---
name: "SoFaceSet"
section: "3iv"
platform: "linux"
package: "inventor-doc"
version: "2.1.6+ds-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/SoFaceSet/3iv"
---

# SoFaceSet(3iv)

polygonal face shape node

## NAME

SoFaceSet — polygonal face shape node

## INHERITS FROM

SoBase \> SoFieldContainer \> SoNode \> SoShape \> SoVertexShape \> SoNonIndexedShape \> SoFaceSet

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<Inventor/nodes/SoFaceSet.h\>**

Fields from class SoFaceSet:

**SoMFInt32**	**numVertices**

Fields from class SoNonIndexedShape:

**SoSFInt32**	**startIndex**

Fields from class SoVertexShape:

**SoSFNode**	**vertexProperty**

Methods from class SoFaceSet:

	**SoFaceSet()**\
 **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 represents a 3D shape formed by constructing faces (polygons) from vertices located at the coordinates specified in the vertexProperty** field (from **SoVertexShape**), or the current inherited state. For optimal performance, the **vertexProperty** field is recommended.

**SoFaceSet** uses the coordinates in order, starting with the first one. Each face has a number of vertices specified by a value in the **numVertices** field. For example, an **SoFaceSet** with **numVertices** of \[3,4,4\] would use coordinates 1, 2, and 3 for the first face, coordinates 4, 5, 6, and 7 for the second face, and coordinates 8, 9, 10, and 11 for the third. For improved performance, arrange all the faces with only 3 vertices at beginning of the list, then all faces with 4 vertices, and finally all other faces.

The number of values in the **numVertices** field indicates the number of faces in the set.

The coordinates of the face set are transformed by the current cumulative transformation. The faces are drawn with the current light model and drawing style.

Treatment of the current material and normal binding is as follows: The **PER\_PART** and **PER\_FACE** bindings specify a material or normal for each face. The **\_INDEXED** bindings are equivalent to their non-indexed counterparts. The default material binding is **OVERALL**. The default normal binding is **PER\_VERTEX**.

If any normals (or materials) are specified, Inventor assumes you provide the correct number of them, as indicated by the binding. You will see unexpected results if you specify fewer normals (or materials) than the shape requires. If no normals are specified, they will be generated automatically.

## FIELDS

**SoMFInt32**	**numVertices**\
 Number of vertices per face.

## METHODS

	**SoFaceSet()**\
 Creates a face set node with default settings.

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

## ACTION BEHAVIOR

**SoGLRenderAction**\
 Draws faces based on the current coordinates, normals, materials, drawing style, and so on.

**SoRayPickAction**\
 Picks faces based on the current coordinates and transformation. Details about the intersection are returned in an **SoFaceDetail**.

**SoGetBoundingBoxAction**\
 Computes the bounding box that encloses all vertices of the face set with the current transformation applied to them. Sets the center to the average of the coordinates of all vertices.

**SoCallbackAction**\
 If any triangle callbacks are registered with the action, they will be invoked for each successive triangle generated from each face in the set.

## FILE FORMAT/DEFAULTS

```
FaceSet {
vertexProperty	NULL
startIndex	0
numVertices	-1
}
```

## SEE ALSO

**SoCoordinate3, SoDrawStyle, SoIndexedFaceSet, SoFaceDetail, SoVertexProperty**