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Getting Started

This page covers installation, the first thing you should see, and how to find every feature.

Install

  1. Download the latest HierarchyInspector.unitypackage from the releases page.
  2. In Unity, go to Assets → Import Package → Custom Package… and pick the file.
  3. Click Import All when Unity prompts you.

After import, the asset lives at Assets/Plugins/HierarchyInspector/. Move it anywhere you like; nothing depends on the path.

First look

Open any scene. The Hierarchy window will already look different:

  • Rows alternate between two slightly different shades.
  • Hovering a row brightens it.
  • Active and inactive GameObjects render at different opacity.
  • Each row has component icons in the right gutter.
  • A small gear button appears next to the row label when you hover.

Demo scene hierarchy with the gear button visible on the hovered row

If none of this is happening, check that the active theme is selected: open Edit → Preferences → Hierarchy Inspector and pick a theme asset. A default one ships with the package.

Info

The first time you click the gear on a GameObject, Hierarchy Inspector adds a small HierarchyInspectorData component to it. This component is invisible in the Inspector by default, only present on objects you have actually styled, and automatically stripped from player builds (it carries Unity's DontSaveInBuild flag). Untouched objects stay clean; built objects ship clean.

Finding the controls

What you want Where to look
Switch themes, create a new theme, reset to defaults Edit → Preferences → Hierarchy Inspector
Edit a theme's colors, sizes, and feature toggles Select the theme asset; the Inspector is fully tabbed
Change one GameObject's color, icon, name, notes Click the gear icon on the row in the Hierarchy
Mark a GameObject as a folder Gear popup, then the Virtualized Folder button
Bookmark a GameObject Gear popup, then the star button (☆ / ★)
Jump to a bookmark Click the gold star button on the scene's header row in the Hierarchy
Copy/paste a row's styling Ctrl+Shift+C to copy the selected row, Ctrl+Shift+V to paste

Turning the overlay off

If you want to compare against Unity's stock hierarchy or temporarily disable everything, open the active theme asset and uncheck Overlay Enabled at the top. The custom rendering shuts off, all callbacks unsubscribe, and you see Unity's default hierarchy. Re-check it to bring everything back. No restart needed.