Documentation: Basic Controller Usage

MARUI supports three different types of controllers: the HTC VIve’s “wand” style controllers, the Oculus Rift “Touch” controllers, and the Windows MR controllers.
While each of these has different shapes and functions, the basic interaction is the same on all three.

The Trigger Buttons

The button below the index finger is called “Trigger” (similar the the trigger of a pistol), and relates the way the left mouse button works on your mouse. That is, it is used to select objects, drag objects, and move windows.

It can be used in two ways: a “click” and a “drag”.
A “click” is a brief “press-and-release” on the trigger without moving the controller too much, similar to “clicking” with a mouse.
For example, you can “click” at objects in VR to select them, much the same way as you can use your mouse in Maya to click at objects to select them.
A “drag” is an extended “press-and-hold” on the trigger where you move the controller while holding on to the trigger.
For example, by holding the trigger and “dragging” you can draw a selection box to select multiple objects, much the same way as you can draw a selection box with your mouse by holding the left mouse button in Maya.

The Grip Buttons

The buttons on the side of the shaft of the controllers (operated with the middle finger) are called “grip” or “shoulder” buttons. In MARUI these are used to change your point of view in the scene.
In Maya, you change your point of view by holding the Alt key to change the camera position.
Similarly, in MARUI you hold down the shoulder buttons to change your point of view of the objects in VR.
By holding down the shoulder buttons on both controllers and changing the distance between the controllers, you can “zoom in” and “zoom out”, meaning that your Maya scene will be displayed at a larger or smaller scale.
Note that this does not edit your scene in any way. It is merely affecting the way you see your scene in VR.

Thumb Buttons

The various types of VR controllers feature buttons on their top to be operated with the thumb. On the Oculus Rift “Touch” controllers, these are the (A) (B) (X) and (Y) buttons. The HTC Vive and Windows MR controllers each feature a “Menu” controller.
In MARUI, the default menu assigns circular menus (a.k.a marking menus) to these buttons. If you hold down the button, a menu will appear at the tip of the controller.

You can select items in the menu in two ways. Move the controller so that the red arrow tip hovers over the item you want to select (a tooltip text will appear explaining the icon) and release the button you pressed to bring up the menu. Alternatively, instead of releasing the menu button you can also press the trigger button of the controller (“click” in addition to holding the menu button). This is especially convenient if you need to trigger a menu item multiple times.

Touchpads

The HTC Vive and Windows MR controllers both have a touchpad to be operated with the thumb. MARUI divides these touchpads into four buttons: upper part, lower part, left part, and right part. Press the touchpad on the upper quarter to bring up the associates menu. The same is true for the left quarter of the touchpad, the right quarter of the touchpad, and the lower quarter of the touchpad respectively.

Thumb-Sticks

The Oculus Rift and Windows MR controller also feature small joysticks on the top to be operated by the thumb. MARUI assigns additional menus to tilting the stick into one of four directions: forward, backward, left and right. Push the thumb-stick forward to open the menu associated with “thumbstick-forward”. The same is true for pushing the thumbstick left or right, or pulling it backwards. Each direction opens a different menu.