Quick start

This guide creates a shadow quality setting that automatically saves and applies to Unreal's graphics system through a built-in console variable.

To start from a complete styled settings menu instead, migrate the example menu.

Prerequisites

• Unreal Engine 5.4+
• Basic knowledge of UMG (Unreal Motion Graphics)
• Auto Settings 2 installed (see Installation Guide)

Create a reusable Setting Type

Create a single Setting Type asset that can be used for all console variable settings:

1. In the Content Browser, right-click and select Blueprint Class.
2. Choose Setting Type as the parent class.
3. Name it Setting_Global.
4. Open the Blueprint and configure the optional binding:
   • Binding Strategy: Console Variable Setting Binding Strategy (synchronizes the setting with console variables).
   • Persistence Strategy: Config Setting Persistence Strategy (saves to .ini config files).
5. Save the asset.

Reusable Setting Type

This single Setting Type can be used for any console variable setting. You'll specify which console variable to use when configuring individual widgets.

Add a shadow quality widget to your UI

Add a dropdown widget for shadow quality control to your existing settings menu:

1. Open your settings menu widget in the UMG editor.
2. In the Widget Palette, expand Auto Settings.
3. Drag ComboBox Setting Widget onto your menu.
4. Configure the Widget in the Details panel:
   • Set Setting Type to your Setting_Global asset.
   • Set Console Variable Name to sg.ShadowQuality.
   • Set Auto Apply to True (applies changes immediately).
   • Set Auto Save to True (saves automatically).
   • Add Options: Low (0), Medium (1), High (2), Epic (3).

Widget Architecture

Auto Settings includes ready-to-use setting widget Blueprints you can place directly in UMG. See Setting Widgets for the available widget types and customization options, and the Example project for styled menu examples.

Test your setting

Test that everything works:

1. Play your game and open the settings menu.
2. Change the shadow quality dropdown. You should see visual changes immediately.
3. Close and restart your game.
4. The dropdown should remember its previous selection.

Testing in the console

Open the console (~) and enter sg.ShadowQuality to see the current value. You can also use the same Setting_Global asset with scalability settings such as sg.ViewDistanceQuality or sg.EffectsQuality.

Next steps

Add more controls with the setting widgets, or migrate the example menu for a complete CommonUI-based implementation.