# GetReferenceToAssetMainObject(string)

> Returns the main asset from the given path (if it exists) and automatically adds a dependency on its path if it is the main asset type.

## Definition

* **Type:** Method
* **Namespace:** [UnityEditor.AssetImporters](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityeditor/assetimporters.md)
* **Assembly:** UnityEditor.CoreModule

```csharp
public Object GetReferenceToAssetMainObject(string path)
```

### Parameters

**** (\[string]\(https\://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/system.string)): The location of the asset to get the reference from.

### Returns

| Type                                                            | Description                                                                                   |
| --------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Object](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityengine/object.md) | Returns the main asset instance if it exists and is already imported, returns null otherwise. |

### Remarks

Calling this method during an import will make the current imported asset re-import if:

* An asset is added at the given path,
* The type of the asset at the given path changes,
* An existing asset at the given path is deleted or moved.

If the returned asset is used for more than referencing, like reading its content and using its values, [AssetImportContext.DependsOnArtifact](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityeditor/assetimporters/assetimportcontext/dependsonartifact.md) or [AssetImportContext.DependsOnSourceAsset](/engine/6000.5/script-reference/unityeditor/assetimporters/assetimportcontext/dependsonsourceasset.md) should be used instead.

For example, this method should be used to reference Textures added to or created during an import. Since we are only setting a reference to the texture from the Material, it is not necessary to re-import when the texture itself changes, only when it is added or removed from the project.

### Examples

```csharp
using UnityEngine;
using UnityEditor.AssetImporters;

[ScriptedImporter(1, "customMaterial")]
public class MaterialCreatorExample : ScriptedImporter
{
    public override void OnImportAsset(AssetImportContext ctx)
    {
        var mat = new Material(Shader.Find("Standard"));
        var texturePath = $"{System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(ctx.assetPath)}/{System.IO.Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(ctx.assetPath)}_Diffuse.png";
        mat.mainTexture = ctx.GetReferenceToAssetMainObject(texturePath) as Texture2D;
        ctx.AddObjectToAsset("mat", mat);
    }
}
```