# Getting started

The Advanced Effects (AFX) system is a visual programming language that's part of the ENGAGE SDK. You can use the AFX system to add advanced functionality to immersive effects (IFX) and locations.

{% hint style="warning" %}
The AFX system is an experimental  feature. Please use it with caution. If you encounter any issues, please report them at <https://support.engagevr.io/>.
{% endhint %}

To use the AFX system, you arrange blocks (nodes) on a 2D canvas, and then define connections between the nodes to create a graph.

<figure><img src="https://2640392766-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5yxYHsXtlAaoMUrDWhLm%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-23f17a8c5fa7cc12199e7935fa08f889ae7b14eb%2Fafx_overview_graph.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption><p>Example AFX graph</p></figcaption></figure>

## Installing the AFX system

You must add the AFX system files to your SDK project folder in the following location:

`/Assets/AFX`

If you have been provided with a .unitypackage file, open your SDK project in Unity, and then, from the menu, select **Assets** > **Import Package** > **Custom Package**.

## Updating the AFX system from an alpha version

All versions of the AFX system released before v3.9.0 were alpha versions. If you have an alpha version of the AFX system installed in your project, you can continue to use it. However, some of the documentation on this site will not apply to your version.

If you want to update the AFX system from an alpha version, choose one of the following options:

{% hint style="danger" %}
Do not install different versions of the AFX system in the same project.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
Before you make any changes to a project, we recommend that you create a backup, create a new branch in your local repository, or perform a similar step as appropriate for your version control processes.
{% endhint %}

* Create a new Unity project, and then complete the steps in [#installing-the-afx-system](#installing-the-afx-system "mention") to install the latest version of the AFX system. The AFX package includes the ENGAGE SDK.
* Remove any of your own assets from the `/Assets/AFX` folder, and then delete the folder. You can then complete the steps in [#installing-the-afx-system](#installing-the-afx-system "mention") to install the latest version of the AFX system. If a graph no longer works as expected, you may need to recreate the graph or replace nodes that were updated.
