# NatNet: Sample Projects

This page lists out the NatNet sample applications provided with the SDK and provides instructions for some of the samples. The code samples are the quickest path towards getting NatNet data into your application. We typically recommend you:

1\. Identify your application’s development/interface requirements (managed, native, etc).2. Adapt the NatNet sample code from the corresponding NatNet sample application in the samples folder into your application.3. Use the API reference in the next page for additional information.

The Visual Studio solution file `\Samples\NatNetSamples.sln` will open and build all of the NatNet sample projects. If you are creating an application from scratch, please refer to the following sections for application specific requirements.

### Contents <a href="#mw-toc-heading" id="mw-toc-heading"></a>

* 1NatNet Sample Projects
* 2Running the Console Output Sample (Sample Client)
  * 2.1On Windows
* 3Running the Rigid Body Sample (SampleClient3D)
* 4Running the .NET Sample
* 5Running the Matlab Sample

## NatNet Sample Projects

***

The following projects are located in the `NatNet SDK\Samples` folder.

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NatNet SDK Samples

The following sample projects utilizes NatNet SDK library for obtaining tracking data from a connected server application.

| Sample Name           | NatNet Library Type | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| --------------------- | ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Matlab                | Managed: Matlab     | Sample MATLAB code file (.m) for using MATLAB with the NatNet managed assembly (NatNetML.dll).                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| MatlabWrapper         | Managed: Matlab     | Wrapper class for the NatNetML assembly members, allowing command line access to the client object.                                                                                                                                                                               |
| RebroadcastMotiveData | Native: C++         | Sample application that receives tracking data from the NatNet Server and redistributing it in other forms. Currently there are two protocols supported for pipelining tracking data into Unity via compatible XML packets and into Previzion software via serial port interface. |
| MayaPlugIn            | Native: C++         | GitHub open source project: mayaMotive                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| SampleClient          | Native: C++         | <p>Sample NatNet console app that connects to a NatNet server, receives a data stream, and writes that data stream to an ASCII file. This sample</p><p><br></p>                                                                                                                   |
| SampleClient3D        | Native: C++         | Sample NatNet application that connects to a NatNet server, receives a data stream, and displays that data in an OpenGL 3D window.                                                                                                                                                |
| SampleClientML        | Managed: .NET (C#)  | Sample NatNet C# console appication that connects to a NatNet server on the local IP address, receives data stream, and outputs the received data.                                                                                                                                |
| TimingClient          | Native: C++         | This program connects to a NatNet server and can be used as a quick check to determine packet timing information.                                                                                                                                                                 |
| Unity3D               | Native: C++         | This program demonstrates streaming rigid body and skeleton tracking data from Motive into Unity via UDP. This application encodes skeleton data into the XML format for streaming into Unity.                                                                                    |
| WinFormsSample        | Managed: C# .NET    | Simple C# .NET sample showing how to use the NatNet managed assembly (NatNetML.dll). This sample also demonstrates how to send and receive the NatNet commands.                                                                                                                   |

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Direct Depacketization Samples

The following sample projects do not use the NatNet SDK library. Client/Server connection is established at a low-level by creating sockets and threads within the program, and the streamed data are depacketized directly from the bit-stream syntax. The following sample approaches should be used only when the use of NatNet SDK library is not applicable (e.g. streaming into UNIX clients).

| Sample Name  | Type   | Description                                                                                                                                                 |
| ------------ | ------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| PacketClient | C++    | Simple example showing how to connect to a NatNet multicast stream and decode NatNet packets directly without using the NatNet SDK.                         |
| PythonClient | Python | Sample Python code file (.py) for using Python with NatNet streaming. This sample depacketizes data directly from the bit-stream without using the library. |

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XML trigger broadcast

The following samples demonstrate how to use remote triggering in Motive using the XML formatted UDP broadcast packets.

| Sample Name     | Type | Description                                                                                                                          |
| --------------- | ---- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| BroadcastSample | C++  | XML broadcast. Sample application illustrating how to use remote record trigger in Motive using XML formatted UDP broadcast packets. |
| NatCap          | C++  | XML broadcast. Sample capture start/stop trigger broadcast app.                                                                      |

<br>

## Running the Console Output Sample (Sample Client)

#### On Windows

1\. \[Motive] Start the Optitrack Server (e.g. Motive) and begin streaming data via the Streaming Panel.

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2\. \[Command Prompt] Start the client from the windows command prompt: `SampleClient.exe [ClientIPAddress] [ServerIPAddress] [OutputFilename.txt]`

<figure><img src="https://v110.wiki.optitrack.com/images/d/de/SampleClient.png" alt=""><figcaption><p>Running the SampleClient project from the windows command prompt.</p></figcaption></figure>

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3\. \[Command Prompt] You should begin to see data streaming in the client window or to text file.

<figure><img src="https://v110.wiki.optitrack.com/images/d/d1/SampleClient2.png" alt=""><figcaption><p>Running the SampleClient project from the windows command prompt.</p></figcaption></figure>

<br>

## Running the Rigid Body Sample (SampleClient3D)

The Rigid Body sample (SampleClient3D) illustrates how to decode NatNet 6DOF Rigid Body and Skeleton Segment data from OptiTrack quaternion format to euler angles and display them in a simple OpenGL 3D viewer. This sample also illustrates how to associate RigidBody/Skeleton Segment names and IDs from the data descriptions with the IDs streamed in the FrameOfMocapData packet.

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With Client/Server on same machine:

1\. \[Motive] Load a dataset with rigid body or skeleton definitions

2\. \[Motive] Enable network streaming ( Data Streaming Pane -> Check Broadcast Frame Data )

3\. \[Motive] Enable streaming rigid body data (check Stream Options -> Stream Rigid Bodies = True)

4\. \[Sample3D] File -> Connect

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With Client/Server on separate machines:

1\. \[Motive] Load a dataset with rigid body or skeleton definitions

2\. \[Motive] Set IP address to stream from (Network Interface Selection -> Local Interface)

3\. \[Motive] Enable network streaming ( Data Streaming Pane -> Check Broadcast Frame Data )

4\. \[Motive] Enable streaming rigid body data (check Stream Options -> Stream Rigid Bodies = True)

5\. \[Sample3D] Set Client and Server IP addresses

6\. \[Sample3D] File -> Connect

* IP Address IP Address of client NIC card you wish to use.
* Server IP Address IP Address of server entered in step 2 above.

<figure><img src="https://v110.wiki.optitrack.com/images/thumb/2/21/NatNetSampleClient3D.png/800px-NatNetSampleClient3D.png" alt=""><figcaption><p>SampleClient3D - Decoding and draqing labeled rigid body position and orientation (6DoF) data.</p></figcaption></figure>

<br>

## Running the .NET Sample

1\. \[Motive] Start a NatNet server application (e.g. Motive).

2\. \[Motive] Enable NatNet streaming from the Server application.

3\. \[WinFormTestApp] Start the WinForms sample application from the NatNet Samples folder.

4\. \[WinFormTestApp] Update the “Local” and “Server” IP Addresses as necessary.

5\. \[WinFormTestApp] Press the “Connect” button to connect to the server.

6\. \[WinFormTestApp] Press the “GetDataDesc” button to request and display a detailed description of the Server’s currently streamed objects.

7\. \[WinFormTestApp] Select a Row in the DataGrid to display that value in the graph.

<figure><img src="https://v110.wiki.optitrack.com/images/thumb/e/ef/NatNetWinFormSample.png/750px-NatNetWinFormSample.png" alt=""><figcaption><p>Receiving tracking data via NatNet in a .NET environment.</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://v110.wiki.optitrack.com/images/7/7f/NatNetWinFormSampleRemote.png" alt=""><figcaption><p>Issuing remote control commands to Motive.</p></figcaption></figure>

<br>

## Running the Matlab Sample

1\. \[Motive] Start a NatNet server application (e.g. Motive).

2\. \[Motive] Enable NatNet streaming from the Server application.

3\. \[Matlab] Start Matlab

4\. \[Matlab] Open the NatNetMatlabSample.m file.

5\. \[Matlab] From the editor window, press Run

<figure><img src="https://v110.wiki.optitrack.com/images/thumb/d/df/NatNetMatlab.png/750px-NatNetMatlab.png" alt=""><figcaption><p>Real-time streaming mocap data from Motive into Matlab.</p></figcaption></figure>
