= Node flags =

== Overview ==

_Flags_ are buttons on nodes that set some state information on the node. Icons are visible on the flags at high zoom levels, however you will eventually learn to recognize the flags by position and color.

The flags available on a given node are specific to the [network type|net_types]. For information on the flags available on the nodes in each network, see the help for the network types: [Object nodes|/nodes/obj], [Surface nodes|/nodes/sop], [Particle nodes|/nodes/pop], [Dynamics nodes|/nodes/dop], [Render nodes|/nodes/out], [Compositing nodes|/nodes/cop2], [Channel nodes|/nodes/chop].

== Setting flags ==

- Usually flags are toggles: clicking them toggles them on and off. When a flag is on it is filled with color. When it's off it shows the node's background color (gray by default).

- Some flags are little more complex. For example, the _display flag_ in surface node networks can only be on one node at a time. The node with the flag represents the geometry of the parent object. ((Ctrl))-clicking the flag sets the _render flag_, allowing you to use one geometry for display and a different geometry for rendering. See the [surface node help|/nodes/sop] for more information.

- Render nodes have a flag that is actually a button. It causes the node to render. See the [render node help|/nodes/out] for more information.

- You can select multiple nodes and click on of their flags to turn the flag on/off on all the selected nodes. For example, to bypass multiple surface nodes at once, select them and click the yellow bypass flag on one of them.

    [Image:images/multi_flag.png]