Connection management

Handle subscription errors and restore connections when network issues occur.

You can use PubNub's functionality via Blueprints or directly in C++ code.

• In Blueprints, the whole SDK is managed by a subsystem, so start by initalizing the PubnubChatSubsystem node. Afterwards, you can use the Pubnub Chat object reference.

Blueprint functions

The Blueprints provided in the documentation show how you can structure your application and may contain utility methods and elements like buttons that are not part of the Unreal Chat SDK and are meant to serve as guidance.

• In C++, you can use the PubNub SDK as any other Game Instance Subsystem.

  #include "Kismet/GameplayStatics.h"
  #include "PubnubChatSubsystem.h"
  
  
  UGameInstance* GameInstance = UGameplayStatics::GetGameInstance(this);
  UPubnubChatSubsystem* PubnubChatSubsystem = GameInstance->GetSubsystem<UPubnubChatSubsystem>();
  
  
  UPubnubChat* Chat = PubnubChatSubsystem ->InitChat("demo", "demo", "my_user") // config optional

  Chat now allows you to call all Chat SDK functions, for example:

  Chat->DeleteUser("SomeUserID");

Usage in Blueprints and C++

Connection status listener

Monitor connection status in real time to track subscription state and react to network or authentication errors.

Method signature

Blueprint

C++ / Input parameters

GameMode.h

1// ...other code...
2void RegisterConnectionStatusListener();
3UFUNCTION()
4void OnConnectionStatusChanged(EPubnubConnectionStatus Status, FPubnubConnectionStatusData ErrorMessage);
5// ...other code...

GameMode.cpp

1#include "PubnubChatSubsystem.h"
2

3// ...other code
4void AMyGameMode::RegisterConnectionStatusListener()
5{
6	UGameInstance* GameInstance = UGameplayStatics::GetGameInstance(this);
7	UPubnubSubsystem* PubnubSubsystem = GameInstance->GetSubsystem<UPubnubSubsystem>();
8	
9	PubnubSubsystem->OnConnectionStatusChanged.AddDynamic(this, &AMyGameMode::OnConnectionStatusChanged);
10  // there is also a native delegate for lambda functions: FOnConnectionStatusChangedNative OnConnectionStatusChangedNative;
11}
12

13void AMyGameMode::OnConnectionStatusChanged(EPubnubConnectionStatus Status, FPubnubConnectionStatusData ErrorMessage)
14{
15	//Do something with status changed
16}

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Parameter	Description
Status Type: EPubnubConnectionStatus	Enum describing the current connection status indicating whether the connection is online, offline, or has encountered an error.
ErrorMessage Type: FPubnubConnectionStatusData	Object containing the error message and error code when the status is PNConnectionError. Empty for other status types.

Connection status types

The connection status listener reports the following status types:

Status	Description
PNConnectionOnline	The connection has been established and is ready to receive real-time updates.
PNConnectionOffline	The connection has been intentionally terminated.
PNConnectionError	The connection was unexpectedly lost or failed to establish. Contains error details.

Sample code

Set up a connection status listener to monitor your chat connection and automatically reconnect on errors.

MyGameMode.h

1#include "PubnubChat.h"
2

3// ...other code...
4

5	UPROPERTY()
6	UPubnubChat* PubnubChat = nullptr;
7	
8	UFUNCTION(BlueprintCallable)
9	void AddConnectionStatusListener();
10	
11	UFUNCTION()
12	void OnConnectionStatusChanged(EPubnubConnectionStatus Status, const FPubnubConnectionStatusData& StatusData);
13	
14// ...other code...

MyGameMode.cpp

1#include "Kismet/GameplayStatics.h"
2

3void AMyGameMode::AddConnectionStatusListener()
4{
5	UGameInstance* GI =  UGameplayStatics::GetGameInstance(this);
6	PubnubChatSubsystem = GI->GetSubsystem<UPubnubChatSubsystem>();
7

8	FPubnubChatConfig Config;
9	PubnubChat = PubnubChatSubsystem->InitChat("demo", "demo", "MyChatUser", Config);
10	
11	PubnubChat->OnConnectionStatusChanged.AddDynamic(this, &AMyGameMode::OnConnectionStatusChanged);
12	
13	
14}
15

16void AMyGameMode::OnConnectionStatusChanged(EPubnubConnectionStatus Status, const FPubnubConnectionStatusData& StatusData)
17{
18	switch (Status)
19	{
20	case EPubnubConnectionStatus::PCS_CONNECTION_ERROR :
21		{
22			UE_LOG(LogTemp, Error, TEXT("Pubnub Chat Connection Error. Reason: %s."), *StatusData.Reason);
23

24			// Try to reconnect all subscriptions - this should restore all listeners for all chat objects
25			bool ReconnectionSuccess = PubnubChat->ReconnectSubscriptions();
26		}
27	}
28}

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Reconnect subscriptions

Restore previous subscriptions with all subscribed channels and listeners. Call after DisconnectSubscriptions() or when receiving PNConnectionError.

Method signature

Blueprint

C++ / Input parameters

1Chat->ReconnectSubscriptions();

Output

Type	Description
bool	Returns true if the operation succeeded, false otherwise.

Sample code

Reconnect all subscriptions after a connection error.

1#include "Kismet/GameplayStatics.h"
2#include "PubnubChatSubsystem.h"
3

4UGameInstance* GameInstance = UGameplayStatics::GetGameInstance(this);
5UPubnubChatSubsystem* PubnubChatSubsystem = GameInstance->GetSubsystem<UPubnubChatSubsystem>();
6

7UPubnubChat* Chat = PubnubChatSubsystem->InitChat("demo", "demo", "my_user");
8

9// Attempt to reconnect all subscriptions
10bool bReconnectSuccess = Chat->ReconnectSubscriptions();
11

12if (bReconnectSuccess)
13{
14    UE_LOG(LogTemp, Warning, TEXT("Successfully reconnected subscriptions"));
15}
16else
17{
18    UE_LOG(LogTemp, Error, TEXT("Failed to reconnect subscriptions"));
19}

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Disconnect subscriptions

Pause all active subscriptions and listeners.

Method signature

Blueprint

C++ / Input parameters

1Chat->DisconnectSubscriptions();

Output

Type	Description
bool	Returns true if the operation succeeded, false otherwise.

Sample code

Disconnect all subscriptions when you want to pause real-time updates.

1#include "Kismet/GameplayStatics.h"
2#include "PubnubChatSubsystem.h"
3

4UGameInstance* GameInstance = UGameplayStatics::GetGameInstance(this);
5UPubnubChatSubsystem* PubnubChatSubsystem = GameInstance->GetSubsystem<UPubnubChatSubsystem>();
6

7UPubnubChat* Chat = PubnubChatSubsystem->InitChat("demo", "demo", "my_user");
8

9// Disconnect all subscriptions
10bool bDisconnectSuccess = Chat->DisconnectSubscriptions();
11

12if (bDisconnectSuccess)
13{
14    UE_LOG(LogTemp, Warning, TEXT("Successfully disconnected subscriptions"));
15}
16else
17{
18    UE_LOG(LogTemp, Error, TEXT("Failed to disconnect subscriptions"));
19}

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Troubleshooting

Recommended workflow for handling subscription errors:

1. Initialize monitoring: Add the connection status listener immediately after creating the Chat instance.
2. Handle errors: On PNConnectionError, call ReconnectSubscriptions().
3. Manual control: Call DisconnectSubscriptions() when pausing real-time updates (for example, when the app backgrounds).
4. Restore connection: Call ReconnectSubscriptions() to resume.

This pattern maintains stable connectivity and automatic recovery from network issues.