root/branches/Dirk_CPtr/Doc/to_port/DrawablesBase.dox

#include <OSGConfig.h>

using namespace OSG;

/*! \defgroup GrpSystemNodeCoresDrawablesBase Base Drawables
    \ingroup GrpSystemNodeCoresDrawables

See \ref PageSystemDrawablesBase for details.

*/

/*! \page PageSystemDrawablesBase Base Drawables

To simplify implementation there are two base Drawables that can be used as
parent classes for derivation: osg::Drawable and osg::MaterialDrawable.

\section PageSystemDrawablesBaseDrawable Drawable

The simple Drawable is the root class of all renderable NodeCores. It
contains the Statistics element descriptors that can be used to collect
information about renderable geometry.

\ext Use a Drawable pointer whenever you need to keep something that can be
rendered, but don't need access to the Material. \endext

\dev Not sure the name is right, because I don't know if and how I would render
something that doesn't have a material. Maybe if we get multi-material nodes
later? It keeps the inheritance hierarchy cleaner anyway. \enddev

\section PageSystemDrawablesBaseMaterialDrawable MaterialDrawable

The MaterialDrawable contains a pointer to a osg::Material that is used to
render the node. It is abstract, but the base for most renderable classes.

\ext It also contains a simple framework for extending the system in the sense
of adding node cores that render OpenGL geometry. The drawPrimitives method
needs to call the necessary OpenGL commands. Register the MaterialDrawables
action methods in the initMethod and that's it, see OSGSlicer.cpp or the Cubes
example for an example. \endext

*/