glBegin(3G)

glBegin, glEnd - delimit the vertices of a primitive or a group of like primitives

As shipped in IRIX 6.5.30. Last changed in IRIX 6.5.15.

NAME
     glBegin, glEnd - delimit the vertices of a primitive or a group of like
     primitives


C SPECIFICATION
     void glBegin( GLenum mode )


PARAMETERS
     mode  Specifies the primitive or primitives that will be created from
           vertices presented between glBegin and the subsequent glEnd.  Ten
           symbolic constants are accepted:  GL_POINTS, GL_LINES,
           GL_LINE_STRIP, GL_LINE_LOOP, GL_TRIANGLES, GL_TRIANGLE_STRIP,
           GL_TRIANGLE_FAN, GL_QUADS, GL_QUAD_STRIP, and GL_POLYGON.

C SPECIFICATION
     void glEnd( void )


DESCRIPTION
     glBegin and glEnd delimit the vertices that define a primitive or a group
     of like primitives.  glBegin accepts a single argument that specifies in
     which of ten ways the vertices are interpreted.  Taking n as an integer
     count starting at one, and N as the total number of vertices specified,
     the interpretations are as follows:

     GL_POINTS              Treats each vertex as a single point.  Vertex n
                            defines point n.  N points are drawn.

     GL_LINES               Treats each pair of vertices as an independent
                            line segment.  Vertices 2n-1 and 2n define line n.
                            N/2 lines are drawn.

     GL_LINE_STRIP          Draws a connected group of line segments from the
                            first vertex to the last.  Vertices n and n + 1
                            define line n.  N-1 lines are drawn.

     GL_LINE_LOOP           Draws a connected group of line segments from the
                            first vertex to the last, then back to the first.
                            Vertices n and n + 1 define line n.  The last
                            line, however, is defined by vertices N and 1.  N
                            lines are drawn.

     GL_TRIANGLES           Treats each triplet of vertices as an independent
                            triangle.  Vertices 3n-2, 3n-1, and 3n define
                            triangle n.  N/3 triangles are drawn.

     GL_TRIANGLE_STRIP      Draws a connected group of triangles.  One
                            triangle is defined for each vertex presented
                            after the first two vertices.  For odd n, vertices
                            n, n + 1, and n + 2 define triangle n.  For even
                            n, vertices n + 1, n, and n + 2 define triangle n.
                            N-2 triangles are drawn.

     GL_TRIANGLE_FAN        Draws a connected group of triangles.  One
                            triangle is defined for each vertex presented
                            after the first two vertices.  Vertices 1, n + 1,
                            and n + 2 define triangle n.  N-2 triangles are
                            drawn.

     GL_QUADS               Treats each group of four vertices as an
                            independent quadrilateral.  Vertices 4n-3, 4n-2,
                            4n-1, and 4n define quadrilateral n.  N/4
                            quadrilaterals are drawn.

     GL_QUAD_STRIP          Draws a connected group of quadrilaterals.  One
                            quadrilateral is defined for each pair of vertices
                            presented after the first pair.  Vertices 2n-1,
                            2n, 2n + 2, and 2n + 1 define quadrilateral n.
                            N/2-1 quadrilaterals are drawn.  Note that the
                            order in which vertices are used to construct a
                            quadrilateral from strip data is different from
                            that used with independent data.

     GL_POLYGON             Draws a single, convex polygon.  Vertices 1
                            through N define this polygon.

     Only a subset of GL commands can be used between glBegin and glEnd.  The
     commands are glVertex, glColor, glIndex, glNormal, glTexCoord,
     glEvalCoord, glEvalPoint, glArrayElement, glMaterial, and glEdgeFlag.
     Also, it is acceptable to use glCallList or glCallLists to execute
     display lists that include only the preceding commands.  If any other GL
     command is executed between glBegin and glEnd, the error flag is set and
     the command is ignored.

     Regardless of the value chosen for mode, there is no limit to the number
     of vertices that can be defined between glBegin and glEnd.  Lines,
     triangles, quadrilaterals, and polygons that are incompletely specified
     are not drawn.  Incomplete specification results when either too few
     vertices are provided to specify even a single primitive or when an
     incorrect multiple of vertices is specified. The incomplete primitive is
     ignored; the rest are drawn.

     The minimum specification of vertices for each primitive is as follows:
     1 for a point, 2 for a line, 3 for a triangle, 4 for a quadrilateral, and
     3 for a polygon.  Modes that require a certain multiple of vertices are
     GL_LINES (2), GL_TRIANGLES (3), GL_QUADS (4), and GL_QUAD_STRIP (2).

ERRORS
     GL_INVALID_ENUM is generated if mode is set to an unaccepted value.

     GL_INVALID_OPERATION is generated if glBegin is executed between a
     glBegin and the corresponding execution of glEnd.

     GL_INVALID_OPERATION is generated if glEnd is executed without being
     preceded by a glBegin.

     GL_INVALID_OPERATION is generated if a command other than glVertex,
     glColor, glIndex, glNormal, glTexCoord, glEvalCoord, glEvalPoint,
     glArrayElement, glMaterial, glEdgeFlag, glCallList, or glCallLists is
     executed between the execution of glBegin and the corresponding execution
     glEnd.

     Execution of glEnableClientState, glDisableClientState,
     glEdgeFlagPointer, glTexCoordPointer, glColorPointer, glIndexPointer,
     glNormalPointer, glVertexPointer, glInterleavedArrays, or glPixelStore is
     not allowed after a call to glBegin and before the corresponding call to
     glEnd, but an error may or may not be generated.


SEE ALSO
     glArrayElement, glCallList, glCallLists, glColor, glEdgeFlag,
     glEvalCoord, glEvalPoint, glIndex, glMaterial, glNormal, glTexCoord,
     glVertex