# OrientedCylinder

VTKExamples/Python/GeometricObjects/OrientedCylinder

### Description

This example illustrates how to create and display a cylinder that passes through two points.

It demonstrates two different ways to apply the transform:

1. Use vtkTransformPolyDataFilter to create a new transformed polydata. This method is useful if the transformed polydata is needed later in the pipeline, e.g. vtkGlyph3DFilter.

2. Apply the transform directly to the actor using vtkProp3D's SetUserMatrix. No new data is produced.

Switch between the two methods by setting USER_MATRIX to True or False.

See also

Compare this example with OrientedArrow. The transform is different because the cylinder height direction is along the y-axis and the arrow height is along the x axis.

Other Languages

See (Cxx), (Java)

### Code

OrientedCylinder.py

    #!/usr/bin/env python
    # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

    import vtk

    '''
    There are two alternative ways to apply the transform.
     1) Use vtkTransformPolyDataFilter to create a new transformed polydata.
        This method is useful if the transformed polydata is needed
          later in the pipeline
        To do this, set USER_MATRIX = True
     2) Apply the transform directly to the actor using vtkProp3D's SetUserMatrix.
        No new data is produced.
        To do this, set USER_MATRIX = False
    '''
    USER_MATRIX = True

    def main():
        colors = vtk.vtkNamedColors()

        # Set the background color.
        colors.SetColor("BkgColor", [26, 51, 77, 255])

        # Create a cylinder.
        # Cylinder height vector is (0,1,0).
        # Cylinder center is in the middle of the cylinder
        cylinderSource = vtk.vtkCylinderSource()
        cylinderSource.SetResolution(15)

        # Generate a random start and end point
        startPoint = [0] * 3
        endPoint = [0] * 3
        rng = vtk.vtkMinimalStandardRandomSequence()
        rng.SetSeed(8775070)  # For testing.
        for i in range(0, 3):
            rng.Next()
            startPoint[i] = rng.GetRangeValue(-10, 10)
            rng.Next()
            endPoint[i] = rng.GetRangeValue(-10, 10)

        # Compute a basis
        normalizedX = [0] * 3
        normalizedY = [0] * 3
        normalizedZ = [0] * 3

        # The X axis is a vector from start to end
        vtk.vtkMath.Subtract(endPoint, startPoint, normalizedX)
        length = vtk.vtkMath.Norm(normalizedX)
        vtk.vtkMath.Normalize(normalizedX)

        # The Z axis is an arbitrary vector cross X
        arbitrary = [0] * 3
        for i in range(0, 3):
            rng.Next()
            arbitrary[i] = rng.GetRangeValue(-10, 10)
        vtk.vtkMath.Cross(normalizedX, arbitrary, normalizedZ)
        vtk.vtkMath.Normalize(normalizedZ)

        # The Y axis is Z cross X
        vtk.vtkMath.Cross(normalizedZ, normalizedX, normalizedY)
        matrix = vtk.vtkMatrix4x4()

        # Create the direction cosine matrix
        matrix.Identity()
        for i in range(0, 3):
            matrix.SetElement(i, 0, normalizedX[i])
            matrix.SetElement(i, 1, normalizedY[i])
            matrix.SetElement(i, 2, normalizedZ[i])

        # Apply the transforms
        transform = vtk.vtkTransform()
        transform.Translate(startPoint)  # translate to starting point
        transform.Concatenate(matrix)  # apply direction cosines
        transform.RotateZ(-90.0)  # align cylinder to x axis
        transform.Scale(1.0, length, 1.0)  # scale along the height vector
        transform.Translate(0, .5, 0)  # translate to start of cylinder

        # Transform the polydata
        transformPD = vtk.vtkTransformPolyDataFilter()
        transformPD.SetTransform(transform)
        transformPD.SetInputConnection(cylinderSource.GetOutputPort())

        # Create a mapper and actor for the arrow
        mapper = vtk.vtkPolyDataMapper()
        actor = vtk.vtkActor()
        if USER_MATRIX:
            mapper.SetInputConnection(cylinderSource.GetOutputPort())
            actor.SetUserMatrix(transform.GetMatrix())
        else:
            mapper.SetInputConnection(transformPD.GetOutputPort())
        actor.SetMapper(mapper)
        actor.GetProperty().SetColor(colors.GetColor3d("Cyan"))

        # Create spheres for start and end point
        sphereStartSource = vtk.vtkSphereSource()
        sphereStartSource.SetCenter(startPoint)
        sphereStartSource.SetRadius(0.8)
        sphereStartMapper = vtk.vtkPolyDataMapper()
        sphereStartMapper.SetInputConnection(sphereStartSource.GetOutputPort())
        sphereStart = vtk.vtkActor()
        sphereStart.SetMapper(sphereStartMapper)
        sphereStart.GetProperty().SetColor(colors.GetColor3d("Yellow"))

        sphereEndSource = vtk.vtkSphereSource()
        sphereEndSource.SetCenter(endPoint)
        sphereEndSource.SetRadius(0.8)
        sphereEndMapper = vtk.vtkPolyDataMapper()
        sphereEndMapper.SetInputConnection(sphereEndSource.GetOutputPort())
        sphereEnd = vtk.vtkActor()
        sphereEnd.SetMapper(sphereEndMapper)
        sphereEnd.GetProperty().SetColor(colors.GetColor3d("Magenta"))

        # Create a renderer, render window, and interactor
        renderer = vtk.vtkRenderer()
        renderWindow = vtk.vtkRenderWindow()
        renderWindow.AddRenderer(renderer)
        renderWindow.SetWindowName("Oriented Cylinder")
        renderWindowInteractor = vtk.vtkRenderWindowInteractor()
        renderWindowInteractor.SetRenderWindow(renderWindow)

        # Add the actor to the scene
        renderer.AddActor(actor)
        renderer.AddActor(sphereStart)
        renderer.AddActor(sphereEnd)
        renderer.SetBackground(colors.GetColor3d("BkgColor"))

        # Render and interact
        renderWindow.Render()
        renderWindowInteractor.Start()

    if __name__ == '__main__':
        main()