getPos

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Description:: Returns object or location position. If the argument is the object, the return value is in format PositionAGLS. Z value is height over the surface underneath.
The alternative syntax gets the position given distance and heading away from provided object or position - the equivalent of BIS_fnc_relPos.
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Do not use this command to get an object's position in 3D format, as the Z value from this command is relative to the surface underneath, and there is no compatible setter command to use with it. Therefore the commonly misused code: _obj1 setPos getPos _obj2 is absolutely wrong.

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The only correct use case for this command is to determine the placement height of an object. For example, to determine if a free-falling unit is close enough to the surface (including buildings) to deploy the parachute: waitUntil {(getPos _parachute) select 2 < 200}; // deploy the parachute now!

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This command is significantly slower than other position commands, because it has to calculate the surface below a position. See this page for more details.
Groups:: Positions

Syntax:: getPos location
Parameters:: location: Location
Return Value:: Array - format [x,y,z], where z is -1 * getTerrainHeightASL at the location

Syntax:: origin getPos [distance, heading]
Parameters:: origin: Object, Position2D or Position3D
: distance: Number - distance from position
: heading: Number - in which compass direction
Return Value:: Array - format [x,y,z], where z is land surface position in format PositionAGL

Example 1:: hintSilent str getPos player;
Example 2:: getPos vs. other methods (over sea) getPos ship; // [2412.01, 6036.33, -0.839965] getPosATL ship; // [2412.01, 6036.33, 19.4266] getPosASL ship; // [2412.01, 6036.33, -0.920066] getPosASLW ship; // [2412.01, 6036.33, -0.865981] visiblePosition ship; // [2412.02, 6036.33, -0.837952] visiblePositionASL ship; // [2412.02, 6036.33, -0.91798] position ship; // [2412.01, 6036.33, -0.839965]
Example 3:: getPos vs. other methods (over land, on top of a 100m high building) getPos car; // [2508.64, 5681.47, 0.0609589] getPosATL car; // [2508.64, 5681.47, 100.0356369] getPosASL car; // [2508.64, 5681.47, 171.718] getPosASLW car; // [2508.64, 5681.47, 171.718] visiblePosition car; // [2508.64, 5681.47, 100.0609512] visiblePositionASL car; // [2508.64, 5681.47, 171.718] position car; // [2508.64, 5681.47, 0.0609589]
Example 4:: Find position 100 metres and 45 degrees from player position:player getPos [100, 45];

See also:: getPosVisual getRelPos setPos setPosAGLS position getPosATL getPosASL getPosASLW visiblePosition visiblePositionASL getMarkerPos

: Report bugs on the Feedback Tracker and/or discuss them on the Arma Discord or on the Forums.
Only post proven facts here! Add Note

: Posted on 16 Feb, 2007
Dr_Eyeball: getPos obj select 2 might return the vertical position above ground level, but for a stacked object, it returns the vertical position above the object beneath it. The same problem exists for getPosASL. There was a discussion _{(dead link)} thread in the BIS forums which suggested the use of the command modelToWorld instead to get around this issue where an absolute vertical position is required. ArmA Ver 1.02.

: Posted on 23 Nov, 2011
Tankbuster: You can use getPos and setPos on triggers.

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