NAME

       SoMField — base class for all multiple-valued fields

INHERITS FROM

       SoField > SoMField

SYNOPSIS

       #include <Inventor/fields/SoField.h>

          Methods from class SoMField:

     int                 getNum() const
     void                setNum(int num)
     virtual void        deleteValues(int start, int num = -1)
     virtual void        insertSpace(int start, int num)
     SbBool              set1(int index, const char *valueString)
     void                get1(int index, SbString &valueString)
     static SoType       getClassTypeId()

          Methods from class SoField:

     void                setIgnored(SbBool ignore)
     SbBool              isIgnored() const
     SbBool              isDefault() const
     virtual SoType      getTypeId() const
     virtual SbBool      isOfType(SoType type) const
     SbBool              set(const char *valueString)
     void                get(SbString &valueString)
     int                 operator ==(const SoField &f) const
     int                 operator !=(const SoField &f) const
     void                touch()
     SbBool              connectFrom(SoField *fromField)
     SbBool              connectFrom(SoEngineOutput *fromEngine)
     void                disconnect()
     SbBool              isConnected() const
     SbBool              isConnectedFromField() const
     SbBool              getConnectedField(SoField *&writingField) const
     SbBool              isConnectedFromEngine() const
     SbBool              getConnectedEngine(SoEngineOutput *&engineOutput) const
     void                enableConnection(SbBool flag)
     SbBool              isConnectionEnabled() const
     int                 getForwardConnections(SoFieldList &list) const
     SoFieldContainer *  getContainer() const

DESCRIPTION

       Each  class  derived from SoMField begins with an SoMF prefix and contains a dynamic array of values of a
       particular type. Each has a setValues() method that is passed a pointer to a const array of values of the
       correct type; these values are copied into the array in the field, making extra  room  in  the  array  if
       necessary. The start and num parameters to this method indicate the starting array index to copy into and
       the number of values to copy.

       The  getValues()  method for a multiple-value field returns a const pointer to the array of values in the
       field. (Because this pointer is const, it cannot be used to change values in this array.)

       In addition, the indexing operator "[]" is overloaded to return the i'th value in the array;  because  it
       returns a const reference, it can be used only to get values, not to set them.

       Methods are provided for getting the number of values in the field, inserting space for new values in the
       middle, and deleting values.

       There are other methods that allow you to set only one value of several in the field and to set the field
       to contain one and only one value.

       Two  other  methods can be used to make several changes to a multiple-value field without the overhead of
       copying values into and out of the fields. The startEditing() method returns a non-const pointer  to  the
       array  of values in the field; this pointer can then be used to change (but not add or remove) any values
       in the array. The finishEditing() method indicates that the editing is done and notifies any  sensors  or
       engines that may be connected to the field.

       SoMFields are written to file as a series of values separated by commas, all enclosed in square brackets.
       If the field has no values (getNum() returns zero), then only the square brackets ("[]") are written. The
       last  value may optionally be followed by a comma. Each field subtype defines how the values are written;
       for example, a field whose values are integers might be written as:

          [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ]
             or:
          [ 1, 2, 3, 4, ]

METHODS

     int                 getNum() const
          Returns the number of values currently in the field.

     void                setNum(int num)
          Forces this field to have exactly num values, inserting or deleting values as necessary.

     virtual void        deleteValues(int start, int num = -1)
          Deletes num values beginning at index start (index start through start+num-1 will be deleted, and  any
          leftover  values  will  be moved down to fill in the gap created). A num of -1 means delete all values
          from start to the last value in the field; getNum() will return start as the number of values  in  the
          field after this operation (deleteValues(0, -1) empties the field).

     virtual void        insertSpace(int start, int num)
          Inserts  space for num values at index start. Index start through start+num-1 will be moved up to make
          room. For example, to make room for 7 new values at the beginning of  the  field  call  insertSpace(0,
          10).

     SbBool              set1(int index, const char *valueString)
     void                get1(int index, SbString &valueString)
          These  are  equivalent  to the set() and get() methods of SoField, but they operate on only one value.
          See the SoField methods for details.

     static SoType       getClassTypeId()
          Return the type identifier for this field class.

SEE ALSO

       SoNode, SoEngine

                                                                                                 SoMField(3IV)()