---
title: "Inputs"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/NET_MAXON_NEUTRON_MODELING_ALIGNNORMALS-NET_MAXON_NODE_BASE_GROUP_INPUTS.html"
section_path: "The Node Editor > The individual Assets > Geo Modifier > Align Normals > Inputs"
element_id: "NET_MAXON_NEUTRON_MODELING_ALIGNNORMALS"
group_id: "NET_MAXON_NODE_BASE_GROUP_INPUTS"
description: "Here you direct the geometry into the Node whose normals you want to have uniformly aligned. Note that this function can also be limited to a selection."
---

## Inputs

### Geometry

Parameter ID: `GEOMETRYIN`

Here you direct the geometry into the Node whose normals you want to have uniformly aligned. Note that this function can also be limited to a selection.

### Selection

Parameter ID: `SELECTION`

If you want to align only the normals on the selected areas of a geometry, direct the corresponding selection here as an index array of the elements concerned into the Node. In the **Type** menu, pay attention to the element type that matches the selection.

### Type

Parameter ID: `COMMANDMODE`

In any case, the orientation of the normals is calculated based on the polygons. However, if you want to use a selection to limit the alignment to a part of the geometry, use this menu to select the element type whose selection you want to use for this purpose. You can choose between *Points*, *Edges* and *Polygons*.

### Selection String

Parameter ID: `SELECTIONSTRING`

Here you can, for example, use the name of a selection in quotation marks that you want to read out, e.g., *"MySelection"*. Otherwise, the *default* entry will use an active selection on the geometry.

You can also use special keywords and logical operations here to create a new selection from scratch or a combination of already saved selections. The following keywords and operations can be used:

- *Default*: This term causes an active selection currently present on the geometry to be used. If no selection is active, all points will be used.
- *odd*: This term is used to select all elements that have an odd index number.
- *even*: This term is used to select all elements that have an even index number.
- *all*: This selects all elements of the selected type.
- *hidden*: Selects the hidden elements of the geometry.
- *Name of a saved selection*: If you enter the name of a saved selection in quotation marks, this selection will be read and used. To use a combination of a saved selection and another keyword or selection, use quotation marks with the selection name.
- *Index numbers*: You can also use index numbers directly, just as you are used to from the Index Array From String Node.
- *Mathematical and logical operations*: Mathematical or logical operations can be used to combine selections. Using the string *odd – "center"* for instance selects all odd elements and then subtracts the selection that has been stored by the name *"center"*. You can use +, -, & (logical and), | (logical or) as well as a comma to combine multiple selections or index sequences.

### Affect User Normals

Parameter ID: `NET_MAXON_DATATYPE_MODELING_NORMALSDIRECTION_AFFECTUSERNORMALS`

If there is a Normal Tag on the geometry, the enabled option ensures that the normals stored there are also updated. Otherwise, this stored information remains unchanged.