new-horizons/docs/content/pages/tutorials/api.md

---
Title: API
Sort_Priority: 40
---

## How to use the API

First create the following interface in your mod:

```cs
public interface INewHorizons
    {
        [Obsolete("Create(Dictionary<string, object> config) is deprecated, please use LoadConfigs(IModBehaviour mod) instead")]
        void Create(Dictionary<string, object> config);

        [Obsolete("Create(Dictionary<string, object> config) is deprecated, please use LoadConfigs(IModBehaviour mod) instead")]
        void Create(Dictionary<string, object> config, IModBehaviour mod);

        /// <summary>
        /// Will load all configs in the regular folders (planets, systems, translations, etc) for this mod.
        /// The NH addon config template is just a single call to this API method.
        /// </summary>
        void LoadConfigs(IModBehaviour mod);

        /// <summary>
        /// Retrieve the root GameObject of a custom planet made by creating configs. 
        /// Will only work if the planet has been created (see GetStarSystemLoadedEvent)
        /// </summary>
        GameObject GetPlanet(string name);

        /// <summary>
        /// The name of the current star system loaded.
        /// </summary>
        string GetCurrentStarSystem();

        /// <summary>
        /// An event invoked when the player begins loading the new star system, before the scene starts to load.
        /// Gives the name of the star system being switched to.
        /// </summary>
        UnityEvent<string> GetChangeStarSystemEvent();

        /// <summary>
        /// An event invoked when NH has finished generating all planets for a new star system.
        /// Gives the name of the star system that was just loaded.
        /// </summary>
        UnityEvent<string> GetStarSystemLoadedEvent();

        /// <summary>
        /// An event invoked when NH has finished a planet for a star system.
        /// Gives the name of the planet that was just loaded.
        /// </summary>
        UnityEvent<string> GetBodyLoadedEvent();

        /// <summary>
        /// Uses JSONPath to query a body
        /// </summary>
        object QueryBody(Type outType, string bodyName, string path);

        /// <summary>
        /// Uses JSONPath to query a system
        /// </summary>
        object QuerySystem(Type outType, string path);

        /// <summary>
        /// Allows you to overwrite the default system. This is where the player is respawned after dying.
        /// </summary>
        bool SetDefaultSystem(string name);

        /// <summary>
        /// Allows you to instantly begin a warp to a new star system.
        /// Will return false if that system does not exist (cannot be warped to).
        /// </summary>
        bool ChangeCurrentStarSystem(string name);

        /// <summary>
        /// Returns the uniqueIDs of each installed NH addon.
        /// </summary>
        string[] GetInstalledAddons();

        /// <summary>
        /// Allows you to spawn a copy of a prop by specifying its path.
        /// This is the same as using Props->details in a config, but also returns the spawned gameObject to you.
        /// </summary>
        GameObject SpawnObject(GameObject planet, Sector sector, string propToCopyPath, Vector3 position, Vector3 eulerAngles, 
            float scale, bool alignWithNormal);

        /// <summary>
        /// Allows you to spawn an AudioSignal on a planet.
        /// This is the same as using Props->signals in a config, but also returns the spawned AudioSignal to you.
        /// This method will not set its position. You will have to do that with the returned object.
        /// </summary>
        AudioSignal SpawnSignal(IModBehaviour mod, GameObject root, string audio, string name, string frequency,
            float sourceRadius = 1f, float detectionRadius = 20f, float identificationRadius = 10f, bool insideCloak = false,
            bool onlyAudibleToScope = true, string reveals = "");

        /// <summary>
        /// Allows you to spawn character dialogue on a planet. Also returns the RemoteDialogueTrigger if remoteTriggerRadius is specified.
        /// This is the same as using Props->dialogue in a config, but also returns the spawned game objects to you.
        /// This method will not set the position of the dialogue or remote trigger. You will have to do that with the returned objects.
        /// </summary>
        (CharacterDialogueTree, RemoteDialogueTrigger) SpawnDialogue(IModBehaviour mod, GameObject root, string xmlFile, float radius = 1f,
            float range = 1f, string blockAfterPersistentCondition = null, float lookAtRadius = 1f, string pathToAnimController = null,
            float remoteTriggerRadius = 0f);
    }
```

In your main `ModBehaviour` class you can get the NewHorizons API like so:

```cs
public class MyMod : ModBehaviour 
{
    void Start() 
    {
        INewHorizons NewHorizonsAPI = ModHelper.Interaction.TryGetModApi<INewHorizons>("xen.NewHorizons");
    }
}
```

You can then use the APIs `LoadConfigs()` method to load from a "planets" folder, or use the `GetPlanet()` method to get planets and do whatever with them. Just make sure you create planets in the `Start()` method or at least before the SolarSystem scene loads, or they will not be created.

The `GetChangeStarSystemEvent` and `GetStarSystemLoadedEvent` events let you listen in for when the player starts changing to a new system (called when entering a black hole or using the warp drive) and when the system is fully loaded in, respectively.

You can also use the `GetInstalledAddons` method to get a list of addons that are installed and enabled.

You can also use `SpawnObject` to directly copy a base-game GameObject to the specified position and rotation.