how to set the position of a meshinstance using code

Question

extends Spatial

func _ready():
    var alphabet = letters.getAlphabet()

    for z in range(10):
        for x in range(10):
            var mesh = load(letters.getLetter(alphabet[randi()%33]))
            var meshInstance = MeshInstance.new()
            meshInstance.set_mesh(mesh)
            meshInstance.position = Vector3(x * 3, 0, z * 3)
            add_child(meshInstance)

function letters.getAlphabet give alphabet array
function letters.getLetter give link to letter file with .obj expansion

Answer 1

For Spatials such as meshinstance the "position" is reference using its transform
so change meshInstance.position to meshInstance.global_transform.origin

The correct way though is actually to use the translate() func like meshInstance.translate(Vector3(x * 3, 0, z * 3))

extends Spatial

func _ready():
var alphabet = letters.getAlphabet()
for z in range(10):
    for x in range(10):
        var mesh = load(letters.getLetter(alphabet[randi()%33]))
        var meshInstance = MeshInstance.new()
        meshInstance.set_mesh(mesh)
        meshInstance.global_transform.origin = Vector3(x * 3, 0, z * 3)
        add_child(meshInstance)

Answer 2

You shouled use KinematicBodys because there are easier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOA8i_clm1Y&t=297s