diff --git a/include/osgGA/KeySwitchMatrixManipulator b/include/osgGA/KeySwitchMatrixManipulator
index d53985c88..d544cde8c 100644
--- a/include/osgGA/KeySwitchMatrixManipulator
+++ b/include/osgGA/KeySwitchMatrixManipulator
@@ -106,6 +106,12 @@ public:
         /** Get the FusionDistanceValue. Used by SceneView for setting up stereo convergence.*/
         virtual float getFusionDistanceValue() const { return _current->getFusionDistanceValue(); }
 
+        /** Set the distance property. */
+        void setDistance(double distance);
+
+        /** Get the distance property. */
+        double getDistance() const;
+
 
         virtual void setNode(osg::Node* n);
 
diff --git a/include/osgGA/MatrixManipulator b/include/osgGA/MatrixManipulator
index e0c7c48d8..3ae435afe 100644
--- a/include/osgGA/MatrixManipulator
+++ b/include/osgGA/MatrixManipulator
@@ -100,6 +100,12 @@ public:
         /** Get the FusionDistanceValue. Used by SceneView for setting up stereo convergence.*/
         virtual float getFusionDistanceValue() const { return 1.0f; }
 
+        /** Set the distance parameter (used by TrackballManipulator etc.) */
+        void setDistance(double /*distance*/) {}
+
+        /** Get the distance parameter. */
+        virtual double getDistance() const { return 1.0; }
+
         /** Set the mask to use when set up intersection traversal such as used in manipulators that follow terrain or have collision detection.
           * The intersection traversal mask is useful for controlling what parts of the scene graph should be used for intersection purposes.*/
         void setIntersectTraversalMask(unsigned int mask) { _intersectTraversalMask = mask; }
diff --git a/include/osgGA/TerrainManipulator b/include/osgGA/TerrainManipulator
index c64df4a74..ab68a1ac1 100644
--- a/include/osgGA/TerrainManipulator
+++ b/include/osgGA/TerrainManipulator
@@ -56,6 +56,13 @@ class OSGGA_EXPORT TerrainManipulator : public MatrixManipulator
         /** Get the FusionDistanceValue. Used by SceneView for setting up stereo convergence.*/
         virtual float getFusionDistanceValue() const { return _distance; }
 
+        /** Set the distance of the trackball. */
+        void setDistance(double distance) { _distance = distance; }
+
+        /** Get the distance of the trackball. */
+        double getDistance() const { return _distance; }
+
+
         /** Attach a node to the manipulator. 
             Automatically detaches previously attached node.
             setNode(NULL) detaches previously nodes.
diff --git a/src/osgGA/KeySwitchMatrixManipulator.cpp b/src/osgGA/KeySwitchMatrixManipulator.cpp
index a7b7bf733..11abfe3f3 100644
--- a/src/osgGA/KeySwitchMatrixManipulator.cpp
+++ b/src/osgGA/KeySwitchMatrixManipulator.cpp
@@ -56,6 +56,26 @@ void KeySwitchMatrixManipulator::selectMatrixManipulator(unsigned int num)
     }
 }
 
+/** Set the distance parameter (used by TrackballManipulator etc.) */
+void KeySwitchMatrixManipulator::setDistance(double distance)
+{
+    for(KeyManipMap::iterator itr=_manips.begin();
+        itr!=_manips.end();
+        ++itr)
+    {
+        itr->second.second->setDistance(distance);
+    }
+}
+
+double KeySwitchMatrixManipulator::getDistance() const
+{
+    if(!_current)
+    {
+        return _current->getDistance();
+    }
+    else return 1.0;
+}
+
 void KeySwitchMatrixManipulator::setNode(osg::Node* node)
 {
     for(KeyManipMap::iterator itr=_manips.begin();