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

# SoSearchAction(3iv)

searches for nodes in a scene graph

## NAME

SoSearchAction — searches for nodes in a scene graph

## INHERITS FROM

SoAction \> SoSearchAction

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<Inventor/actions/SoSearchAction.h\>**

**enum LookFor {** **SoSearchAction::NODE**	Search for a particular node (by pointer)\
 **SoSearchAction::TYPE**	Search for a particular type of node\
 **SoSearchAction::NAME**	Search for a node with a particular name\
 **}**

**enum Interest {** **SoSearchAction::FIRST**	Return only the first path found\
 **SoSearchAction::LAST**	Return only the last path found\
 **SoSearchAction::ALL**	Return all paths found\
 **}**

Methods from class SoSearchAction:

	**SoSearchAction()**\
 **void**	**setNode(SoNode \*n)**\
 **SoNode \***	**getNode() const**\
 **void**	**setType(SoType t, SbBool derivedIsOk = TRUE)**\
 **SoType**	**getType(SbBool &derivedIsOk) const**\
 **void**	**setName(const SbName &n)**\
 **const SbName &**	**getName() const**\
 **void**	**setFind(int what)**\
 **int**	**getFind()**\
 **void**	**setInterest(Interest interest)**\
 **Interest**	**getInterest() const**\
 **void**	**setSearchingAll(SbBool flag)**\
 **SbBool**	**isSearchingAll() const**\
 **SoPath \***	**getPath() const**\
 **SoPathList &**	**getPaths()**\
 **void**	**reset()**

Methods from class SoAction:

**virtual void**	**apply(SoNode \*node)**\
 **virtual void**	**apply(SoPath \*path)**\
 **virtual void**	**apply(const SoPathList &pathList, SbBool obeysRules = FALSE)**\
 **static SoType**	**getClassTypeId()**\
 **virtual SoType**	**getTypeId()**\
 **virtual SbBool**	**isOfType(SoType type)**\
 **virtual void**	**invalidateState()**

## DESCRIPTION

**This class is used to search scene graphs for specific nodes, nodes of a specific type, nodes with a specific name, or any combination of these. It can search for just the first or last node satisfying** **the criteria or for all such nodes. The actions return paths to each node found.**

**Note that by default nodekits do not search their children when a search action is applied. The man page for SoBaseKit** discusses the methods **SoBaseKit::isSearchingChildren()** and **SoBaseKit::setSearchingChildren()**, which allow you to query and control this behavior.

## METHODS

	**SoSearchAction()**\
 Constructor.

**void**	**setNode(SoNode \*n)**\
 **SoNode \***	**getNode() const**\
 Sets/returns the node to search for.

**void**	**setType(SoType t, SbBool derivedIsOk = TRUE)**\
 **SoType**	**getType(SbBool &derivedIsOk) const**\
 Sets/returns the node type to search for. If **derivedIsOk** is TRUE, a node that is of a type that is derived from **t** will pass this search criterion.

**void**	**setName(const SbName &n)**\
 **const SbName &**	**getName() const**\
 Sets/returns the name of the node to search for.

**void**	**setFind(int what)**\
 **int**	**getFind()**\
 Sets/returns what to look for; **what** is a bitmask of **LookFor** enum values. Default is no flags at all. Note that setting a node, type, and/or name to search for activates the relevant flag, so you may never need to call this method directly.

**void**	**setInterest(Interest interest)**\
 **Interest**	**getInterest() const**\
 Sets/returns which paths to return. Default is FIRST.

**void**	**setSearchingAll(SbBool flag)**\
 **SbBool**	**isSearchingAll() const**\
 Sets/returns whether searching uses regular traversal or whether it traverses every single node. For example, if this flag is FALSE, an **SoSwitch** node will traverse only the child or children it would normally traverse for an action. If the flag is TRUE, the switch would always traverse all of its children. The default is FALSE.

**SoPath \***	**getPath() const**\
 Returns resulting path, or NULL if no path was found. This should be used if the interest is FIRST or LAST.

**SoPathList &**	**getPaths()**\
 Returns resulting path list. This should be used if the interest is ALL.

**void**	**reset()**\
 Resets options back to default values; clears list of returned paths. This can be used to apply the action again with a different set of search criteria.

## SEE ALSO

**SoPath, SoBaseKit**