1. Geometric Shape

A geometric shape gives a body a detailed visual representation, either from an imported graphics file or from a built-in primitive. It replaces the legacy visualization geometry part and is the right choice when the simple block, cylinder, or curved-plate shapes are not detailed enough.

1.1. Description

The shape is placed in the model by the shared pose fields inherited from the generic shape: position (X, Y, Z) locates the local origin and rotation (Rot X, Rot Y, Rot Z) orients it, both relative to the owning body’s coordinate system.

The appearance is configured in the Geometry section. The Type selects how the geometry is supplied:

  • File: load an external graphics file (OBJ or HSF). A file selector appears for choosing the file.

  • Cylinder X / Y / Z, Box, Sphere: use a built-in primitive aligned to the given axis. A Dimensions sub-section appears with the size fields relevant to the chosen primitive (radius for spheres and cylinders; length for cylinders; width / length / height for boxes), together with a Translation offset and a Color.

Transparency applies to all types and ranges from fully opaque to fully transparent.

1.2. Fields

  • X, Y, Z: Position of the shape origin relative to the body (m).

  • Rot X, Rot Y, Rot Z: Rotation of the shape about its local axes (deg).

1.2.1. Geometry

  • Type: How the geometry is supplied — File, Cylinder X/Y/Z, Box, or Sphere.

  • Transparency: Transparency of the geometry, from 0 (opaque) to 1 (fully transparent).

When Type is File:

  • Graphics file: The OBJ or HSF graphics file to display.

When Type is a primitive (Cylinder X/Y/Z, Box, Sphere):

  • Dimensions: Size fields for the chosen primitive — radius (sphere, cylinder), length (cylinder), or width / length / height (box), all in m.

  • Translation: Offset of the primitive from the shape origin (x, y, z in m).

  • Color: Display colour of the primitive.

1.3. See Also