by class
Class Search	Filter by class name
Class list	Per-class row: class name, instance count

Click a class row to populate the instance list below.

Instance list (middle)

Section	What it does
Instance Search	Filter by actor name within the source class
Per-row checkbox	Include this actor in the replacement
Select All / Deselect All	Bulk toggle
Instance list	Per-row: actor label, selected flag

Target picker (bottom)

Field	What it does	Default
Type Filter combo	All Placeable / StaticMesh / SkeletalMesh / Blueprint / NiagaraSystem / ParticleSystem / Material / Sound / AnimBlueprint	All Placeable
Target Asset picker	Restricted to the selected type filter
Preserve Tags checkbox	Keep actor tags through replacement	true
Preserve Layer checkbox	Keep editor layer assignment	true
Replace Selected	Performs the batch swap

Tool with a class selected, 8 instances checked, target asset configured, Replace Selected button highlighted.

Workflow

Bulk swap placeholder for real

1. Click Scan Level.
2. In the class list, click AStaticMeshActor (or your placeholder class).
3. The instance list populates — Ctrl+Click rows or use Select All.
4. In the target picker, set Type Filter to StaticMesh.
5. Drop the real mesh into the picker.
6. Click Replace Selected.

Swap one Blueprint for another

1. Scan, pick the source Blueprint class in the class list.
2. Filter instance list, pick the ones to replace.
3. Set Type Filter to Blueprint, drop the new Blueprint into the picker.
4. Click Replace Selected.

Cross-class replacement

You can swap an AStaticMeshActor for a Blueprint, or a Blueprint for a Niagara system — UE’s FActorFactoryAssetProxy handles the right actor class for the target asset.

Settings reference

Field	Default
Preserve Tags	true
Preserve Layer	true
Type Filter	All Placeable
Class Search / Instance Search	empty

Settings file: [Project]/Saved/EQLabs/Settings/BatchActorReplacer.json

Output

• In-place actor replacement. Old actors removed, new actors spawned with the target asset.
• Transform preserved. Location, rotation, scale carry over.
• Tags preserved. When Preserve Tags is on.
• Layer preserved. When Preserve Layer is on.
• Undo. Entire batch wrapped in a single ScopedTransaction. Ctrl+Z reverts the lot.

Tips and gotchas

• Cross-class swaps can lose properties. If the source is a custom Blueprint with custom variables, those are lost when swapping to a different class.
• Type Filter narrows the picker. Use it to avoid accidentally picking the wrong asset class.
• References to replaced actors will break. Gameplay code that references replaced actors by pointer/path will need update; check after a big batch swap.
• Single-click on a class row populates the instance list; on an instance row, selects the actor in the viewport.

Related tools

• Modular Kit Auditor — placement validation alongside replacement workflows
• Smart Actor Align & Distribute — for post-replacement alignment