Missing ray cast command help - GameCreators Forum

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Fallout

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Posted: 3rd Aug 2006 18:00 Edited at: 3rd Aug 2006 18:08

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Just thought I'd mention that the command phy ray cast all shapes appears to be missing from the reference help and is only partially detailed in the Information help. All the information gathering commands for ray casting are there, it's just the ray casting one itself, so pressing F1 in DBP on that command comes up with a missing help file error. There is sufficient info in the Information help to understand how it works though.

Edit: Ooops. I tell a lie. The syntax gets highlighted, but it says it can't understand the command at compile time.

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Fallout

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Posted: 3rd Aug 2006 18:14 Edited at: 3rd Aug 2006 18:31

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Here's a very simple example. You can't compile it.

+ Code Snippet

set display mode 1024,768,32
sync on: sync rate 60

phy start
phy update 0

make object cube 1,10
phy make rigid body static box 1

do
   phy update 1

   phy ray cast all shapes 0,0,-50,0,0,1
   if phy get ray cast hit()
      text 1,1,"HITTING!"
   endif

   phy update 0
   sync
loop

Edit: Is there perhaps a hidden ray cast command that wasn't enabled? At the moment I'm using this code:

+ Code Snippet

function PHY_DrakeInteractForce(x#,z#,ang#)
   xvec# = sin(ang#)
   zvec# = cos(ang#)
   `phy ray cast all shapes x#,20,z#,xvec#,0,zvec#
   if phy get ray cast hit()
      if phy get ray cast distance() < 20
         obj = phy get ray cast object()
         x# = phy get ray cast hit point x()
         y# = phy get ray cast hit point y()
         z# = phy get ray cast hit point z()
         phy add rigid body force obj,xvec#*DRK_Player(0).pushForce#,0,zvec#*DRK_Player(0).pushForce#,x#,y#,z#,4
      endif
   endif
endfunction

... to allow my character to push anything within 20 units in front of him on a key press, and it all compiles fine except for the ray cast command itself.

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Mike Johnson

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Posted: 3rd Aug 2006 18:36

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This command returns a value so you need to use it like this:

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value = phy ray cast all shapes ( x#, y#, z#, 0, -1, 0 )

I'll check the string table as well just in case it confuses DB Pro. It should say something about brackets needed for this command.

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Fallout

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Posted: 3rd Aug 2006 18:40

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Ahhh. Thanks Mike. That makes perfect sense. The only documentation on that command that I could find was in the Information help file showing this format:

phy ray cast all shapes 0, 10, 0, 0, -1, 0

What are the values that get returned btw, or is it just a generic value return like the make vector commands?

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Mike Johnson

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Posted: 3rd Aug 2006 18:46

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There's a tutorial on ray casting that will point you in the right direction. These are the main points from the tutorial:

int = phy get ray cast hit ( ) – returns a value of 1 if the ray cast has hit an object, a value of 0 is returned when the ray cast did not hit any objects

float = phy get ray cast hit point x ( ), the position in world space on the X axis where the ray cast hit an object

float = phy get ray cast hit point y ( ) , the position in world space on the Y axis where the ray cast hit an object

float = phy get ray cast hit point z ( ) , the position in world space on the Z axis where the ray cast hit an object

float = phy get ray cast hit normal x ( ), the normal ( direction ) where the impact took place on the X axis

float = phy get ray cast hit normal y ( ) , the normal ( direction ) where the impact took place on the Y axis

float = phy get ray cast hit normal z ( ) , the normal ( direction ) where the impact took place on the Z axis

float = phy get ray cast distance ( ), the distance from the origin to the hit point

int = phy get ray cast object ( ), the ID number of the object that was hit by the ray

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Fallout

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Posted: 3rd Aug 2006 18:46 Edited at: 3rd Aug 2006 18:48

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Sorry Mike, I am guilty of just looking at the reference files and getting stuck in. I will check the tutorials from now on aswell.

Btw, is there a command to determine if a rigid body is dynamic or not? If I add a force to the object my ray cast hits and it's a static mesh, I get an error (not surprisingly). I can't find a command to determine if the object I've ray cast into is a dynamic mesh, which poses problems with applying forces to unknown objects you collide with.

Edit: Obviously I can keep track of this in an array myself if needs be, but I can't see a get rigid body property to access this info.

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Mike Johnson

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Posted: 3rd Aug 2006 18:52

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That's one thing I don't believe we have in. Will get a command sorted out for the update.

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Fallout

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Posted: 3rd Aug 2006 19:14

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Brilliant! Thanks.

Sorry for more bad news btw. As I was testing out Drake pushing open doors, I noticed he had powers of telekinesis. So I kept reducing the distance at which he could open a door, but sure enough he could open it from across the level. So I adapted the Ray Casting tutorial demo to display the distance of the ray cast and it always seems to return 0. I don't believe I'm using it incorrectly.

Code here:

phy start
    autocam off
    sync on
    sync rate 60
    color backdrop 0
    position camera 0, 20, -70

make object cube 1, 5
    position object 1, 0, -10, 0
    phy make rigid body static box 1

make object cube 2, 5
    position object 2, -15, 0, 0
    phy make rigid body static box 2

make object cube 3, 5
    position object 3, 15, 10, 0
    phy make rigid body static box 3

make object cube 4, 5
    position object 4, 0, 20, 0

make object box 5, 1, 15, 1
    position object 5, 0, 15, 0

do
        for i = 1 to 5
            color object i, 0
        next i

x# = object position x ( 4 )
        y# = object position y ( 4 )
        z# = object position z ( 4 )

temp = phy ray cast all shapes(x#,y#,z#,0,-1,0)

if phy get ray cast hit() = 1
           color object phy get ray cast object(),rgb(0,0,255)
           text 1,1,str$(phy get ray cast distance())
        endif

if inkey$() = "a"
            move object left 4, 0.4
            move object left 5, 0.4
        endif

if inkey$() = "d"
            move object right 4, 0.4
            move object right 5, 0.4
        endif

phy update
        sync
    loop

+ Code Snippet

    phy start
    autocam off
    sync on
    sync rate 60
    color backdrop 0
    position camera 0, 20, -70

    make object cube 1, 5
    position object 1, 0, -10, 0
    phy make rigid body static box 1

    make object cube 2, 5
    position object 2, -15, 0, 0
    phy make rigid body static box 2

    make object cube 3, 5
    position object 3, 15, 10, 0
    phy make rigid body static box 3

    make object cube 4, 5
    position object 4, 0, 20, 0

    make object box 5, 1, 15, 1
    position object 5, 0, 15, 0

    do
        for i = 1 to 5
            color object i, 0
        next i

        x# = object position x ( 4 )
        y# = object position y ( 4 )
        z# = object position z ( 4 )

        temp = phy ray cast all shapes(x#,y#,z#,0,-1,0)

        if phy get ray cast hit() = 1
           color object phy get ray cast object(),rgb(0,0,255)
           text 1,1,str$(phy get ray cast distance())
        endif

        if inkey$() = "a"
            move object left 4, 0.4
            move object left 5, 0.4
        endif

        if inkey$() = "d"
            move object right 4, 0.4
            move object right 5, 0.4
        endif

        phy update
        sync
    loop

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Fallout

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Posted: 3rd Aug 2006 19:49

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Actually, none of the commands work except for the ray cast, the hit command and getting the object. Here's an example:

phy start
    autocam off
    sync on
    sync rate 60
    color backdrop 0
    position camera 0, 20, -70
    phy set gravity 0,0,0

make object cube 1, 5
    position object 1, 0, -10, 0
    phy make rigid body static box 1

make object cube 2, 5
    position object 2, -15, 0, 0
    phy make rigid body static sphere 2

make object cube 3, 5
    position object 3, 15, 10, 0
    phy make rigid body dynamic box 3
    phy set rigid body angular velocity 3,0,0,1

make object cube 4, 5
    position object 4, 0, 20, 0

make object box 5, 1, 15, 1
    position object 5, 0, 15, 0

do
        for i = 1 to 5
            color object i, 0
        next i

x# = object position x ( 4 )
        y# = object position y ( 4 )
        z# = object position z ( 4 )

temp = phy ray cast all shapes(x#,y#,z#,0,-1,0)

if phy get ray cast hit() = 1
           color object phy get ray cast object(),rgb(0,0,255)
           text 1,1,"Object: " + str$(phy get ray cast object())
           text 1,11,"Distance: " + str$(phy get ray cast distance())
           text 1,21,"Hit X: " + str$(phy get ray cast hit point x())
           text 1,31,"Hit Y: " + str$(phy get ray cast hit point y())
           text 1,41,"Hit Z: " + str$(phy get ray cast hit point z())
           text 1,51,"Normal X: " + str$(phy get ray cast hit normal x())
           text 1,61,"Normal Y: " + str$(phy get ray cast hit normal y())
           text 1,71,"Normal Z: " + str$(phy get ray cast hit normal z())
           text 1,81,"Triangle TU: " + str$(phy get ray cast tu())
           text 1,91,"Triangle TV: " + str$(phy get ray cast tv())
        endif

if inkey$() = "a"
            move object left 4, 0.4
            move object left 5, 0.4
        endif

if inkey$() = "d"
            move object right 4, 0.4
            move object right 5, 0.4
        endif

phy update
        sync
    loop

+ Code Snippet

phy start
    autocam off
    sync on
    sync rate 60
    color backdrop 0
    position camera 0, 20, -70
    phy set gravity 0,0,0

    make object cube 1, 5
    position object 1, 0, -10, 0
    phy make rigid body static box 1

    make object cube 2, 5
    position object 2, -15, 0, 0
    phy make rigid body static sphere 2

    make object cube 3, 5
    position object 3, 15, 10, 0
    phy make rigid body dynamic box 3
    phy set rigid body angular velocity 3,0,0,1

    make object cube 4, 5
    position object 4, 0, 20, 0

    make object box 5, 1, 15, 1
    position object 5, 0, 15, 0

    do
        for i = 1 to 5
            color object i, 0
        next i

        x# = object position x ( 4 )
        y# = object position y ( 4 )
        z# = object position z ( 4 )

        temp = phy ray cast all shapes(x#,y#,z#,0,-1,0)

        if phy get ray cast hit() = 1
           color object phy get ray cast object(),rgb(0,0,255)
           text 1,1,"Object: " + str$(phy get ray cast object())
           text 1,11,"Distance: " + str$(phy get ray cast distance())
           text 1,21,"Hit X: " + str$(phy get ray cast hit point x())
           text 1,31,"Hit Y: " + str$(phy get ray cast hit point y())
           text 1,41,"Hit Z: " + str$(phy get ray cast hit point z())
           text 1,51,"Normal X: " + str$(phy get ray cast hit normal x())
           text 1,61,"Normal Y: " + str$(phy get ray cast hit normal y())
           text 1,71,"Normal Z: " + str$(phy get ray cast hit normal z())
           text 1,81,"Triangle TU: " + str$(phy get ray cast tu())
           text 1,91,"Triangle TV: " + str$(phy get ray cast tv())
        endif

        if inkey$() = "a"
            move object left 4, 0.4
            move object left 5, 0.4
        endif

        if inkey$() = "d"
            move object right 4, 0.4
            move object right 5, 0.4
        endif

        phy update
        sync
    loop

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Mike Johnson

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Posted: 7th Aug 2006 12:51

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All ray cast commands now updated. Was a casting problem.

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Lani

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Posted: 13th Sep 2006 10:43 Edited at: 13th Sep 2006 13:40

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Which version of DB/DP is this update active from?

ps / am I the only one that can´t get Fallout's example to compile ? I can an error that says that the command "phy get ray cast hit()" is not working, which is rather strange.. but maybe that was the point?

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