---
name: "manips"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libcoin80-doc"
version: "3.1.4~abc9f50-7"
release: "Debian 8 (Jessie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/manips"
---

# manips(3)

## NAME

Manipulator Classes -

### Classes

class **SoCenterballManip**\
 *The* **SoCenterballManip** *wraps an* **SoCenterballDragger** *for convenience.*

 " class **SoClipPlaneManip**\
 *The* **SoClipPlaneManip** *class is used to manipulate clip planes.*

 " class **SoDirectionalLightManip**\
 *The* **SoDirectionalLightManip** *class is used to manipulate* **SoDirectionalLight** *nodes.*

 " class **SoHandleBoxManip**\
 *The* **SoHandleBoxManip** *class wraps an* **SoHandleBoxDragger** *for manipulating a transformation.*

 " class **SoJackManip**\
 *The* **SoJackManip** *wraps an* **SoJackDragger** *for convenience.*

 " class **SoPointLightManip**\
 *The* **SoPointLightManip** *class is used to manipulate point light nodes.*

 " class **SoSpotLightManip**\
 *The* **SoSpotLightManip** *class is used to manipulate spot light nodes.*

 " class **SoTabBoxManip**\
 *The* **SoTabBoxManip** *class wraps an* **SoTabBoxDragger***.*

 " class **SoTrackballManip**\
 *The* **SoTrackballManip** *wraps an* **SoTrackballDragger** *for convenience.*

 " class **SoTransformBoxManip**\
 *The* **SoTransformBoxManip** *wraps an* **SoTransformBoxDragger** *for convenience.*

 " class **SoTransformerManip**\
 *The* **SoTransformerManip** *wraps an* **SoTransformerDragger** *for convenience.*

 " class **SoTransformManip**\
 *The* **SoTransformManip** *class is used to manipulate transformations.*

A manipulator is used by replacing the node you want to edit in the graph with the manipulator. Draggers are used to to manipulate the node. When manipulation is finished, the node is put back into the graph, replacing the manipulator. "

## Detailed Description

Manipulators are objects you can swap back and forth into a scene graph at locations where you have an **SoTransform** node. They take the place of the **SoTransform**, continue to act like the **SoTransform**, but in addition give the user a 3D user interface, using draggers, for controlling the transform. When the user is done manipulating, the manipulator can swap itself back out, replacing itself with an **SoTransform** that represent the new transform value.

Manipulators is one of the concepts that really made Open Inventor stand out against the alternatives when it came out.

**See also:**

**Dragger Classes**

## Author

Generated automatically by Doxygen for Coin from the source code.