Root Guardian: Safe Hierarchy Selection

FEATURES

• Guarded-root selection redirection in Scene View and Hierarchy

• Nearest or outermost nested-root resolution

• Multi-selection-safe redirection and deduplication

• Scene-instance and prefab-asset guard scopes

• Exact child exceptions

• Configurable Alt/Option, Shift, Control, or Command bypass modifier

• One-shot Bypass Next Selection shortcut

• Global pause/resume shortcut

• Optional Terrain and layer selection filters

• Optional bounded Structure Guard for captured Hierarchy drag reparenting

• Hierarchy indicators, Inspector controls, Scene View controls, management window, Project Settings, onboarding, diagnostics, and Shortcut Manager integration

• Project-shared GlobalObjectId records with Undo/Redo

• Documented Editor API for tool integration

DEFAULT SHORTCUTS

• Toggle Guard Selected: Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+L

• Toggle Protection: Ctrl/Cmd+Alt+G

• Bypass Next Selection: Ctrl/Cmd+Alt+Shift+B

All shortcuts are rebindable in Unity Shortcut Manager.

COMPATIBILITY

• Tested with Unity 2022.3.62f3 and Unity 6000.2.6f2

• Built-in Render Pipeline, URP, and HDRP

• Editor-only; no runtime/player footprint

• No Input System, TextMeshPro, Addressables, or third-party Asset Store package required

• Cross-platform UnityEditor APIs; automated release validation performed on macOS

PACKAGE

• Install root: Assets/RootGuardian

• One Editor product assembly

• One optional, non-auto-referenced Editor test assembly

• 39/39 Edit Mode tests passed on both tested Unity versions

• Demo content: 1 scene, 3 prefabs, 11 materials, and 1 pipeline-independent unlit shader

• Offline documentation included

• No analytics, telemetry, networking, unsafe code, executable, or native plug-in

Stop losing time to accidental deep selections.

Root Guardian is an Editor-only workflow tool that lets you mark a GameObject as a Guarded Root. During normal Scene View and Hierarchy selection, protected descendants redirect to the root you intended to edit. Your hierarchy stays intact, scene content stays untouched, and intentional child access remains one shortcut away.

BUILT FOR REAL PRODUCTION HIERARCHIES

• Characters with bones, sockets, colliders, VFX, and equipment

• Vehicles with wheels, lights, suspension, and controls

• Modular buildings and environment groups

• Deep UI structures and reusable prefabs

• Nested prefab and prefab-variant workflows

WORK THE WAY YOU WANT

• Protect selection in both Scene View and Hierarchy

• Add exact child exceptions

• Hold a configurable modifier to bypass protection

• Use Bypass Next Selection for one deliberate child click

• Pause or resume protection globally with a shortcut

• Choose nearest or outermost guarded-root behavior

• Manage guards from the main window, Inspector, Hierarchy, Scene View, Project Settings, or Unity Shortcut Manager

SAFE, FOCUSED, AND SELF-CONTAINED

Root Guardian is Editor-only. It adds no MonoBehaviour, runtime assembly, player callback, analytics, telemetry, network access, native plug-in, or external service. It has no third-party package dependency and no render-pipeline dependency.

INCLUDED

A focused demonstration scene made from Unity primitives, plus offline README, user manual, architecture, dependency, security/privacy, changelog, and acceptance-test documentation.

IMPORTANT SCOPE

Structure Guard covers captured Hierarchy drag reparenting. It does not claim universal delete, script, third-party command, prefab-unpack, or programmatic hierarchy interception. Hierarchy selection normalization occurs after Unity reports selection, so a brief native highlight may be visible. Alt/Option is also used for Scene View navigation; use Bypass Next Selection or choose another modifier when Unity consumes it.

Selected marketing screenshots use Ultimate Nature - Starter only as a high-complexity presentation backdrop. That environment is not included. The shipping package contains only Root Guardian and its focused primitive-based demo under Assets/RootGuardian.