TransformExtentions.cs

using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;

public static class TransformExtentions 
{
    public static Transform FindInChildren(this Transform t, string name)
    {
        // Heres a smart linq version. i dont like it.
        //return (from x in t.gameObject.GetComponentsInChildren<Transform>()

        //        where x.gameObject.name == name

        //        select x.gameObject).First().transform;

        Transform[] children;
        if (!t.gameObject.activeSelf)
        {
            // Corner case! GetComponents in children only works if object is active. ><
            children = t.GetArrayOfAllChildrenWhilstInactive();
        }
        else
        {
            children = t.GetComponentsInChildren<Transform>();
        }

        foreach (Transform child in children)
        {
            if (child.name == name)
                return child;
        }
        return null;
    }

    public static Transform[] GetArrayOfAllChildrenWhilstInactive(this Transform t)
    {
        var list = GetListOfAllChildrenWhilstInactive(t);
        return list.ToArray<Transform>();
    }

    public static List<Transform> GetListOfAllChildrenWhilstInactive(this Transform t, List<Transform> list = null)
    {
        if (list == null)
        {
            list = new List<Transform>();
        }

        foreach (Transform child in t)
        {
            list.Add(child);
            GetListOfAllChildrenWhilstInactive(child, list);
        }

        return list;
    }
	
	public static T FindComponentInParents<T>(this Transform transform) where T : Component
    {
        var t = transform;
        while (t != null)
        {
            var ret = t.GetComponent<T>();
            if (ret != null)
                return ret;
            t = t.parent;
        }
        return null;
    }
}