FreeCAD/FreeCAD

Points: Convert point cloud to vertices

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#21,869 opened on Jun 8, 2025

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Good first issueMod: PointsType: Feature

Description

Is there an existing issue for this?

  • I have searched the existing issues

Problem description

I have point cloud and i want to manualy create surface from it, but first i need to convert the point into vertices, so i can start filling the faces.

At https://forum.freecad.org/viewtopic.php?t=76268 i've found following script

points = App.ActiveDocument.Points # this is the load point cloud. You may have to adjust this line to use the correct object
compound = Part.Compound([Part.Vertex(i) for i in points.Points.Points])
Part.show(compound)

I think that might be worth adding to Points workbench as a new icon (converting the other way is already available).

Full version info

OS: Arch Linux (XFCE/Xfce Session/xcb)
Architecture: x86_64
Version: 1.0.1.39285 (Git)
Build type: Release
Branch: makepkg
Hash: 878f0b8c9c72c6f215833a99f2762bc3a3cf2abd
Python 3.13.3, Qt 6.9.0, Coin 4.0.3, Vtk 9.4.2, OCC 7.8.1
Locale: Czech/Czechia (cs_CZ)
Stylesheet/Theme/QtStyle: FreeCAD Dark.qss/FreeCAD Dark/
Installed mods: 
  * sheetmetal 0.7.22
  * Curves 0.6.58

Subproject(s) affected?

Other (specify in description)

Anything else?

I don't have experience with FreeCAD codebase. At first this seemed to be easy adition into Mod/Points/InitGui.py, but i've tried it and realized the Points tools toolbar is actualy created in C++ code, which is not yet initialized when python method PointsWorkbench.Initialize() is run... Therefore i cannot add it to the toolbar from there...

Code of Conduct

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Contributor guide

Tech stack
pythoncpp
Domain
tooling
Issue type
feature
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
3
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
1-2 days
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
fresh
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
clear
Prerequisites
Python scriptingC++ basicsFreeCAD Points module
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
40
Research direction
Investigate how to add a toolbar button in the Points workbench. The Python InitGui.py is not sufficient because the toolbar is defined in C++ code. Look at the C++ source for Points workbench to understand how to register a new command. The script provided converts points to Part.Vertex objects; integrate this as a command and add an icon. See the forum link for context.