Get surface coordinates of a model

Hi @acroce ,

if I understand correct your question you  are looking for functionality to get the coordinates of a  tap point  on a model surface  - required are the  X,Y or Z coordinates of this point (coordinate regarding to the model widget 0,0,0), right

So far I know there is no currently such  functionality, but I requested the opinion of PTC R&D in internal forum so, may be some one from PTC R&D team have some idea.

 What I see currently as possible solution / workaround is  to use the reverse way - to have some item where we could change x,y and z and try to reach the desired positon - something like:

1.) create a modelItem a component which is a small ball and careate binding to a  sliders which will  changing the X,Y and Z coordinate of this component so we will try to set the position of the ball modelitem near to the desired position

2.) create a lot of small modelIitems as some kind of grid which we can click to identify a particular point

I received from PTC R&D the following confirmation:

//=================================================

There is no way to get that coordinate xyz value at this time.
You should NOT create lots of model items as that will kill performance.
Using sliders to find a location is also not a great idea - terrible UX, and not advisable/productive use of Studio experience.

 if you are looking to identify a point in space,  use an image target attached to a wand (stick) and use a second target as your reference point. This is technically possible in View, but Studio prevents you from declaring multiple targets.  You can however use View directly (you would have to program in html/javascript) or this is very easy to do using Vuforia Engine.  

After R&D confirmed that my first ideas are not so good, have an additional idea  to use some virtual arrow which is attach on  your device and you will try to touch with the  pick the desired point of the surface when you move the device around in space. For example, you can set different length of this arrow for different distances to the object.

So, when you think you have the correct location then e.g. confirm with a button, or other kind of command.

The idea  how to implement it / no sure  if this work  and requires some tests/ is to use the ml3dRenderer.setupTrackingEventsCommand() callback function

This function will deliver the vectors for the current eye position, the normal view vector and the up vector.  So you can find out what is your current position  in regards of the world coordinates system and then calculate the position of the arrow pick. You need also to consider the position of the your model widget if it is not at 0,0,0

An example of the usage of the mention callback function is here:

////////////////////////////////////
$rootScope.$on('modelLoaded', function() { 
 $scope.check_if_works=false
 //=====================
 // set some properties 
 //the next prop is important that the tracking event will use the callback
 $scope.setWidgetProp('3DContainer-1','enabletrackingevents',true);
 $scope.setWidgetProp('3DContainer-1','dropshadow',true);
 $scope.setWidgetProp('3DContainer-1','extendedtracking',true);
 $scope.setWidgetProp('3DContainer-1','persistmap',true);
 console.log("now check again the setting of the envronment")
 console.warn($scope.app.view.Home.wdg['3DContainer-1'].enabletrackingevents)
 var enabletrackingevets= $scope.app.view.Home.wdg['3DContainer-1'].enabletrackingevents
 if( enabletrackingevets) $scope.setWidgetProp('3DLabel-2', 'text', "3Dcontainer.enabletrackingevents=true");
 
 //====================
 $timeout($scope.setMyEYEtrack(), 2500) //call with delay 2.5 sec
 
 

});
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
$scope.setMyEYEtrack= function() {
 if(tml3dRenderer) 
 { 
 
 try {
tml3dRenderer.setupTrackingEventsCommand (function(target,eyepos,eyedir,eyeup) {
 if (!$scope.check_if_works) //check if setupTrackingEvents is working fine -at least one time called
 {
 $scope.check_if_works=false
//this below make sense only for testing
 $scope.setWidgetProp('3DLabel-1', 'text', "callback setupTrackingEventsCommand is OK");
 }
 
 var scale=2.0; //distance to eye
//moved the widget in regards of the new viewpoint position of the device
 $scope.setWidgetProp('3DImage-1', 'x', ( eyepos[0]+eyedir[0]*scale));
 $scope.setWidgetProp('3DImage-1', 'y', ( eyepos[1]+eyedir[1]*scale));
 $scope.setWidgetProp('3DImage-1', 'z', ( eyepos[2]+eyedir[2]*scale));
 $scope.$applyAsync();

 },undefined) } catch (e) { $scope.setWidgetProp('3DLabel-1', 'text', "exception=");}
 
}else 
 $scope.setWidgetProp('3DLabel-1', 'text', "null tml3dRenderer object on HoloLens");

} ////// finish setEYEtrack