How to find UI in code c# (button, Panel etc)

Question

in an empty game object i have a selection Manger script. I'm having some difficulties with finding a panel (called: OpenSelection) I created in Canvas. I would like to find the panel where ever it is in the hierarchy and set enabled to true.

But the code isn't finding the panel. I'm not sure why.

---

any help would be appreciated

//UI
private GameObject panel;
 
// Start is called before the first frame update
void Start()
{
    panel = GameObject.Find("OpenSelection");
    panel.SetActive(true);
}

Answer 1

GameObject.Find() only returns active GameObject. Here you are trying to find the OpenSelection panel which is not active. That's why the Find() is not finding the OpenSelection panel.

Answer 2

Generally, Find() is never the best approach for anything.

Try to set a variable reference to your OpenSelection, like you did with your panel, then call this variable.