Updating Rotation Through Script Code

Overview

When the game is running, you will not be able to rotate objects as you can within the editor, so one way to update the angle an object is facing is by updating the object's Euler angles.

The Euler angles are stored in a vector3 variable with read-only parts, so you cannot update just one axis at a time through transform.eulerAngles.y = 90.0F or something similar. You need to use the keyword new followed by a complete Vector3. Here's an example:

// Rotates the object directly to 90 degrees right
transform.eulerAngles = new Vector3(0, 90.0F, 0);

Here, the object rotates right by 90 degrees, making it face right. If it starts at (0,0,0), it appears to jump to facing right in one frame and stays in that direction until it's rotated again.

After rotating, the Transform component will look like this in the Inspector:

Rotating Objects by Updating the Euler Angles Smoothly Through Code

Avoid using Transform.rotation. It is a Quaternion and it takes four coordinates that are different than the Euler angles shown in the Transform component.

Example codes:

• Each example should be placed within the Update() or FixedUpdate() function so that it runs once per frame

• Each example rotates the object it is attached to in the positive direction of the y-axis (clockwise)

transform.eulerAngles += new Vector3(0, 1.0F, 0) * Time.deltaTime;

The code above:

1. Accesses the object's transform and then its rotation in Euler angles

2. Uses the += shortcut to add values to itself

3. new Vector3(float x, float y, float z) is a way to tell it to add the matching variables

4. Time.deltaTime adjusts for varying computer speeds

transform.eulerAngles += Vector3.up * Time.deltaTime;

The code above:

1. Accesses the object's transform and then its rotation in Euler angles

2. Uses the += shortcut to add values to itself

3. Vector3.up is a shortcut for Vector3(0.0F, 1.0F, 0.0F); Up is used here because we are spinning it on its y-axis "rod"

4. Time.deltaTime adjusts for varying computer speeds