--- name: "SoDirectionalLight" section: "3" platform: "linux" package: "coin" version: "1:4.0.10-1" release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/SoDirectionalLight" --- # SoDirectionalLight(3) The SoDirectionalLight class is a node type for specifying directional light sources. ## NAME SoDirectionalLight - The **SoDirectionalLight** class is a node type for specifying directional light sources. ## SYNOPSIS \#include \ Inherits **SoLight**. Inherited by **SoDirectionalLightManip**, and **SoShadowDirectionalLight**. ### Public Member Functions virtual **SoType** **getTypeId** (void) const\ **SoDirectionalLight** (void)\ virtual void **GLRender** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\ Public Member Functions inherited from **SoLight** virtual void **callback** (**SoCallbackAction** \*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 SbBool **affectsState** (void) const\ virtual void **doAction** (**SoAction** \*action)\ virtual void **GLRenderBelowPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\ virtual void **GLRenderInPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\ virtual void **GLRenderOffPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\ virtual void **getBoundingBox** (**SoGetBoundingBoxAction** \*action)\ virtual void **getMatrix** (**SoGetMatrixAction** \*action)\ virtual void **handleEvent** (**SoHandleEventAction** \*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)\ virtual void **notify** (**SoNotList** \*l)\ 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\ Returns TRUE if the type of this object is either of the same type or inherited from *type*. 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)\ Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system. Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoLight** static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\ 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 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. 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. 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 **SoSFVec3f** **direction**\ Public Attributes inherited from **SoLight** **SoSFBool** **on**\ **SoSFFloat** **intensity**\ **SoSFColor** **color**\ ### Protected Member Functions virtual const **SoFieldData** \* **getFieldData** (void) const\ virtual **~SoDirectionalLight** ()\ Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoLight** **SoLight** (void)\ virtual **~SoLight** ()\ 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 **SoLight** 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\ ## Detailed Description The **SoDirectionalLight** class is a node type for specifying directional light sources. A directional light source provides a model of light sources which are at infinite distance from the geometry it illuminates, thereby having no set position and consisting of an infinite volume of parallel rays. This is of course a simplified model of far-away light sources, as "infinite distance" is impossible. The sun shining on objects on earth is a good example of something which can be modeled rather well for the most common purposes with a directional light source. See also documentation of parent class for important information regarding light sources in general. **FILE FORMAT/DEFAULTS:** ``` DirectionalLight { on TRUE intensity 1 color 1 1 1 direction 0 0 -1 } ``` A common thing to do with an **SoDirectionalLight** is to connect it to a camera, so it works in the style of a head light to that camera. This can easily be accomplished by linking an **SoRotation::rotation** field, influencing the light, to the **SoCamera::orientation** field. Here is a complete example iv-file demonstrating the technique: ``` #Inventor V2.1 ascii DEF mycam PerspectiveCamera { } TransformSeparator { SoRotation { rotation = USE mycam.orientation } DirectionalLight { direction 0 0 -1 } } Cube { } ``` (The **SoTransformSeparator** is included to keep the effect of the **SoRotation** node within a scope where it will only influence the light, and not the geometry following the light in the scene graph.) ## Constructor & Destructor Documentation ### SoDirectionalLight::SoDirectionalLight (void ) Constructor. ### SoDirectionalLight::~SoDirectionalLight () \[protected\], \[virtual\] Destructor. ## Member Function Documentation ### SoType SoDirectionalLight::getClassTypeId (void ) \[static\] This static method returns the **SoType** object associated with objects of this class. ### SoType SoDirectionalLight::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. Reimplemented from **SoLight**. Reimplemented in **SoDirectionalLightManip**, and **SoShadowDirectionalLight**. ### const SoFieldData \*\* SoDirectionalLight::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.*\ Returns the **SoFieldData** class which holds information about fields in this node. ### const SoFieldData \* SoDirectionalLight::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. Reimplemented from **SoLight**. Reimplemented in **SoDirectionalLightManip**, and **SoShadowDirectionalLight**. ### void SoDirectionalLight::GLRender (SoGLRenderAction \* action) \[virtual\] Action method for the **SoGLRenderAction**. 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. Reimplemented from **SoNode**. Reimplemented in **SoDirectionalLightManip**, and **SoShadowDirectionalLight**. ## Member Data Documentation ### SoSFVec3f SoDirectionalLight::direction The direction of the light source. Defaults to pointing along the negative Z-axis. ## Author Generated automatically by Doxygen for Coin from the source code.