Create/Load SKTilemapnode without using SKS/Scene files

Question

I create my sprite kit games programmatically and the sks files end up just confusing me.

Is there a way to load or create a tile map node without having to use the sks/scene file?

Answer 1

I figured out a way to to do it:

• 1) Create a SKS file called tilemaps
• 2) Create all your maps in there

• 3) Add this extension to load that scene file in your current scene:

  extension SKNode {
  class func unarchiveFromFile(file : NSString) -> SKNode? {
      if let path = Bundle.main.path(forResource: file as String, ofType: "sks") {
          let sceneData = NSData(contentsOfFile: path)
  
          let archiver = NSKeyedUnarchiver(forReadingWith: sceneData as! Data)
  
          archiver.setClass(self.classForKeyedUnarchiver(), forClassName: "SKScene")
          let scene = archiver.decodeObject(forKey: NSKeyedArchiveRootObjectKey) as! SKNode
          archiver.finishDecoding()
          return scene
      } else {
          return nil
      }
  }
  

  }

Then grab the tile map from the sks file. Weird trick is that you have to remove it from its parent first:

    guard 
      let tileScene = SKScene.unarchiveFromFile(file: "TileMaps"),
      let testMap = tileScene.childNode(withName: "Dungeon1")
        as? SKTileMapNode else {
            fatalError("Background node not loaded")
    }
    self.testMap = testMap
    self.testMap.removeFromParent()
    self.testMap.zPosition = 1200

    self.addChild(testMap)