SoVRMLTouchSensor(3)

📦
version 4.0.10 · 4 versions
, in fedora 43, fedora 44

👑 NAME 👑

SoVRMLTouchSensor — bestie, this is the class that tracks the pointer position and sends events based on user interaction. That's the whole vibe. It lives in the Coin manual as SoVRMLTouchSensor(3), and it is, lowkey, the touchy-feely one of the VRML node family. ✨

🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

#include <Inventor/VRMLnodes/SoVRMLTouchSensor.h>

Inherits SoNode. Yes, it's a node. A whole node. Iconic.

💅 Public Member Functions

  • virtual SoType getTypeId (void) const
  • SoVRMLTouchSensor (void)
  • virtual SbBool affectsState (void) const
  • virtual void handleEvent (SoHandleEventAction *action)

🌸 Public Member Functions inherited from SoNode

  • void setOverride (const SbBool state)
  • SbBool isOverride (void) const
  • void setNodeType (const NodeType type)
  • NodeType getNodeType (void) const
  • virtual SoNode * copy (SbBool copyconnections=FALSE) const
  • virtual void doAction (SoAction *action)
  • virtual void GLRender (SoGLRenderAction *action)
  • virtual void GLRenderBelowPath (SoGLRenderAction *action)
  • virtual void GLRenderInPath (SoGLRenderAction *action)
  • virtual void GLRenderOffPath (SoGLRenderAction *action)
  • virtual void callback (SoCallbackAction *action)
  • virtual void getBoundingBox (SoGetBoundingBoxAction *action)
  • virtual void getMatrix (SoGetMatrixAction *action)
  • virtual void pick (SoPickAction *action)
  • virtual void rayPick (SoRayPickAction *action)
  • virtual void search (SoSearchAction *action)
  • virtual void write (SoWriteAction *action)
  • virtual void audioRender (SoAudioRenderAction *action)
  • virtual void getPrimitiveCount (SoGetPrimitiveCountAction *action)
  • virtual void grabEventsSetup (void)
  • virtual void grabEventsCleanup (void)
  • virtual void startNotify (void)
  • SbUniqueId getNodeId (void) const
  • virtual SoChildList * getChildren (void) const
  • virtual void writeInstance (SoOutput *out)
  • virtual SoNode * addToCopyDict (void) const
  • virtual void copyContents (const SoFieldContainer *from, SbBool copyconnections)
  • virtual SoFieldContainer * copyThroughConnection (void) const

🎀 Public Member Functions inherited from SoFieldContainer

  • void setToDefaults (void)
  • SbBool hasDefaultValues (void) const
  • SbBool fieldsAreEqual (const SoFieldContainer *container) const
  • void copyFieldValues (const SoFieldContainer *container, SbBool copyconnections=FALSE)
  • SbBool set (const char *const fielddata)
  • void get (SbString &fielddata)
  • virtual int getFields (SoFieldList &l) const
  • virtual int getAllFields (SoFieldList &l) const
  • virtual SoField * getField (const SbName &name) const
  • virtual SoField * getEventIn (const SbName &name) const
  • virtual SoField * getEventOut (const SbName &name) const
  • SbBool getFieldName (const SoField *const field, SbName &name) const
  • SbBool enableNotify (const SbBool flag)
  • SbBool isNotifyEnabled (void) const
  • SbBool set (const char *fielddata, SoInput *input)
  • void get (SbString &fielddata, SoOutput *out)
  • virtual SbBool validateNewFieldValue (SoField *field, void *newval)
  • virtual void addWriteReference (SoOutput *out, SbBool isfromfield=FALSE)
  • SbBool getIsBuiltIn (void) const
  • virtual void getFieldsMemorySize (size_t &managed, size_t &unmanaged) const
  • void setUserData (void *userdata) const
  • void * getUserData (void) const

💜 Public Member Functions inherited from SoBase

  • void ref (void) const
  • void unref (void) const
  • void unrefNoDelete (void) const
  • int32_t getRefCount (void) const
  • void touch (void)
  • SbBool isOfType (SoType type) const — hands you back TRUE if the type of this object is either of the same type or inherited from type. so like, a vibe check on the class hierarchy 🫶
  • virtual SbName getName (void) const
  • virtual void setName (const SbName &newname)
  • void addAuditor (void *const auditor, const SoNotRec::Type type)
  • void removeAuditor (void *const auditor, const SoNotRec::Type type)
  • const SoAuditorList & getAuditors (void) const
  • SbBool shouldWrite (void)
  • void assertAlive (void) const

🌈 Static Public Member Functions

  • static SoType getClassTypeId (void)
  • static void initClass (void)

⭐ Static Public Member Functions inherited from SoNode

  • static uint32_t getCompatibilityTypes (const SoType &nodetype)
  • static SoType getClassTypeId (void)
  • static SoNode * getByName (const SbName &name)
  • static int getByName (const SbName &name, SoNodeList &l)
  • static void initClass (void) — sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system. it's the lil setup ritual ✨
  • static void initClasses (void)
  • static SbUniqueId getNextNodeId (void)
  • static int getActionMethodIndex (const SoType type)
  • static void getBoundingBoxS (SoAction *action, SoNode *node)
  • static void GLRenderS (SoAction *action, SoNode *node)
  • static void callbackS (SoAction *action, SoNode *node)
  • static void getMatrixS (SoAction *action, SoNode *node)
  • static void handleEventS (SoAction *action, SoNode *node)
  • static void pickS (SoAction *action, SoNode *node)
  • static void rayPickS (SoAction *action, SoNode *node)
  • static void searchS (SoAction *action, SoNode *node)
  • static void writeS (SoAction *action, SoNode *node)
  • static void audioRenderS (SoAction *action, SoNode *node)
  • static void getPrimitiveCountS (SoAction *action, SoNode *node)

🍓 Static Public Member Functions inherited from SoFieldContainer

  • static void initClass (void) — sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system.
  • static SoType getClassTypeId (void) — this static method returns the SoType object associated with objects of this class. it's the class's little ID card 💳
  • static void cleanupClass (void)
  • static void initCopyDict (void)
  • static void addCopy (const SoFieldContainer *orig, const SoFieldContainer *copy)
  • static SoFieldContainer * checkCopy (const SoFieldContainer *orig)
  • static SoFieldContainer * findCopy (const SoFieldContainer *orig, const SbBool copyconnections)
  • static void copyDone (void)

🧚 Static Public Member Functions inherited from SoBase

  • static void initClass (void) — sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system.
  • static SoType getClassTypeId (void) — this static method returns the SoType object associated with objects of this class.
  • static void addName (SoBase *const base, const char *const name)
  • static void removeName (SoBase *const base, const char *const name)
  • static void incrementCurrentWriteCounter (void)
  • static void decrementCurrentWriteCounter (void)
  • static SoBase * getNamedBase (const SbName &name, SoType type)
  • static int getNamedBases (const SbName &name, SoBaseList &baselist, SoType type)
  • static SbBool read (SoInput *input, SoBase *&base, SoType expectedtype)
  • static void setInstancePrefix (const SbString &c)
  • static void setTraceRefs (SbBool trace)
  • static SbBool getTraceRefs (void)
  • static SbBool connectRoute (SoInput *input, const SbName &fromnodename, const SbName &fromfieldname, const SbName &tonodename, const SbName &tofieldname)
  • static SbBool readRoute (SoInput *input)

👑 Public Attributes

  • SoSFBool enabled
  • SoSFVec3f hitNormal_changed
  • SoSFVec3f hitPoint_changed
  • SoSFVec2f hitTexCoord_changed
  • SoSFBool isActive
  • SoSFBool isOver
  • SoSFTime touchTime

🙈 Protected Member Functions

  • virtual const SoFieldData * getFieldData (void) const
  • virtual ~SoVRMLTouchSensor ()
  • virtual void notify (SoNotList *list)

🌸 Protected Member Functions inherited from SoNode

  • SoNode (void)
  • virtual ~SoNode ()
  • virtual SbBool readInstance (SoInput *in, unsigned short flags)

🎀 Protected Member Functions inherited from SoFieldContainer

  • SoFieldContainer (void)
  • virtual ~SoFieldContainer ()

💜 Protected Member Functions inherited from SoBase

  • SoBase (void)
  • virtual ~SoBase ()
  • virtual void destroy (void)
  • SbBool hasMultipleWriteRefs (void) const
  • SbBool writeHeader (SoOutput *out, SbBool isgroup, SbBool isengine) const
  • void writeFooter (SoOutput *out) const
  • virtual const char * getFileFormatName (void) const
  • virtual SoNotRec createNotRec (void)

⭐ Static Protected Member Functions

  • static const SoFieldData ** getFieldDataPtr (void)

🌈 Static Protected Member Functions inherited from SoNode

  • static const SoFieldData ** getFieldDataPtr (void)
  • static void setNextActionMethodIndex (int index)
  • static int getNextActionMethodIndex (void)
  • static void incNextActionMethodIndex (void)
  • static void setCompatibilityTypes (const SoType &nodetype, const uint32_t bitmask)

🦋 Static Protected Member Functions inherited from SoBase

  • static uint32_t getCurrentWriteCounter (void)
  • static void staticDataLock (void)
  • static void staticDataUnlock (void)

✨ Additional Inherited Members

💅 Public Types inherited from SoNode

enum NodeType { INVENTOR = 0x0000, VRML1 = 0x0001, VRML2 = 0x0002,
    INVENTOR_1 = 0x0004, INVENTOR_2_0 = 0x0008, INVENTOR_2_1 = 0x0010,
    INVENTOR_2_5 = 0x0020, INVENTOR_2_6 = 0x0040, COIN_1_0 = 0x0080,
    COIN_2_0 = 0x0100, EXTENSION = 0x0200, COIN_2_2 = 0x0400, COIN_2_3 =
    0x0800, COIN_2_4 = 0x1000, INVENTOR_5_0 = 0x2000, COIN_2_5 = 0x4000,
    COIN_3_0 = 0x8000, INVENTOR_6_0 = 0x10000, COIN_4_0 = 0x20000 }

🎀 Protected Types inherited from SoBase

enum BaseFlags { IS_ENGINE = 0x01, IS_GROUP = 0x02 }

🧚 Protected Attributes inherited from SoNode

  • SbUniqueId uniqueId

🍓 Protected Attributes inherited from SoFieldContainer

  • SbBool isBuiltIn

💖 Static Protected Attributes inherited from SoNode

  • static SbUniqueId nextUniqueId = 1
  • static int nextActionMethodIndex = 0

okay bestie that's the whole skeleton, every last inherited lil function accounted for, no cap 💅 the actual spicy description and options are still coming, so stay tuned ✨

📖 Detailed Description ✨

okay so bestie, here's the whole vibe of this class: the SoVRMLTouchSensor class tracks to pointer position and sends events based on user interaction. that's literally the whole job description 💅

and ngl, the detailed class documentation is taken verbatim from the VRML97 standard (ISO/IEC 14772-1:1997). It is copyright The Web3D Consortium, and is used by permission of the Consortium. so credit where credit is due, periodt 🫶

TouchSensor {
  exposedField SFBool  enabled TRUE
  eventOut     SFVec3f hitNormal_changed
  eventOut     SFVec3f hitPoint_changed
  eventOut     SFVec2f hitTexCoord_changed
  eventOut     SFBool  isActive
  eventOut     SFBool  isOver
  eventOut     SFTime  touchTime
}

A TouchSensor node tracks the location and state of the pointing device and detects when the user points at geometry contained by the TouchSensor node's parent group. A TouchSensor node can be enabled or disabled by sending it an enabled event with a value of TRUE or FALSE. And if the TouchSensor node is disabled? it does not track user input or send events. simple as that 💀

The TouchSensor generates events when the pointing device points toward any geometry nodes that are descendants of the TouchSensor's parent group. See 4.6.7.5, Activating and manipulating sensors (http://www.web3d.org/documents/specifications/14772/V2.0/part1/concepts.html#4.6.7.5), for more details on using the pointing device to activate the TouchSensor. iykyk 📎

The isOver eventOut reflects the state of the pointing device with regard to whether it is pointing towards the TouchSensor node's geometry or not. When the pointing device changes state from a position such that its bearing does not intersect any of the TouchSensor node's geometry to one in which it does intersect geometry, an isOver TRUE event is generated. When the pointing device moves from a position such that its bearing intersects geometry to one in which it no longer intersects the geometry, or some other geometry is obstructing the TouchSensor node's geometry, an isOver FALSE event is generated. ✨

lowkey important: these events are generated only when the pointing device has moved and changed 'over' state. Events are not generated if the geometry itself is animating and moving underneath the pointing device. so don't come for the sensor when nothing fires, bestie 😭

As the user moves the bearing over the TouchSensor node's geometry, the point of intersection (if any) between the bearing and the geometry is determined. Each movement of the pointing device, while isOver is TRUE, generates hitPoint_changed, hitNormal_changed and hitTexCoord_changed events. hitPoint_changed events contain the 3D point on the surface of the underlying geometry, given in the TouchSensor node's coordinate system. hitNormal_changed events contain the surface normal vector at the hitPoint. hitTexCoord_changed events contain the texture coordinates of that surface at the hitPoint. The values of hitTexCoord_changed and hitNormal_changed events are computed as appropriate for the associated shape. the way that it just... knows the right shape 😌

If isOver is TRUE, the user may activate the pointing device to cause the TouchSensor node to generate isActive events (e.g., by pressing the primary mouse button). When the TouchSensor node generates an isActive TRUE event, it grabs all further motion events from the pointing device until it is released and generates an isActive FALSE event (other pointing-device sensors will not generate events during this time 👀). Motion of the pointing device while isActive is TRUE is termed a "drag." 🖱️

If a 2D pointing device is in use, isActive events reflect the state of the primary button associated with the device (i.e., isActive is TRUE when the primary button is pressed and FALSE when it is released). If a 3D pointing device is in use, isActive events will typically reflect whether the pointing device is within (or in contact with) the TouchSensor node's geometry.

The eventOut field touchTime is generated when all three of the following conditions are true:

  • The pointing device was pointing towards the geometry when it was initially activated (isActive is TRUE).
  • The pointing device is currently pointing towards the geometry (isOver is TRUE).
  • The pointing device is deactivated (isActive FALSE event is also generated).

More information about this behaviour is described in 4.6.7.3, Pointing-device sensors (http://www.web3d.org/documents/specifications/14772/V2.0/part1/concepts.html#4.6.7.3), 4.6.7.4, Drag sensors (http://www.web3d.org/documents/specifications/14772/V2.0/part1/concepts.html#4.6.7.4), and 4.6.7.5, Activating and manipulating sensors (http://www.web3d.org/documents/specifications/14772/V2.0/part1/concepts.html#4.6.7.5). go read them, i'll wait 🧚

The rest of this class documentation is not from the VRML97 standards documentation, but was written specifically for the Coin3D API documentation. (so this next bit is Coin's own, no cap 💜)

Here is a small example which demonstrates use of the SoVRMLTouchSensor. Click on the SoVRMLSphere to turn the SoVRMLPointLight on:

#VRML V2.0 utf8

Group {
   children [
      Transform {
         children [
            DEF light PointLight {
               intensity 1
               on FALSE
            }

            Transform {
               translation -2 0 -2
               children [
                  Shape {
                     appearance Appearance {
                        material Material {
                           diffuseColor 1 0 1
                           specularColor 1 1 1
                           shininess 0.9
                        }
                     }
                     geometry Sphere { }
                  }
                  DEF touchsensor TouchSensor { }
               ]
            }
         ]
      }
   ]
   ROUTE touchsensor.isActive TO light.set_on
}

🛠️ Constructor & Destructor Documentation 🌸

SoVRMLTouchSensor::SoVRMLTouchSensor (void )

Constructor. it makes the thing 💖

SoVRMLTouchSensor::~SoVRMLTouchSensor () [protected], [virtual]

Destructor. it un-makes the thing 🫧

🔍 Member Function Documentation ✨

SoType SoVRMLTouchSensor::getClassTypeId (void ) [static]

This static method returns the SoType object associated with objects of this class. 🎀

SoType SoVRMLTouchSensor::getTypeId (void ) const [virtual]

Returns the type identification of an object derived from a class inheriting SoBase. This is used for runtime type checking and "downward" casting. fr fr it's the "who are you really" check 🕵️

Implements SoBase.

const SoFieldData ** SoVRMLTouchSensor::getFieldDataPtr (void ) [static], [protected]

This API member is considered internal to the library, as it is not likely to be of interest to the application programmer. 🙈 (not for you, bestie)

Returns the SoFieldData class which holds information about fields in this node.

const SoFieldData * SoVRMLTouchSensor::getFieldData (void ) const [protected], [virtual]

Returns a pointer to the class-wide field data storage object for this instance. If no fields are present, returns NULL. literally just NULL, iconic 💀

Reimplemented from SoFieldContainer.

void SoVRMLTouchSensor::initClass (void ) [static]

(no description given, it's just out here doing its thing ⭐)

SbBool SoVRMLTouchSensor::affectsState (void ) const [virtual]

Returns TRUE if the node could have any effect on the state during traversal. 👑

If it returns FALSE, no data in the traversal state will change from the pre-traversal state to the post-traversal state. The SoSeparator node will for instance return FALSE, as it pushes and pops the state before and after traversal of its children. All SoShape nodes will also return FALSE, as just pushing out geometry data to the rendering engine won't affect the actual rendering state.

The default method returns TRUE, on a "better safe than sorry" philosophy. and honestly? valid. 🫶

Reimplemented from SoNode.

void SoVRMLTouchSensor::handleEvent (SoHandleEventAction * action) [virtual]

Action method for SoHandleEventAction.

Inspects the event data from action, and processes it if it is something which this node should react to.

Nodes influencing relevant state variables for how event handling is done also override this method.

Reimplemented from SoNode.

void SoVRMLTouchSensor::notify (SoNotList * l) [protected], [virtual]

Notifies all auditors for this instance when changes are made. 📣 gossip girl behaviour, but for auditors.

Reimplemented from SoNode.

💾 Member Data Documentation 🦋

SoSFBool SoVRMLTouchSensor::enabled

TRUE is enabled. Default value is TRUE. ✅

SoSFVec3f SoVRMLTouchSensor::hitNormal_changed

An eventOut that is sent when the pointer is over some child geometry. Contains the object space normal. 📐

SoSFVec3f SoVRMLTouchSensor::hitPoint_changed

An eventOut that is sent when the pointer is over some child geometry. Contains the object space point. 📍

SoSFVec2f SoVRMLTouchSensor::hitTexCoord_changed

An eventOut that is sent when the pointer is over some child geometry. Contains the object space texture coordinates. 🎨

SoSFBool SoVRMLTouchSensor::isActive

An event out that is sent when the active state changes. The sensor goes active when the user clicks on some child, and is inactive again when the mouse button is release. 🖱️

SoSFBool SoVRMLTouchSensor::isOver

An event out that is sent when the pointer is moved onto or away from a child object. 👀

SoSFTime SoVRMLTouchSensor::touchTime

An event out that is generated when the sensor is active and is currently pointing on some child geometry. ⏱️

👑 Author

Generated automatically by Doxygen for Coin from the source code. (not a human, just vibes 🤖✨)

and that's the whole page bestie, we ate and left no crumbs 💅 this was Coin, version 4.0.10, dated Thu Jun 25 2026 00:00:00 — catch you in the man page SoVRMLTouchSensor(3), mwah 🫶🎀

📦 where this page comes from