.TH "SoVertexAttribute" 3 "Tue Jun 23 2026 23:48:38" "Version 4.0.10" "Coin" \" -*- nroff -*-
.ad l
.nh
.SH NAME
SoVertexAttribute \- A generic node for providing GL vertex attributes of various types\&.  

.SH SYNOPSIS
.br
.PP
.PP
\fR#include <Inventor/nodes/SoVertexAttribute\&.h>\fP
.PP
Inherits \fBSoNode\fP\&.
.SS "Public Member Functions"

.in +1c
.ti -1c
.RI "\fBSoVertexAttribute\fP (void)"
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.RI "virtual \fBSoType\fP \fBgetTypeId\fP (void) const"
.br
.RI "Returns the type identification of an object derived from a class inheriting \fBSoBase\fP\&. This is used for runtime type checking and "downward" casting\&. "
.ti -1c
.RI "\fBSoMField\fP * \fBgetValuesField\fP (void) const"
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.RI "virtual void \fBdoAction\fP (\fBSoAction\fP *action)"
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.RI "virtual void \fBGLRender\fP (\fBSoGLRenderAction\fP *action)"
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.RI "virtual void \fBwrite\fP (\fBSoWriteAction\fP *action)"
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.RI "virtual void \fBcopyContents\fP (const \fBSoFieldContainer\fP *from, SbBool copyconnections)"
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.RI "virtual void \fBnotify\fP (\fBSoNotList\fP *l)"
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Public Member Functions inherited from \fBSoNode\fP
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.RI "void \fBsetOverride\fP (const SbBool state)"
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.RI "SbBool \fBisOverride\fP (void) const"
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.RI "void \fBsetNodeType\fP (const \fBNodeType\fP type)"
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.ti -1c
.RI "\fBNodeType\fP \fBgetNodeType\fP (void) const"
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.RI "virtual \fBSoNode\fP * \fBcopy\fP (SbBool copyconnections=FALSE) const"
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.RI "virtual SbBool \fBaffectsState\fP (void) const"
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.RI "virtual void \fBGLRenderBelowPath\fP (\fBSoGLRenderAction\fP *action)"
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.RI "virtual void \fBGLRenderInPath\fP (\fBSoGLRenderAction\fP *action)"
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.RI "virtual void \fBGLRenderOffPath\fP (\fBSoGLRenderAction\fP *action)"
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.RI "virtual void \fBcallback\fP (\fBSoCallbackAction\fP *action)"
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.RI "virtual void \fBgetBoundingBox\fP (\fBSoGetBoundingBoxAction\fP *action)"
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.RI "virtual void \fBgetMatrix\fP (\fBSoGetMatrixAction\fP *action)"
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.ti -1c
.RI "virtual void \fBhandleEvent\fP (\fBSoHandleEventAction\fP *action)"
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.RI "virtual void \fBpick\fP (\fBSoPickAction\fP *action)"
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.RI "virtual void \fBrayPick\fP (\fBSoRayPickAction\fP *action)"
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.ti -1c
.RI "virtual void \fBsearch\fP (\fBSoSearchAction\fP *action)"
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.RI "virtual void \fBaudioRender\fP (\fBSoAudioRenderAction\fP *action)"
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.RI "virtual void \fBgetPrimitiveCount\fP (\fBSoGetPrimitiveCountAction\fP *action)"
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.ti -1c
.RI "virtual void \fBgrabEventsSetup\fP (void)"
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.ti -1c
.RI "virtual void \fBgrabEventsCleanup\fP (void)"
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.ti -1c
.RI "virtual void \fBstartNotify\fP (void)"
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.RI "SbUniqueId \fBgetNodeId\fP (void) const"
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.RI "virtual \fBSoChildList\fP * \fBgetChildren\fP (void) const"
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.RI "virtual void \fBwriteInstance\fP (\fBSoOutput\fP *out)"
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.RI "virtual \fBSoNode\fP * \fBaddToCopyDict\fP (void) const"
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.RI "virtual \fBSoFieldContainer\fP * \fBcopyThroughConnection\fP (void) const"
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Public Member Functions inherited from \fBSoFieldContainer\fP
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.RI "void \fBsetToDefaults\fP (void)"
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.RI "SbBool \fBhasDefaultValues\fP (void) const"
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.RI "SbBool \fBfieldsAreEqual\fP (const \fBSoFieldContainer\fP *container) const"
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.RI "void \fBcopyFieldValues\fP (const \fBSoFieldContainer\fP *container, SbBool copyconnections=FALSE)"
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.RI "SbBool \fBset\fP (const char *const fielddata)"
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.RI "void \fBget\fP (\fBSbString\fP &fielddata)"
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.RI "virtual int \fBgetFields\fP (\fBSoFieldList\fP &l) const"
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.RI "virtual int \fBgetAllFields\fP (\fBSoFieldList\fP &l) const"
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.RI "virtual \fBSoField\fP * \fBgetField\fP (const \fBSbName\fP &name) const"
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.RI "virtual \fBSoField\fP * \fBgetEventIn\fP (const \fBSbName\fP &name) const"
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.RI "virtual \fBSoField\fP * \fBgetEventOut\fP (const \fBSbName\fP &name) const"
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.RI "SbBool \fBgetFieldName\fP (const \fBSoField\fP *const field, \fBSbName\fP &name) const"
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.RI "SbBool \fBenableNotify\fP (const SbBool flag)"
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.RI "SbBool \fBisNotifyEnabled\fP (void) const"
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.RI "SbBool \fBset\fP (const char *fielddata, \fBSoInput\fP *input)"
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.RI "void \fBget\fP (\fBSbString\fP &fielddata, \fBSoOutput\fP *out)"
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.RI "virtual SbBool \fBvalidateNewFieldValue\fP (\fBSoField\fP *field, void *newval)"
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.RI "virtual void \fBaddWriteReference\fP (\fBSoOutput\fP *out, SbBool isfromfield=FALSE)"
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.RI "SbBool \fBgetIsBuiltIn\fP (void) const"
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.RI "virtual void \fBgetFieldsMemorySize\fP (size_t &managed, size_t &unmanaged) const"
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.RI "void \fBsetUserData\fP (void *userdata) const"
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.RI "void * \fBgetUserData\fP (void) const"
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Public Member Functions inherited from \fBSoBase\fP
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.RI "void \fBref\fP (void) const"
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.RI "void \fBunref\fP (void) const"
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.RI "void \fBunrefNoDelete\fP (void) const"
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.RI "int32_t \fBgetRefCount\fP (void) const"
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.RI "void \fBtouch\fP (void)"
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.RI "SbBool \fBisOfType\fP (\fBSoType\fP type) const"
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.RI "Returns \fRTRUE\fP if the type of this object is either of the same type or inherited from \fItype\fP\&. "
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.RI "virtual \fBSbName\fP \fBgetName\fP (void) const"
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.RI "virtual void \fBsetName\fP (const \fBSbName\fP &newname)"
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.RI "void \fBaddAuditor\fP (void *const auditor, const \fBSoNotRec::Type\fP type)"
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.RI "void \fBremoveAuditor\fP (void *const auditor, const \fBSoNotRec::Type\fP type)"
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.RI "const \fBSoAuditorList\fP & \fBgetAuditors\fP (void) const"
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.RI "SbBool \fBshouldWrite\fP (void)"
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.RI "void \fBassertAlive\fP (void) const"
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.SS "Static Public Member Functions"

.in +1c
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.RI "static void \fBinitClass\fP (void)"
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.RI "Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system\&.       "
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.RI "static \fBSoType\fP \fBgetClassTypeId\fP (void)"
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Static Public Member Functions inherited from \fBSoNode\fP
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.RI "static uint32_t \fBgetCompatibilityTypes\fP (const \fBSoType\fP &nodetype)"
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.RI "static \fBSoType\fP \fBgetClassTypeId\fP (void)"
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.RI "static \fBSoNode\fP * \fBgetByName\fP (const \fBSbName\fP &name)"
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.RI "static int \fBgetByName\fP (const \fBSbName\fP &name, \fBSoNodeList\fP &l)"
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.ti -1c
.RI "static void \fBinitClass\fP (void)"
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.RI "Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system\&.    "
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.RI "static void \fBinitClasses\fP (void)"
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.RI "static SbUniqueId \fBgetNextNodeId\fP (void)"
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.RI "static int \fBgetActionMethodIndex\fP (const \fBSoType\fP type)"
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.RI "static void \fBgetBoundingBoxS\fP (\fBSoAction\fP *action, \fBSoNode\fP *node)"
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.RI "static void \fBGLRenderS\fP (\fBSoAction\fP *action, \fBSoNode\fP *node)"
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.RI "static void \fBcallbackS\fP (\fBSoAction\fP *action, \fBSoNode\fP *node)"
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.RI "static void \fBgetMatrixS\fP (\fBSoAction\fP *action, \fBSoNode\fP *node)"
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.RI "static void \fBhandleEventS\fP (\fBSoAction\fP *action, \fBSoNode\fP *node)"
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.RI "static void \fBpickS\fP (\fBSoAction\fP *action, \fBSoNode\fP *node)"
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.RI "static void \fBrayPickS\fP (\fBSoAction\fP *action, \fBSoNode\fP *node)"
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.RI "static void \fBsearchS\fP (\fBSoAction\fP *action, \fBSoNode\fP *node)"
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.RI "static void \fBwriteS\fP (\fBSoAction\fP *action, \fBSoNode\fP *node)"
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.RI "static void \fBaudioRenderS\fP (\fBSoAction\fP *action, \fBSoNode\fP *node)"
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.RI "static void \fBgetPrimitiveCountS\fP (\fBSoAction\fP *action, \fBSoNode\fP *node)"
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Static Public Member Functions inherited from \fBSoFieldContainer\fP
.in +1c
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.RI "static void \fBinitClass\fP (void)"
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.RI "Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system\&.    "
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.RI "static \fBSoType\fP \fBgetClassTypeId\fP (void)"
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.RI "This static method returns the \fBSoType\fP object associated with objects of this class\&.    "
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.RI "static void \fBcleanupClass\fP (void)"
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.RI "static void \fBinitCopyDict\fP (void)"
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.RI "static void \fBaddCopy\fP (const \fBSoFieldContainer\fP *orig, const \fBSoFieldContainer\fP *copy)"
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.RI "static \fBSoFieldContainer\fP * \fBcheckCopy\fP (const \fBSoFieldContainer\fP *orig)"
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.RI "static \fBSoFieldContainer\fP * \fBfindCopy\fP (const \fBSoFieldContainer\fP *orig, const SbBool copyconnections)"
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.RI "static void \fBcopyDone\fP (void)"
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.in -1c

Static Public Member Functions inherited from \fBSoBase\fP
.in +1c
.ti -1c
.RI "static void \fBinitClass\fP (void)"
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.RI "Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system\&. "
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.RI "static \fBSoType\fP \fBgetClassTypeId\fP (void)"
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.RI "This static method returns the \fBSoType\fP object associated with objects of this class\&. "
.ti -1c
.RI "static void \fBaddName\fP (\fBSoBase\fP *const base, const char *const name)"
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.RI "static void \fBremoveName\fP (\fBSoBase\fP *const base, const char *const name)"
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.RI "static void \fBincrementCurrentWriteCounter\fP (void)"
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.ti -1c
.RI "static void \fBdecrementCurrentWriteCounter\fP (void)"
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.ti -1c
.RI "static \fBSoBase\fP * \fBgetNamedBase\fP (const \fBSbName\fP &name, \fBSoType\fP type)"
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.ti -1c
.RI "static int \fBgetNamedBases\fP (const \fBSbName\fP &name, \fBSoBaseList\fP &baselist, \fBSoType\fP type)"
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.RI "static SbBool \fBread\fP (\fBSoInput\fP *input, \fBSoBase\fP *&base, \fBSoType\fP expectedtype)"
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.RI "static void \fBsetInstancePrefix\fP (const \fBSbString\fP &c)"
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.RI "static void \fBsetTraceRefs\fP (SbBool trace)"
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.RI "static SbBool \fBgetTraceRefs\fP (void)"
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.RI "static SbBool \fBconnectRoute\fP (\fBSoInput\fP *input, const \fBSbName\fP &fromnodename, const \fBSbName\fP &fromfieldname, const \fBSbName\fP &tonodename, const \fBSbName\fP &tofieldname)"
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.RI "static SbBool \fBreadRoute\fP (\fBSoInput\fP *input)"
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.SS "Public Attributes"

.in +1c
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.RI "\fBSoSFName\fP \fBname\fP"
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.RI "\fBSoSFName\fP \fBtypeName\fP"
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.SS "Protected Member Functions"

.in +1c
.ti -1c
.RI "virtual \fB~SoVertexAttribute\fP (void)"
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.RI "virtual SbBool \fBreadInstance\fP (\fBSoInput\fP *in, unsigned short flags)"
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Protected Member Functions inherited from \fBSoNode\fP
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.RI "\fBSoNode\fP (void)"
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.RI "virtual \fB~SoNode\fP ()"
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Protected Member Functions inherited from \fBSoFieldContainer\fP
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.RI "\fBSoFieldContainer\fP (void)"
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.RI "virtual \fB~SoFieldContainer\fP ()"
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Protected Member Functions inherited from \fBSoBase\fP
.in +1c
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.RI "\fBSoBase\fP (void)"
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.RI "virtual \fB~SoBase\fP ()"
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.RI "virtual void \fBdestroy\fP (void)"
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.RI "SbBool \fBhasMultipleWriteRefs\fP (void) const"
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.RI "SbBool \fBwriteHeader\fP (\fBSoOutput\fP *out, SbBool isgroup, SbBool isengine) const"
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.RI "void \fBwriteFooter\fP (\fBSoOutput\fP *out) const"
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.RI "virtual const char * \fBgetFileFormatName\fP (void) const"
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.RI "virtual \fBSoNotRec\fP \fBcreateNotRec\fP (void)"
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.SS "Additional Inherited Members"


Public Types inherited from \fBSoNode\fP
.in +1c
.ti -1c
.RI "enum \fBNodeType\fP { \fBINVENTOR\fP = 0x0000, \fBVRML1\fP = 0x0001, \fBVRML2\fP = 0x0002, \fBINVENTOR_1\fP = 0x0004, \fBINVENTOR_2_0\fP = 0x0008, \fBINVENTOR_2_1\fP = 0x0010, \fBINVENTOR_2_5\fP = 0x0020, \fBINVENTOR_2_6\fP = 0x0040, \fBCOIN_1_0\fP = 0x0080, \fBCOIN_2_0\fP = 0x0100, \fBEXTENSION\fP = 0x0200, \fBCOIN_2_2\fP = 0x0400, \fBCOIN_2_3\fP = 0x0800, \fBCOIN_2_4\fP = 0x1000, \fBINVENTOR_5_0\fP = 0x2000, \fBCOIN_2_5\fP = 0x4000, \fBCOIN_3_0\fP = 0x8000, \fBINVENTOR_6_0\fP = 0x10000, \fBCOIN_4_0\fP = 0x20000 }"
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Protected Types inherited from \fBSoBase\fP
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.RI "enum \fBBaseFlags\fP { \fBIS_ENGINE\fP = 0x01, \fBIS_GROUP\fP = 0x02 }"
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Static Protected Member Functions inherited from \fBSoNode\fP
.in +1c
.ti -1c
.RI "static const \fBSoFieldData\fP ** \fBgetFieldDataPtr\fP (void)"
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.RI "static void \fBsetNextActionMethodIndex\fP (int index)"
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.ti -1c
.RI "static int \fBgetNextActionMethodIndex\fP (void)"
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.ti -1c
.RI "static void \fBincNextActionMethodIndex\fP (void)"
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.RI "static void \fBsetCompatibilityTypes\fP (const \fBSoType\fP &nodetype, const uint32_t bitmask)"
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.in -1c

Static Protected Member Functions inherited from \fBSoBase\fP
.in +1c
.ti -1c
.RI "static uint32_t \fBgetCurrentWriteCounter\fP (void)"
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.RI "static void \fBstaticDataLock\fP (void)"
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.RI "static void \fBstaticDataUnlock\fP (void)"
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.in -1c

Protected Attributes inherited from \fBSoNode\fP
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.ti -1c
.RI "SbUniqueId \fBuniqueId\fP"
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Protected Attributes inherited from \fBSoFieldContainer\fP
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.ti -1c
.RI "SbBool \fBisBuiltIn\fP"
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Static Protected Attributes inherited from \fBSoNode\fP
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.ti -1c
.RI "static SbUniqueId \fBnextUniqueId\fP = 1"
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.RI "static int \fBnextActionMethodIndex\fP = 0"
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.in -1c
.SH "Detailed Description"
.PP 
A generic node for providing GL vertex attributes of various types\&. 

The \fBSoVertexAttribute\fP nodes are used with the \fBSoShaderProgram\fP node to send vertex attributes to the vertex shader\&.

.PP
.PP
.nf
  #Inventor V2\&.1 ascii

  Separator {
     ShaderProgram {
        shaderObject [
                      VertexShader {
                         sourceProgram "vertex\&.glsl"
                      }
                   ]
     }

     Coordinate3 {
        point [ 0 0 0, 1 0 0, 1 1 0 ]
     }

     VertexAttribute {
        typeName "SoMFVec3f"
        name "color"
        values [ 1\&.0 0\&.0 0\&.0,
                 0\&.0 1\&.0 0\&.0,
                 0\&.0 0\&.0 1\&.0 ]
     }

     IndexedFaceSet {
        coordIndex [ 0, 1, 2, -1 ]
     }
  }
.fi
.PP

.PP
The vertex shader (vertex\&.glsl) 
.PP
.nf
attribute vec3 color;

void main(void)
{
  gl_Position = ftransform();
  gl_FrontColor = vec4(color, 1\&.0);
}

.fi
.PP

.PP
\fBSee also\fP
.RS 4
\fBSoVertexAttributeBinding\fP
.RE
.PP
Be aware that this class is an extension for Coin, and it is not available in the original SGI Open Inventor v2\&.1 API\&.
.br
 
.PP
\fBSince\fP
.RS 4
Coin 3\&.0 
.RE
.PP

.SH "Constructor & Destructor Documentation"
.PP 
.SS "SoVertexAttribute::SoVertexAttribute (void )"
Constructor\&. 
.SS "SoVertexAttribute::~SoVertexAttribute (void )\fR [protected]\fP, \fR [virtual]\fP"
Destructor\&. 
.SH "Member Function Documentation"
.PP 
.SS "\fBSoType\fP SoVertexAttribute::getClassTypeId (void )\fR [static]\fP"
This static method returns the \fBSoType\fP object associated with objects of this class\&. 
.SS "\fBSoType\fP SoVertexAttribute::getTypeId (void ) const\fR [virtual]\fP"

.PP
Returns the type identification of an object derived from a class inheriting \fBSoBase\fP\&. This is used for runtime type checking and "downward" casting\&. Usage example:

.PP
.PP
.nf
void foo(SoNode * node)
{
  if (node\->getTypeId() == SoFile::getClassTypeId()) {
    SoFile * filenode = (SoFile *)node;  // safe downward cast, knows the type
  }
}
.fi
.PP

.PP
For application programmers wanting to extend the library with new nodes, engines, nodekits, draggers or others: this method needs to be overridden in \fIall\fP subclasses\&. This is typically done as part of setting up the full type system for extension classes, which is usually accomplished by using the predefined macros available through for instance \fBInventor/nodes/SoSubNode\&.h\fP (SO_NODE_INIT_CLASS and SO_NODE_CONSTRUCTOR for node classes), \fBInventor/engines/SoSubEngine\&.h\fP (for engine classes) and so on\&.

.PP
For more information on writing Coin extensions, see the class documentation of the top level superclasses for the various class groups\&. 
.PP
Implements \fBSoBase\fP\&.
.SS "void SoVertexAttribute::doAction (\fBSoAction\fP * action)\fR [virtual]\fP"
This function performs the typical operation of a node for any action\&. 
.PP
Reimplemented from \fBSoNode\fP\&.
.SS "void SoVertexAttribute::GLRender (\fBSoGLRenderAction\fP * action)\fR [virtual]\fP"
Action method for the \fBSoGLRenderAction\fP\&.

.PP
This is called during rendering traversals\&. Nodes influencing the rendering state in any way or want to throw geometry primitives at OpenGL override this method\&. 
.PP
Reimplemented from \fBSoNode\fP\&.
.SS "void SoVertexAttribute::write (\fBSoWriteAction\fP * action)\fR [virtual]\fP"
Action method for \fBSoWriteAction\fP\&.

.PP
Writes out a node object, and any connected nodes, engines etc, if necessary\&. 
.PP
Reimplemented from \fBSoNode\fP\&.
.SS "void SoVertexAttribute::copyContents (const \fBSoFieldContainer\fP * from, SbBool copyconnections)\fR [virtual]\fP"
Makes a deep copy of all data of \fIfrom\fP into this instance, \fIexcept\fP external scene graph references if \fIcopyconnections\fP is \fRFALSE\fP\&.

.PP
This is the method that should be overridden by extension node / engine / dragger / whatever subclasses which need to account for internal data that are not handled automatically\&.

.PP
For copying nodes from application code, you should not invoke this function directly, but rather call the \fBSoNode::copy()\fP function:

.PP
.PP
.nf
SoNode * mynewnode = templatenode\->copy();
.fi
.PP

.PP
The same also goes for engines\&.

.PP
Make sure that when you override the \fBcopyContents()\fP method in your extension class that you also make it call upwards to its parent superclass in the inheritance hierarchy, as \fBcopyContents()\fP in for instance \fBSoNode\fP and \fBSoFieldContainer\fP does important work\&. It should go something like this:

.PP
.PP
.nf
void
MyCoinExtensionNode::copyContents(const SoFieldContainer * from,
                                  SbBool copyconnections)
{
  // let parent superclasses do their thing (copy fields, copy
  // instance name, etc\&.)
  SoNode::copyContents(from, copyconnections);

  // [\&.\&.then copy internal data\&.\&.]
}
.fi
.PP
 
.PP
Reimplemented from \fBSoNode\fP\&.
.SS "void SoVertexAttribute::notify (\fBSoNotList\fP * l)\fR [virtual]\fP"
Notifies all auditors for this instance when changes are made\&. 
.PP
Reimplemented from \fBSoNode\fP\&.
.SS "SbBool SoVertexAttribute::readInstance (\fBSoInput\fP * in, unsigned short flags)\fR [protected]\fP, \fR [virtual]\fP"
This method is mainly intended for internal use during file import operations\&.

.PP
It reads a definition of an instance from the input stream \fIin\fP\&. The input stream state points to the start of a serialized / persistent representation of an instance of this class type\&.

.PP
\fRTRUE\fP or \fRFALSE\fP is returned, depending on if the instantiation and configuration of the new object of this class type went OK or not\&. The import process should be robust and handle corrupted input streams by returning \fRFALSE\fP\&.

.PP
\fIflags\fP is used internally during binary import when reading user extension nodes, group nodes or engines\&. 
.PP
Reimplemented from \fBSoNode\fP\&.

.SH "Author"
.PP 
Generated automatically by Doxygen for Coin from the source code\&.