Is it possible to add/hide export variables during run time? - godot

Question

I'm trying to add or hide script variables in tool mode like this:
tool
...
export(int) var number_of_appendages=0 setget number_of_appendages_changed
func number_of_appendages_changed(new_val):
number_of_appendages=new_val;
_get_property_list()
func _get_property_list():
var variables_list=[]
for i in number_of_appendages:
for j in 2:
variables_list.append({
"hint": PROPERTY_HINT_RANGE if j==1 else PROPERTY_HINT_NONE,
"hint_string":"-360, 360,30" if j==1 else "",
"usage": PROPERTY_USAGE_DEFAULT,
"name": "appendage "+String(i+1)+"/"+("name" if j==0 else "length"),
"type": TYPE_REAL if j==1 else TYPE_STRING
})
return variables_list
obviously this won't work, but what if I create a max number of appendages and then only toggle the visibility accordingly?
pseudo code:
tool
...
export(int) var number_of_appendages=0 setget number_of_appendages_changed
const max_appendages=5
func number_of_appendages_changed(new_val):
number_of_appendages=new_val;
for i in max_appendages:
if(i>number_of_appendages):
HIDE_GROUP("Appendage "+String(i+1))
func _get_property_list():
var variables_list=[];
for i in max_appendages:
for j in 2:
variables_list.append({
"hint": PROPERTY_HINT_RANGE if j==1 else PROPERTY_HINT_NONE,
"hint_string":"-360, 360,30" if j==1 else "",
"usage": PROPERTY_USAGE_DEFAULT,
"name": "appendage "+String(i+1)+"/"+("name" if j==0 else "length"),
"type": TYPE_REAL if j==1 else TYPE_STRING
})
return variables_list
is something like this possible? or is there any other way to achieve what I'm trying to accomplish ?

Answer 1

What you have is close to what you have to do. Unlike the pseudo code you came up with.
As you are aware Godot calls _get_property_list to figure out what to show in the inspector panel.
However, when you call it like this:
func number_of_appendages_changed(new_val):
number_of_appendages=new_val;
_get_property_list()
It does nothing. Yes, _get_property_list is running, but what happens with its result? It is getting descartad.
Instead, do this:
func number_of_appendages_changed(new_val):
number_of_appendages=new_val;
property_list_changed_notify()
And with that call property_list_changed_notify you are telling Godot to call _get_property_list and use its result to update the inspector panel.