feat(otrack): polar coordinates from tracking point (#69)

OTRACK alignment was computed in the wrong plane (it used Z as the
second axis while the model is XY / Z-up), so tracking never aligned
correctly and the aligned point was never fed to a pick.

Rework it: project the cursor onto a ray from a tracking point in the
XY plane — horizontal/vertical by default, or every POLAR increment
when POLAR is on. The aligned point is now used for both the live
preview and the committed click, and a dashed guide shows the ray.

While aligned, a typed distance places the point along the ray from the
tracking point, via the command line and the dynamic-input box (which
shows a single Distance field). The alignment clears with the command.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

src/app/mod.rs

@@ -198,6 +198,10 @@ pub(super) struct OpenCADStudio {
     /// Last persisted user preferences (DYN/OSNAP/OTRACK/POLAR/…). Compared
     /// after each message so a change is written to disk exactly once.
     last_saved_settings: Option<settings::UserSettings>,
+    /// Active OTRACK alignment `(tracking_point, unit_direction)` when the
+    /// cursor is on a tracking ray. Lets a typed distance place a point along
+    /// the ray from the tracking point (issue #69). `None` when not aligned.
+    otrack_active: Option<(glam::Vec3, glam::Vec3)>,
     /// Whether Tangent snap was enabled before a tangent-pick command started.
     pre_cmd_tangent: Option<bool>,
     /// Orthogonal drawing constraint (F8): constrains picks to 0°/90°/180°/270°.
@@ -1271,6 +1275,7 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
             selection_filter_popup_open: false,
             statusbar_config: crate::ui::statusbar_config::StatusBarConfig::load(),
             last_saved_settings: None,
+            otrack_active: None,
             clean_screen: false,
             quick_properties: false,
             selection_cycling: false,

src/app/update.rs

@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
             && !self.snapper.tracking_points.is_empty()
         {
             self.snapper.clear_tracking();
+            self.otrack_active = None;
         }
         task
     }
@@ -1227,6 +1228,25 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                         return Task::none();
                     }
 
+                    // OTRACK: while aligned to a tracking ray, a bare distance
+                    // places the point along the ray from the tracking point
+                    // (issue #69).
+                    if let Some((base, dir)) = self.otrack_active {
+                        if let Some(dist) = super::expr_eval::eval_number(text.trim()) {
+                            let pt = base + dir * dist as f32;
+                            self.last_point = Some(pt);
+                            self.dyn_user_reshaped = false;
+                            self.sync_dyn_fields();
+                            let result = self.tabs[i].active_cmd.as_mut().map(|c| c.on_point(pt));
+                            if let Some(r) = result {
+                                let task = self.apply_cmd_result(r);
+                                self.refresh_active_cmd_preview(i);
+                                return task;
+                            }
+                            return Task::none();
+                        }
+                    }
+
                     if let Some((coord, kind)) = parse_coord(&text) {
                         // Resolve relative vs absolute. `@` forces relative,
                         // `#` forces absolute, no prefix follows DYN: when
@@ -2384,44 +2404,52 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                             .snap(cursor_world, p, &all_wires[..], view_proj, bounds)
                     };
 
-                    // Object Snap Tracking: update dwell and override snap if tracking.
+                    // Object Snap Tracking: update dwell, then align the cursor
-                    let otrack_snap_world = {
+                    // to a tracking ray (and store the alignment so a typed
+                    // distance can place a point along it — issue #69).
+                    let otrack_hit = {
                         let snap_world = self.tabs[i].snap_result.map(|s| s.world);
                         self.snapper
                             .update_otrack_dwell(snap_world, view_proj, bounds);
                         if self.tabs[i].snap_result.is_none() {
-                            self.snapper
+                            let step = if self.polar_mode {
-                                .otrack_snap(cursor_world, view_proj, bounds)
+                                Some(self.polar_increment_deg)
-                                .map(|(w, _)| w)
+                            } else {
+                                None
+                            };
+                            self.snapper.otrack_snap(cursor_world, view_proj, bounds, step)
                         } else {
                             None
                         }
                     };
-                    if let Some(ow) = otrack_snap_world {
+                    self.otrack_active = otrack_hit.map(|h| (h.base, h.dir));
-                        // Override the effective point with the OST alignment.
-                        // (don't set snap_result so the normal snap marker stays hidden)
-                        self.tabs[i].last_cursor_world = ow;
-                    }
 
                     let effective = {
-                        // snap.world is paper-space for viewport-projected wires; convert
+                        let mut pt = if let Some(h) = otrack_hit {
-                        // to model-space so previews use consistent coordinates.
+                            // Tracking alignment wins over the free cursor;
-                        let mut pt = self.tabs[i]
+                            // ortho/polar don't re-constrain it.
-                            .snap_result
+                            h.aligned
-                            .map(|s| self.tabs[i].scene.paper_to_model(s.world))
+                        } else {
-                            .unwrap_or(cursor_world);
+                            // snap.world is paper-space for viewport-projected
-                        // Clamp to world XY only when no UCS is active; with a UCS the
+                            // wires; convert to model-space for previews.
-                        // point already lies on the UCS XY plane.
+                            let mut pt = self.tabs[i]
+                                .snap_result
+                                .map(|s| self.tabs[i].scene.paper_to_model(s.world))
+                                .unwrap_or(cursor_world);
+                            if let Some(base) = self.last_point {
+                                if self.ortho_mode {
+                                    pt = ortho_constrain(pt, base);
+                                } else if self.polar_mode {
+                                    pt = polar_constrain(pt, base, self.polar_increment_deg);
+                                }
+                            }
+                            pt
+                        };
+                        // Clamp to world XY only when no UCS is active; with a
+                        // UCS the point already lies on the UCS XY plane.
                         if self.tabs[i].active_cmd.is_some() && self.tabs[i].active_ucs.is_none() {
                             pt.z = 0.0;
                         }
-                        if let Some(base) = self.last_point {
-                            if self.ortho_mode {
-                                pt = ortho_constrain(pt, base);
-                            } else if self.polar_mode {
-                                pt = polar_constrain(pt, base, self.polar_increment_deg);
-                            }
-                        }
                         pt
                     };
                     self.tabs[i].last_cursor_world = effective;
@@ -2485,6 +2513,35 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                             }
                         }
                     }
+                    // OTRACK alignment guide: dashed ray through the tracking
+                    // point along the aligned direction (issue #69).
+                    if let Some(h) = otrack_hit {
+                        if !needs_entity {
+                            let far = 1e5_f32;
+                            let far_pos = h.base + h.dir * far;
+                            let far_neg = h.base - h.dir * far;
+                            previews.push(crate::scene::WireModel {
+                                name: "__otrack_guide__".into(),
+                                points: vec![
+                                    [far_neg.x, far_neg.y, far_neg.z],
+                                    [far_pos.x, far_pos.y, far_pos.z],
+                                ],
+                                color: [0.2, 0.9, 0.5, 0.6],
+                                selected: false,
+                                aci: 0,
+                                pattern_length: 0.8,
+                                pattern: [0.5, -0.3, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0],
+                                line_weight_px: 1.0,
+                                snap_pts: vec![],
+                                tangent_geoms: vec![],
+                                key_vertices: vec![],
+                                aabb: crate::scene::WireModel::UNBOUNDED_AABB,
+                                plinegen: true,
+                                vp_scissor: None,
+                                fill_tris: vec![],
+                            });
+                        }
+                    }
                     self.tabs[i].scene.set_preview_wires(previews);
                 } else {
                     self.tabs[i].snap_result = None;
@@ -2833,7 +2890,24 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                         if self.tabs[i].active_ucs.is_none() {
                             pt.z = 0.0;
                         }
-                        if let Some(base) = self.last_point {
+                        // OTRACK alignment wins over ortho/polar; otherwise apply
+                        // ortho/polar relative to the last point.
+                        let otrack = if snap_hit.is_none() {
+                            let step = if self.polar_mode {
+                                Some(self.polar_increment_deg)
+                            } else {
+                                None
+                            };
+                            self.snapper.otrack_snap(raw, vp_mat, bounds, step)
+                        } else {
+                            None
+                        };
+                        if let Some(h) = otrack {
+                            pt = h.aligned;
+                            if self.tabs[i].active_ucs.is_none() {
+                                pt.z = 0.0;
+                            }
+                        } else if let Some(base) = self.last_point {
                             if self.ortho_mode {
                                 pt = ortho_constrain(pt, base);
                             } else if self.polar_mode {
@@ -7224,7 +7298,13 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
             .map(|c| c.wants_text_input())
             .unwrap_or(false);
         let has_base = self.last_point.is_some();
+        // While aligned to an OTRACK ray, the point step reads a single
+        // distance along the ray (issue #69) — show one Distance box.
+        let otrack_dist = self.otrack_active.is_some()
+            && !wants_text
+            && matches!(field, crate::command::DynField::Point);
         let default: Vec<DynComponent> = match field {
+            _ if otrack_dist => vec![DynComponent::Distance],
             crate::command::DynField::Distance => vec![DynComponent::Distance],
             crate::command::DynField::Angle => vec![DynComponent::Angle],
             crate::command::DynField::Scalar => vec![DynComponent::Scalar],
@@ -7573,6 +7653,33 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
         {
             return None;
         }
+        // OTRACK: while aligned to a tracking ray, a typed value is a distance
+        // along the ray from the tracking point (issue #69).
+        if let Some((base, dir)) = self.otrack_active {
+            let wants_text = self.tabs[i]
+                .active_cmd
+                .as_ref()
+                .map(|c| c.wants_text_input())
+                .unwrap_or(false);
+            if !wants_text {
+                if let Some(text) = self.tabs[i].dyn_fields.iter().find_map(|f| f.buffer.clone()) {
+                    if let Some(dist) = super::expr_eval::eval_number(text.trim()) {
+                        let pt = base + dir * dist as f32;
+                        self.last_point = Some(pt);
+                        for f in self.tabs[i].dyn_fields.iter_mut() {
+                            f.buffer = None;
+                        }
+                        self.tabs[i].dyn_active = 0;
+                        self.dyn_user_reshaped = false;
+                        self.sync_dyn_fields();
+                        let result = self.tabs[i].active_cmd.as_mut().map(|c| c.on_point(pt));
+                        let task = result.map(|r| self.apply_cmd_result(r))?;
+                        self.refresh_active_cmd_preview(i);
+                        return Some(task);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
         // A text-input step reads its single box as a string and commits via
         // `on_text_input` (a count, radius, distance) rather than resolving a
         // point. Only the typed buffer matters here — a mouse-driven live

src/snap/mod.rs

@@ -61,6 +61,18 @@ pub struct SnapResult {
     pub tangent_obj: Option<TangentObject>,
 }
 
+/// Object-snap-tracking alignment: the cursor projected onto a ray from an
+/// acquired tracking point.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+pub struct OtrackHit {
+    /// Cursor projected onto the tracking ray.
+    pub aligned: Vec3,
+    /// Unit ray direction toward the cursor side (for typed-distance entry).
+    pub dir: Vec3,
+    /// The tracking point the ray emanates from.
+    pub base: Vec3,
+}
+
 // ── Snapper ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 use rustc_hash::FxHashSet as HashSet;
@@ -201,16 +213,19 @@ impl Snapper {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Given the current cursor world position, check if it aligns with any
+    /// Project the cursor onto a tracking ray emanating from one of the
-    /// tracking point horizontally or vertically.  Returns the snapped world
+    /// acquired tracking points, in the XY plane. Without `polar_step_deg` the
-    /// position (and index of the tracking point) if alignment is found within
+    /// rays are horizontal / vertical (0° / 90°); with it, every polar
-    /// `snap_radius_px` screen pixels.
+    /// increment is a candidate so the user can track along POLAR angles.
+    /// Returns the aligned point, the unit ray direction (pointing toward the
+    /// cursor side, used for typed-distance entry), and the tracking point.
     pub fn otrack_snap(
         &self,
         cursor_world: Vec3,
         view_proj: glam::Mat4,
         bounds: iced::Rectangle,
-    ) -> Option<(Vec3, usize)> {
+        polar_step_deg: Option<f32>,
+    ) -> Option<OtrackHit> {
         if !self.otrack_enabled || self.tracking_points.is_empty() {
             return None;
         }
@@ -218,24 +233,46 @@ impl Snapper {
         let cursor_screen = world_to_screen(cursor_world, view_proj, bounds);
         let r = self.snap_radius_px;
 
-        for (idx, &tp) in self.tracking_points.iter().enumerate() {
+        // Candidate angles in [0,180); each ray extends both ways via the
-            // Horizontal alignment: cursor.z ≈ tp.z
+        // signed projection `t`, so 0°/90° cover horizontal/vertical.
-            let aligned_h = Vec3::new(cursor_world.x, 0.0, tp.z);
+        let mut angles: Vec<f32> = Vec::new();
-            let s = world_to_screen(aligned_h, view_proj, bounds);
+        match polar_step_deg.filter(|s| *s > 1e-3) {
-            let dy = (s.y - cursor_screen.y).abs();
+            Some(step) => {
-            if dy < r {
+                let mut a = 0.0_f32;
-                return Some((aligned_h, idx));
+                while a < 180.0 - 1e-3 {
+                    angles.push(a);
+                    a += step;
+                }
             }
-
+            None => {
-            // Vertical alignment: cursor.x ≈ tp.x
+                angles.push(0.0);
-            let aligned_v = Vec3::new(tp.x, 0.0, cursor_world.z);
+                angles.push(90.0);
-            let s = world_to_screen(aligned_v, view_proj, bounds);
-            let dx = (s.x - cursor_screen.x).abs();
-            if dx < r {
-                return Some((aligned_v, idx));
             }
         }
-        None
+
+        let mut best: Option<(f32, OtrackHit)> = None;
+        for &tp in self.tracking_points.iter() {
+            for &adeg in &angles {
+                let ar = adeg.to_radians();
+                let dir = Vec3::new(ar.cos(), ar.sin(), 0.0);
+                let t = (cursor_world.x - tp.x) * dir.x + (cursor_world.y - tp.y) * dir.y;
+                let aligned = Vec3::new(tp.x + dir.x * t, tp.y + dir.y * t, tp.z);
+                let s = world_to_screen(aligned, view_proj, bounds);
+                let sd = ((s.x - cursor_screen.x).powi(2) + (s.y - cursor_screen.y).powi(2)).sqrt();
+                if sd < r && best.as_ref().map_or(true, |(bd, _)| sd < *bd) {
+                    let dir_out = if t >= 0.0 { dir } else { -dir };
+                    best = Some((
+                        sd,
+                        OtrackHit {
+                            aligned,
+                            dir: dir_out,
+                            base: tp,
+                        },
+                    ));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        best.map(|(_, h)| h)
     }
 
     /// Clear all acquired tracking points (e.g. when command ends).