Modding:Modder Guide/APIs/Console

Creating SMAPI mods

---

• Get started
• Game fundamentals
• Test & troubleshoot
• Release
• API reference

  Basic SMAPI APIs:

  • Mod structure
  • Manifest
  • Events
  • Configuration
  • Load & edit content
  • Data
  • Input
  • Logging
  • Reflection
  • Multiplayer
  • Translation
  • Update checks
  • Utilities

  Advanced SMAPI APIs:

  • Content packs
  • Mod console commands
  • Mod integrations
  • Harmony patching

• Specific guides

← Modding:Index

SMAPI can add custom commands to the SMAPI console, which players can type to do certain actions. These are also available in the in-game chat for players using the Chat Commands mod.

Intro

The SMAPI console is the window that opens alongside the game, which displays messages from SMAPI and mods in a text-only format. Players can enter commands directly into that window to interact with mods. For example, you can type help to see a list of available commands. Note that most players aren't comfortable with a command-line interface, so you should prefer in-game interfaces for player-facing features in most cases.

Add a custom command

Each console command must have:

• A name which the player types to invoke the command.
• A description shown when the player uses the help command. This should explain what the command does, how to use it, and what arguments it accepts. The example below shows the recommended convention.
• The method to call when the command is entered.

This code creates a minimal player_setmoney command:

/// <summary>The main entry point for the mod.</summary>
public class ModEntry : Mod
{
    /*********
    ** Public methods
    *********/
    /// <summary>The mod entry point, called after the mod is first loaded.</summary>
    /// <param name="helper">Provides simplified APIs for writing mods.</param>
    public override void Entry(IModHelper helper)
    {
        helper.ConsoleCommands.Add("player_setmoney", "Sets the player's money.\n\nUsage: player_setmoney <value>\n- value: the integer amount.", this.SetMoney);
    }


    /*********
    ** Private methods
    *********/
    /// <summary>Set the player's money when the 'player_setmoney' command is invoked.</summary>
    /// <param name="command">The name of the command invoked.</param>
    /// <param name="args">The arguments received by the command. Each word after the command name is a separate argument.</param>
    private void SetMoney(string command, string[] args)
    {
        Game1.player.money = int.Parse(args[0]);
        this.Monitor.Log($"OK, set your money to {args[0]}.");
    }
}

Here's how the player would use it:

help player_setmoney
> player_setmoney: Sets the player's money.
> 
> Usage: player_setmoney <value>
> - value: the integer amount.

player_setmoney 5000
> OK, set your money to 5000.

Trigger a command

You can programmatically trigger a command through the console API by specifying its name and arguments:

this.Helper.Commands.Trigger("player_setmoney", new[] { "5000" });

Note that this is rarely useful. You won't receive any text the command outputs, and it's better to use mod-provided APIs for integrations.