AcGeExternalSurface

Class Hierarchy

AcGeEntity3d
    AcGeSurface
        AcGeExternalSurface

C++

class AcGeExternalSurface : public AcGeSurface;

File

geextsf.h

Description

AcGeExternalSurface class is a representation for an unbounded (other than by the parametric bounds of the surface) surface geometry that has its definition external to GeLib. Since AcGeExternalSurface is a AcGeSurface, these external entities can be treated as any other GeLib surface. Certain external surface points sets may have corresponding native representations in GeLib. In such cases, it is possible to obtain such GeLib representations. However, the surface definitions of native GeLib surfaces differ from the definition of external entities. An example of such a difference is differing surface parameterizations. A typical use of AcGeExternalSurface is to represent a ShapeManager surface.

Clearly, an instance of AcGeExternalSurface can be used as any other AcGeSurface. Alternatively, a knowledge of the precise definition of the external entity allows direct access to the external entity in its native form. This access is more efficient since it avoids the level of indirection that is incurred when accessing the external entity through GeLib interface.

Remarks

The external entity is represented within AcGeExternalSurface as a pointer. The memory used by this pointer can either be under user control, or it can be made to be managed by the instance of this class. In the latter case, the class is said to "own" the definition data. Ownership of the definition data by the instance results in the destructor of the class deleting the memory occupied by the definition data pointer. In perusing the following method descriptions, pay special attention to those methods that may influence the ownership of the surface definition data.

Links

AcGeExternalSurface Constructor, AcGeExternalSurface Methods, AcGeExternalSurface Operators