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Lab: Deploying to HoloLens

By the end of this module, you’ll be able to set up your computer properly for HoloLens development, and deploy your scene to the HoloLens headset as a Mixed Reality application.

MixedRealityToolKit (MRTK) is a collection of scripts and component intended to accelerate development of applications targeting Microsoft HoloLens and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. This toolkit reduces barriers to entry to create mixed reality application.

Github is a development platform that allows developers to host and review code, manage projects, and build software. It allows developers to open source their code for community collaboration and as such it is great resource for Unity developers ranging in skill from novice to professional.

Overview

In this Streaming Lab, you will setup your development environment for hololens and then build and deploy your first hololens project. You’ll need to:

Download and add the MixedRealityToolkit Unity package to your project

Prepare your project for Mixed Reality Content

Prepare a Scene for Mixed Reality Content

Deploy your project to the HoloLens headset

(optional) Deploy your project to the Emulator

 to get the most up to date deployment instructions.

What Will You Do?

Lab: How to deploy your Unity project to the HoloLens.

Ensure that you are running the latest version of Windows 10. It is recommended to be running the Windows 10 Fall Creators update.

Run the “WinVer” application from the Windows Run command by pressing ( Windows Key + R )     

In the Windows Run windows type “WinVer” and press enter

Check to make sure the version is 1709 or greater

If you are not running the Windows 10 Fall Creators update (or newer), then you will need to update your version of Windows

1. Check your Windows 10 version

Be sure to enable Developer mode for Windows 10 

(Action Center > All Settings > Update & Security > For Developers > Enable Developer mode)

This mode allows users to sideload (load custom applications onto devices) applications, and also run applications from Visual studio. When this mode is enabled Windows installs a package of features helpful for development.

Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) which provides tools to developers for quickly writing and debugging code.

Open the Action Center by clicking the Action Center icon the bottom right corner.

Select “All Settings”.Note: You can type “settings” into the search bar (bottom left) as well to pull up the Settings window.

Turn on Device Discovery so your headset is visible to USB connections and your local network. 

2. Setting up your development environment

Repeat the above step by putting on your HoloLens, turning on Developer mode in your HoloLens’ Settings, and pairing the device so we can deploy to your headset.

Turn on the HoloLens and put on the device

Launch the Main Menu by performing the “Bloom” gesture

Open the Settings by selecting the Settings Tile

Enable Developer Mode. This will allow you to deploy apps from Visual Studio to your Hololens.

Select Pair, and write down your pin! We will need to enter this number when we deploy through Visual Studio later for the first time.

3. Turn on developer mode and Pair your your HoloLens in Settings

Download Visual Studio with the necessary components to use the Hololens.

In the Visual Studio installer ensure to select the following:

What is Windows Store .NET Scripting Backend?

The scripting backend is a framework that powers scripting in Unity. Read 

Pro Tip: Already installed Visual Studio 2017?

You can open the installer and add missing components, just search for the installer on your machine.

Click “Modify,” with the Installer open

Select any Workloads or missing components, as per the image above.

4. Download and Setup Visual Studio

Make sure you are running the appropriate version of Unity 3D on your machine. You should 

download and install the latest Unity 3d version

, and the latest MRTK supported version (found 

). Include the Windows Store .NET scripting backend components.

Follow this link to download the appropriate version of Unity.

In the Unity Installer ensure to select the following:

5. Download and Setup the correct version of Unity

Download the latest unity package from the 

The MRTK is a collection of scripts and components intended to accelerate development of applications targeting Microsoft HoloLens and Windows MIxed Reality headsets. The project is intended to reduce the barriers of entry to mixed reality application development. Learn more 

Download the package directly from Github (

MixedRealityToolkit-Unity-2018.9.0-Beta.unitypackage

6. Download the MixedRealityToolkit-Unity asset packages

Create a new Unity project and import the MixedRealityToolkit package into Unity

Create a new Unity Project using the MRTK supported version of Unity

(Assets > Import Package > Custom Package)

Select the MRTK Package you downloaded previously

When prompted select Import in the Import Unity Package window

7. Import the MixedRealityToolkit-Unity asset packages

Prepare your project and scene for Mixed Reality development 

The Project Settings provide a quick solution to setting your Unity project up for Hololens development. These settings ensure your project has appropriate quality settings and the build target is set correctly.

The Scene Settings change the default camera to the Mixed Reality Camera Prefab, move the Camera to the Origin (0,0,0), add the Input Manager and Default Cursor Prefabs for quick access Unity’s UI system via HoloLens.

Prepare the project for Mixed Reality development by selecting the “Apply Mixed Reality Project Settings” option in the Unity Editor.

Open the window and select all the required options for your project type and click “Apply”

Prepare the scene for Mixed Reality development by selecting all the required options for your Scene type and click “Apply”

8. Preparing your Project and Scene for Mixed Reality Content

Use the custom MRTK window to build your project for Hololens

The MRTK build window is one stop shop for building and deploying your Hololens project to the HoloLens device. It has a number of settings that you can adjust for advanced development. For our situation we will focus on a simple build and deploy sequence.

1. Be sure to plug your HoloLens device into the computer via USB

9. Build your project

Use Visual Studio to select the HoloLens device that you’re using and run the app using the debug toolbar.

This is a specific architecture series for computer processors. This defines how a processor handles and executes different instruction is passed from the operating system and software

Press Open in Visual Studio to open the project in Visual Studio.

Once the project opens in Visual Studio, Select 

In the debug toolbar, select the device that you're using.

10. Deploy your project for Hololens

Ensure Hyper-V is enabled for the Emulator installation to be successful

Hyper V allows your machine to run multiple operating systems as virtual machines allowing you to create a virtual machine to simulate the HoloLens headset. Learn more 

Ensure Hyper-V is elected for the Emulator installation to be successful

11. (Optional) Enable Hyper-V

Download and install the emulator from this 

The Emulator allows you to test holographic apps on your PC without a physical HoloLens and comes with the HoloLens development toolset. You can use the keyboard, mouse, or an Xbox controller to simulate the HoloLens interactions with the Emulator. 

12. Install the Emulator

Follow the Deploy to HoloLens module to properly setup your Unity Application for HoloLens deployment. Once you open the project in Visual Studio 2017 (Step 10 above) select the HoloLens Emulator as the target device and start debugging.

Load you application solution in Visual Studio 2017

Select the HoloLens Emulator as the target device for debugging

Go to Debug > Start Debugging or press F5 to launch the emulator and deploy your app for rapid iteration

The Emulator may take a minute or more to boot when you first start it. It is recommended that you keep the emulator open during your debugging session so you can quickly deploy apps to the running emulator.

13. Run your application on the Emulator

You have now built and deployed your first HoloLens project!

By completing this module, you’re now able to:

Setup your computer for HoloLens deployment

Download and import the MRTK and prepare your Unity Project for HoloLens

Build and Deploy your project using Unity and Visual Studio.

Use the Emulator for rapid development without a Hololens headset

Unity Version 2018.3