Saving and Loading Linked Objects

How do I...?
1

I am working on Saving and Loading my game. I was able to save and load various variables, object variables, and positions. I discovered a problem though. Is there a way to save linked objects? Basically I can have any given number of workers at a time and any given number of workstations, and the workstations may have a certain product. So say I have 3 workers, 10 work stations, 3 of them are making a product. But one of these products needs the worker. So he is sent to the workstation and while being sent their. I have the two objects linked with the Advanced/Linked objects. Is their a way to have a object linked to a other object be saved and loaded? Again the worker could be linked to a given workstation and that workstation maybe linked to a product. The product may also be linked to a addon object.
Also is their a way to see what objects are linked to what objects?

2

You’ll need to give each workstation, worker and product an id that links them together, and then save these. Then link the objects when you recreate them upon load.

3

Rather than an ID, I would use a parent child relationship in the save structure to know how to describe the link. For example, you could have such a save:

{
  "FreeWorkers":[{"x": 1, "y": 2}],
  "Workbenches": [
    {
      "x": 4,
      "y": 23
    },
    {
      "x": 34,
      "y": 12,
      "worker": {"x": 11, "y": 3}
    }
  ]
}

That way you can recreate normal workers independently, and when creating workbenches back if it had a worker linked to it then you can recreate it and link it with the workspace you are currently recreating.