SoNormal(3IV)

NAME
     SoNormal - node that defines surface normals for shapes

INHERITS FROM
     SoBase > SoFieldContainer > SoNode > SoNormal

SYNOPSIS
     #include <Inventor/nodes/SoNormal.h>

          Fields from class SoNormal:

     SoMFVec3f           vector

          Methods from class SoNormal:

                         SoNormal()
     static SoType       getClassTypeId()

          Methods from class SoNode:

     void                setOverride(SbBool state)
     SbBool              isOverride() const
     SoNode *            copy(SbBool copyConnections = FALSE) const
     virtual SbBool      affectsState() const
     static SoNode *     getByName(const SbName &name)
     static int          getByName(const SbName &name, SoNodeList &list)

          Methods from class SoFieldContainer:

     void                setToDefaults()
     SbBool              hasDefaultValues() const
     SbBool              fieldsAreEqual(const SoFieldContainer *fc) const
     void                copyFieldValues(const SoFieldContainer *fc, SbBool
                              copyConnections = FALSE)
     SbBool              set(const char *fieldDataString)
     void                get(SbString &fieldDataString)
     virtual int         getFields(SoFieldList &resultList) const
     virtual SoField *   getField(const SbName &fieldName) const
     SbBool              getFieldName(const SoField *field, SbName &fieldName)
                              const
     SbBool              isNotifyEnabled() const
     SbBool              enableNotify(SbBool flag)

          Methods from class SoBase:

     void                ref()
     void                unref() const
     void                unrefNoDelete() const
     void                touch()
     virtual SoType      getTypeId() const
     SbBool              isOfType(SoType type) const
     virtual void        setName(const SbName &name)
     virtual SbName      getName() const


DESCRIPTION
     This node defines a set of 3D surface normal vectors to be used by
     vertex-based shape nodes that follow it in the scene graph. This node
     does not produce a visible result during rendering; it simply replaces
     the current normals in the rendering state for subsequent nodes to use.
     This node contains one multiple-valued field that contains the normal
     vectors.

     Surface normals are needed to compute lighting when the Phong lighting
     model is used. Most vertex-based shapes that use normals can compute
     default normals if none are specified, depending on the current normal
     binding.

FIELDS
     SoMFVec3f           vector
          Surface normal vectors.


METHODS
                         SoNormal()
          Creates a surface normal node with default settings.

     static SoType       getClassTypeId()
          Returns type identifier for this class.


ACTION BEHAVIOR
     SoGLRenderAction, SoCallbackAction, SoRayPickAction
          Sets the current normals in the traversal state.


FILE FORMAT/DEFAULTS
     Normal {
          vector  [  ]
     }

SEE ALSO
     SoCoordinate3, SoLightModel, SoNormalBinding, SoVertexShape