Ubuntu Manpage: SoTimeCounter — timed integer counter

name
inherits from
synopsis
description
inputs
outputs
methods
file format/defaults
see also

Provided by: inventor-doc_2.1.6+ds-2_all

NAME

       SoTimeCounter — timed integer counter

INHERITS FROM

       SoBase > SoFieldContainer > SoEngine > SoTimeCounter

SYNOPSIS

       #include <Inventor/engines/SoTimeCounter.h>

          Inputs from class SoTimeCounter:

     SoSFTime            timeIn
     SoSFShort           min
     SoSFShort           max
     SoSFShort           step
     SoSFBool            on
     SoSFFloat           frequency
     SoMFFloat           duty
     SoSFShort           reset
     SoSFTrigger         syncIn

          Outputs from class SoTimeCounter:

     (SoSFShort)         output
     (SoSFTrigger)       syncOut

          Methods from class SoTimeCounter:

                         SoTimeCounter()

          Methods from class SoEngine:

     static SoType       getClassTypeId()
     virtual int         getOutputs(SoEngineOutputList &list) const
     SoEngineOutput *    getOutput(const SbName &outputName) const
     SbBool              getOutputName(const SoEngineOutput *output, SbName &outputName) const
     SoEngine *          copy() const
     static SoEngine *   getByName(const SbName &name)
     static int          getByName(const SbName &name, SoEngineList &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 engine is a counter that outputs numbers, starting at a minimum value, increasing by a step value,
and ending with a number that does not exceed the maximum value. When the maximum number is reached, it
starts counting from the beginning again.

The difference between this engine and the SoCounter engine, is that this engine also has a timeIn input,
which allows the counting cycles to be timed. This engine counts automatically over time; it does not
need to be triggered to go to the next step. By default, the timeIn input is connected to the realTime
global field. It can, however, be connected to any time source.

The frequency input field controls how many min-to-max cycles are performed per second. For example, a
frequency value of 0.5 means that it will take 2 seconds to complete a single min-to-max cycle.

The steps in the count cycle do not necessarily all have the same duration. Using the duty input field,
you can arbitrarily split the time period of the count cycle between the steps. For example, if there are
5 steps in the cycle, a duty input of (1., 2., 2., 2., 1.) will make the second, third, and fourth steps
take twice as long as the first and last steps.

At any time the counter can be reset to a specific value. If you set the reset input field to a value,
the engine will continue counting from there. Note that the counter will always output numbers based on
the min, max and step values, and setting the reset value does not affect the those input fields. If the
reset value is not a legal counter value, the counter will still behave as though it is:

If reset is greater than max, the counter is set to max.
If reset is less than min, the counter is set to min.
If reset is between step values, the counter is set to the lower step.

Each time a counting cycle is started, the syncOut output is triggered. This output can be used to
synchronize some other event with the counting cycle. Other events can also synchronize the counter by
triggering the syncIn input.

You can pause the engine, by setting the on input to FALSE, and it will stop updating the output field.
When you turn off the pause, by setting on to TRUE, it will start counting again from where it left off.

INPUTS

     SoSFTime            timeIn
          Running time.

     SoSFShort           min
          Minimum value for the counter.

     SoSFShort           max
          Maximum value for the counter.

     SoSFShort           step
          Counter step value.

     SoSFBool            on
          Counter pauses if this is set to FALSE.

     SoSFFloat           frequency
          Number of min-to-max cycles per second.

     SoMFFloat           duty
          Duty cycle values.

     SoSFShort           reset
          Reset the counter to the specified value.

     SoSFTrigger         syncIn
          Restart at the beginning of the cycle.

OUTPUTS

     (SoSFShort)         output
          Counts min-to-max, in step increments.

     (SoSFTrigger)       syncOut
          Triggers at cycle start.

METHODS

                         SoTimeCounter()
          Constructor

FILE FORMAT/DEFAULTS

       TimeCounter {
          min        0
          max        1
          step       1
          on         TRUE
          frequency  1
          duty       1
          timeIn     <current time>
          syncIn
          reset      0
     }