---
name: "SoTriangleStripSet"
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/SoTriangleStripSet"
---

# SoTriangleStripSet(3)

The SoTriangleStripSet class is used to render and control non-indexed triangle strips.

## NAME

SoTriangleStripSet - The **SoTriangleStripSet** class is used to render and control non-indexed triangle strips.

## SYNOPSIS

\#include \<Inventor/nodes/SoTriangleStripSet.h\>

Inherits **SoNonIndexedShape**.

### Public Member Functions

virtual **SoType** **getTypeId** (void) const\
 **SoTriangleStripSet** (void)\
 virtual void **GLRender** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **getPrimitiveCount** (**SoGetPrimitiveCountAction** \*action)\
 virtual SbBool **generateDefaultNormals** (**SoState** \*state, **SoNormalBundle** \*nb)\

Public Member Functions inherited from **SoVertexShape** virtual void **notify** (**SoNotList** \*nl)\
 virtual void **write** (**SoWriteAction** \*action)\

Public Member Functions inherited from **SoShape** virtual SbBool **affectsState** (void) const\
 virtual void **getBoundingBox** (**SoGetBoundingBoxAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **rayPick** (**SoRayPickAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **callback** (**SoCallbackAction** \*action)\
 const **SoBoundingBoxCache** \* **getBoundingBoxCache** (void) const\

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 **GLRenderBelowPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **GLRenderInPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **GLRenderOffPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **getMatrix** (**SoGetMatrixAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **handleEvent** (**SoHandleEventAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **pick** (**SoPickAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **search** (**SoSearchAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **audioRender** (**SoAudioRenderAction** \*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\
 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)\

Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoNonIndexedShape** static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\
 static void **initClass** (void)\

Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoVertexShape** static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\
 static void **initClass** (void)\

Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoShape** 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 void **getScreenSize** (**SoState** \*const state, const **SbBox3f** &boundingbox, **SbVec2s** &rectsize)\
 static float **getDecimatedComplexity** (**SoState** \*state, float complexity)\

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

**SoMFInt32** **numVertices**\

Public Attributes inherited from **SoNonIndexedShape** **SoSFInt32** **startIndex**\

Public Attributes inherited from **SoVertexShape** **SoSFNode** **vertexProperty**\

### Protected Member Functions

virtual const **SoFieldData** \* **getFieldData** (void) const\
 virtual **~SoTriangleStripSet** ()\
 virtual void **generatePrimitives** (**SoAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **computeBBox** (**SoAction** \*action, **SbBox3f** &box, **SbVec3f** &center)\
 virtual SbBool **generateDefaultNormals** (**SoState** \*, **SoNormalCache** \*)\

Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoNonIndexedShape** **SoNonIndexedShape** (void)\
 virtual **~SoNonIndexedShape** ()\
 void **computeCoordBBox** (**SoAction** \*action, int numVertices, **SbBox3f** &box, **SbVec3f** &center)\
 void **fixNumVerticesPointers** (**SoState** \*state, const int32\_t \*&start, const int32\_t \*&end, int32\_t \*dummyarray) const\

Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoVertexShape** **SoVertexShape** (void)\
 virtual **~SoVertexShape** ()\
 virtual SbBool **shouldGLRender** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 void **setNormalCache** (**SoState** \*const state, const int num, const **SbVec3f** \*normals)\
 **SoNormalCache** \* **getNormalCache** (void) const\
 **SoNormalCache** \* **generateAndReadLockNormalCache** (**SoState** \*const state)\
 void **getVertexData** (**SoState** \*state, const **SoCoordinateElement** \*&coords, const **SbVec3f** \*&normals, const SbBool neednormals)\
 void **readLockNormalCache** (void)\
 void **readUnlockNormalCache** (void)\

Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoShape** **SoShape** (void)\
 virtual **~SoShape** ()\
 float **getComplexityValue** (**SoAction** \*action)\
 void **beginSolidShape** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 void **endSolidShape** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 void **GLRenderBoundingBox** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 SbBool **shouldPrimitiveCount** (**SoGetPrimitiveCountAction** \*action)\
 SbBool **shouldRayPick** (**SoRayPickAction** \*const action)\
 void **computeObjectSpaceRay** (**SoRayPickAction** \*const action)\
 void **computeObjectSpaceRay** (**SoRayPickAction** \*const action, const **SbMatrix** &matrix)\
 virtual **SoDetail** \* **createTriangleDetail** (**SoRayPickAction** \*action, const **SoPrimitiveVertex** \*v1, const **SoPrimitiveVertex** \*v2, const **SoPrimitiveVertex** \*v3, **SoPickedPoint** \*pp)\
 virtual **SoDetail** \* **createLineSegmentDetail** (**SoRayPickAction** \*action, const **SoPrimitiveVertex** \*v1, const **SoPrimitiveVertex** \*v2, **SoPickedPoint** \*pp)\
 virtual **SoDetail** \* **createPointDetail** (**SoRayPickAction** \*action, const **SoPrimitiveVertex** \*v, **SoPickedPoint** \*pp)\
 void **invokeTriangleCallbacks** (**SoAction** \*const action, const **SoPrimitiveVertex** \*const v1, const **SoPrimitiveVertex** \*const v2, const **SoPrimitiveVertex** \*const v3)\
 void **invokeLineSegmentCallbacks** (**SoAction** \*const action, const **SoPrimitiveVertex** \*const v1, const **SoPrimitiveVertex** \*const v2)\
 void **invokePointCallbacks** (**SoAction** \*const action, const **SoPrimitiveVertex** \*const v)\
 void **beginShape** (**SoAction** \*const action, const **TriangleShape** shapetype, **SoDetail** \*const detail=NULL)\
 void **shapeVertex** (const **SoPrimitiveVertex** \*const v)\
 void **endShape** (void)\
 void **generateVertex** (**SoPrimitiveVertex** \*const pv, const **SbVec3f** &point, const SbBool useTexFunc, const **SoMultiTextureCoordinateElement** \*const tce, const float s, const float t, const **SbVec3f** &normal)\
 void **generateVertex** (**SoPrimitiveVertex** \*const pv, const **SbVec3f** &point, const SbBool useTexFunc, const **SoMultiTextureCoordinateElement** \*const tce, const float s, const float t, const float r, const **SbVec3f** &normal)\
 SbBool **startVertexArray** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action, const **SoCoordinateElement** \*coords, const **SbVec3f** \*pervertexnormals, const SbBool texpervertex, const SbBool colorpervertex)\
 void **finishVertexArray** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action, const SbBool vbo, const SbBool normpervertex, const SbBool texpervertex, const SbBool colorpervertex)\

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 **SoNonIndexedShape** static const **SoFieldData** \*\* **getFieldDataPtr** (void)\

Static Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoVertexShape** static const **SoFieldData** \*\* **getFieldDataPtr** (void)\

Static Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoShape** 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 **SoShape** enum **TriangleShape** { **TRIANGLE\_STRIP**, **TRIANGLE\_FAN**, **TRIANGLES**, **POLYGON**, **QUADS**, **QUAD\_STRIP**, **POINTS**, **LINES**, **LINE\_STRIP** }\

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 **SoTriangleStripSet** class is used to render and control non-indexed triangle strips.

Triangle strips are specified using the numVertices field.

Coordinates, normals, materials and texture coordinates are all fetched in order from the current state or from the vertexProperty node if set. (To render triangle strips from vertex indices, use the **SoIndexedTriangleStripSet** node.)

The numVertices field may be used for multiple strips, coordinates will be fetched with a monotonically increasing index from the coordinates on the traversal state stack (i.e. typically from the last **SoCoordinate3** node encountered during traversal).

For example, if numVertices is set to \[3, 4, 5, 3\], this node would specify a triangle from coordinates 0, 1 and 2, a triangle strip from coordinates 3, 4, 5 and 6, a triangle strip from coordinates 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 and finally a triangle from coordinates 12, 13, 14.

Or to put it another way: in a triangle strip there will always be two vertices more than there are triangles. Realize that you are handling data on the vertex level (not polygon level), and that the triangles are laid out like this, given 5 vertices:

```
1-----3-----5
 \   / \   /
  \ /   \ /
   2-----4
```

The above figure in scene graph file format:

```
#Inventor V2.1 ascii
Separator {
  Coordinate3 {
    point [ -2 1 0, -1 -1 0, 0 1 0, 1 -1 0, 2 1 0 ]
  }
  TriangleStripSet {
    numVertices [ 5 ]
  }
}
```

The scene graph above in a viewer:

Strips are converted into triangles the way OpenGL does it, of course, so for the dirty details, check out the documentation of the OpenGL GL\_TRIANGLE\_STRIP primitive rendering type.

Binding PER\_PART (per strip), PER\_VERTEX, PER\_FACE or OVERALL can be set for material, and normals. The default material binding is OVERALL. The default normal binding is PER\_VERTEX.

**FILE FORMAT/DEFAULTS:**

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

**See also**

**SoIndexedTriangleStripSet**

## Constructor & Destructor Documentation

### SoTriangleStripSet::SoTriangleStripSet (void )

Constructor.

### SoTriangleStripSet::~SoTriangleStripSet () \[protected\], \[virtual\]

Destructor.

## Member Function Documentation

### SoType SoTriangleStripSet::getClassTypeId (void ) \[static\]

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

### SoType SoTriangleStripSet::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 **SoNonIndexedShape**.

### const SoFieldData \*\* SoTriangleStripSet::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 \* SoTriangleStripSet::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 **SoNonIndexedShape**.

### void SoTriangleStripSet::initClass (void ) \[static\]

### void SoTriangleStripSet::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 **SoShape**.

### void SoTriangleStripSet::getPrimitiveCount (SoGetPrimitiveCountAction \* action) \[virtual\]

Action method for the **SoGetPrimitiveCountAction**.

Calculates the number of triangle, line segment and point primitives for the node and adds these to the counters of the *action*.

Nodes influencing how geometry nodes calculate their primitive count also override this method to change the relevant state variables.

Reimplemented from **SoShape**.

### SbBool SoTriangleStripSet::generateDefaultNormals (SoState \* state, SoNormalBundle \* bundle) \[virtual\]

*This API member is considered internal to the library, as it is not likely to be of interest to the application programmer.*\

 Subclasses should override this method to generate default normals using the **SoNormalBundle** class. TRUE should be returned if normals were generated, FALSE otherwise.

Default method returns FALSE.

This function is an extension for Coin, and it is not available in the original SGI Open Inventor v2.1 API.\

Reimplemented from **SoVertexShape**.

### void SoTriangleStripSet::generatePrimitives (SoAction \* action) \[protected\], \[virtual\]

The method implements action behavior for shape nodes for **SoCallbackAction**. It is invoked from **SoShape::callback()**. (Subclasses should *not* override **SoNode::callback()**.)

The subclass implementations uses the convenience methods **SoShape::beginShape()**, **SoShape::shapeVertex()**, and **SoShape::endShape()**, with **SoDetail** instances, to pass the primitives making up the shape back to the caller.

Implements **SoShape**.

### void SoTriangleStripSet::computeBBox (SoAction \* action, SbBox3f & box, SbVec3f & center) \[protected\], \[virtual\]

Implemented by **SoShape** subclasses to let the **SoShape** superclass know the exact size and weighted center point of the shape's bounding box.

The bounding box and center point should be calculated and returned in the local coordinate system.

The method implements action behavior for shape nodes for **SoGetBoundingBoxAction**. It is invoked from **SoShape::getBoundingBox()**. (Subclasses should *not* override **SoNode::getBoundingBox()**.)

The *box* parameter sent in is guaranteed to be an empty box, while *center* is undefined upon function entry.

Implements **SoShape**.

### SbBool SoTriangleStripSet::generateDefaultNormals (SoState \* state, SoNormalCache \* cache) \[protected\], \[virtual\]

*This API member is considered internal to the library, as it is not likely to be of interest to the application programmer.*\

 Subclasses should override this method to generate default normals using the **SoNormalCache** class. This is more effective than using **SoNormalGenerator**. Return TRUE if normals were generated, FALSE otherwise.

Default method just returns FALSE.

This function is an extension for Coin, and it is not available in the original SGI Open Inventor v2.1 API.\

Reimplemented from **SoVertexShape**.

## Member Data Documentation

### SoMFInt32 SoTriangleStripSet::numVertices

Specifies the number of vertices in each triangle strip. The vertices are fetched from the current coordinate node, or from the vertexProperty field if present.

## Author

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