Houdini UI Customization - Revision history

Bernie: /* Shelf Tools */

2025-11-12T13:26:55Z

Shelf Tools

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:26, 12 November 2025
Line 2:		Line 2:

	Quick reminder to myself. When testing out things, call '''menurefresh''' in Hscript textport to refresh different menus (notably PARMmenu.xml)		Quick reminder to myself. When testing out things, call '''menurefresh''' in Hscript textport to refresh different menus (notably PARMmenu.xml)
	== Shelf Tools ==		==== Shelf Tools ====
	I find it odd that Sidefx makes you go through shelf items for various UI functions that have nothing to do with the shelf, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Also maybe I'm nostalgic but despite it's flaws the maya shelves were kinda easier to understand.		I find it odd that Sidefx makes you go through shelf items for various UI functions that have nothing to do with the shelf, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Also maybe I'm nostalgic but despite it's flaws the maya shelves were kinda easier to understand.
	As I understand it single shelf items in houdini can be stored in different files, which means if you fumble around you can easily have two items with the same name but saved in two different places (I think. I'm confused).		As I understand it single shelf items in houdini can be stored in different files, which means if you fumble around you can easily have two items with the same name but saved in two different places (I think. I'm confused).
	Just make sure you keep an eyeball on where your shelf tool is stored (often in Default.shelf or some random production folder if you use Rez like us)		Just make sure you keep an eyeball on where your shelf tool is stored (often in Default.shelf or some random production folder if you use Rez like us)

	=== Parameters as network view comments===		== Parameters as network view comments ==

	https://i.imgur.com/ZddFaRC.gif		https://i.imgur.com/ZddFaRC.gif
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	=== Selection to bounding box to delete ===		== Selection to bounding box to delete ==

	Very often I manually select prims to delete a few local faces, then change something upstream, then my blast is all mangled. This will create a bounding box of the currently selected geo, group them with it and then blast the group. It's never perfect because of how bounding boxes operate (points/prims/othogonal to world axes), but it's very useful in my daily work.		Very often I manually select prims to delete a few local faces, then change something upstream, then my blast is all mangled. This will create a bounding box of the currently selected geo, group them with it and then blast the group. It's never perfect because of how bounding boxes operate (points/prims/othogonal to world axes), but it's very useful in my daily work.
Line 352:		Line 352:
	</pre>		</pre>

	=== Toggle Viewport Background Color ===		== Toggle Viewport Background Color ==
	Bound it to F6		Bound it to F6
	<pre>		<pre>
Line 378:		Line 378:
	hou.ui.setStatusMessage("Cycled background to %s" % bgs[bg].upper() )		hou.ui.setStatusMessage("Cycled background to %s" % bgs[bg].upper() )
	</pre>		</pre>
	=== Toggle Auto / Manual scene update ===		== Toggle Auto / Manual scene update ==
	Bound to F11, I use it every day.		Bound to F11, I use it every day.
	<pre>		<pre>
Line 388:		Line 388:
	hou.setUpdateMode(hou.updateMode.AutoUpdate)		hou.setUpdateMode(hou.updateMode.AutoUpdate)
	</pre>		</pre>
	=== Auto create a wrangle node ===		== Auto create a wrangle node ==
	I'm pretty sure this exists already but why not reinvent the wheel. Creates an attr wrangle and keeps inputs/outputs, with the code box already in focus. I only use the 'P' parameter viewer (the one that pops up in your network view) so other desktops might not work.		I'm pretty sure this exists already but why not reinvent the wheel. Creates an attr wrangle and keeps inputs/outputs, with the code box already in focus. I only use the 'P' parameter viewer (the one that pops up in your network view) so other desktops might not work.

Line 421:		Line 421:
	</pre>		</pre>

	=== Copy auto Paste-Merge ===		== Copy auto Paste-Merge ==
	Copy from https://berniebernie.fr/wiki/Houdini_Python#Paste_clipboard_nodes_to_object_merges		Copy from https://berniebernie.fr/wiki/Houdini_Python#Paste_clipboard_nodes_to_object_merges

Line 457:		Line 457:
	</pre>		</pre>

	===Screenshot to background image===		==Screenshot to background image==

	https://i.imgur.com/kuc1PnO.gif		https://i.imgur.com/kuc1PnO.gif

Bernie: /* Selection to bounding box to delete */

2025-10-21T15:12:35Z

Selection to bounding box to delete

Show changes

Bernie: /* Shelf Tools */

2025-10-21T13:44:25Z

Shelf Tools

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:44, 21 October 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Various things I do to my Houdini		Various things I do to my Houdini

			Quick reminder to myself. When testing out things, call '''menurefresh''' in Hscript textport to refresh different menus (notably PARMmenu.xml)
	== Shelf Tools ==		== Shelf Tools ==
	I find it odd that Sidefx makes you go through shelf items for various UI functions that have nothing to do with the shelf, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Also maybe I'm nostalgic but despite it's flaws the maya shelves were kinda easier to understand.		I find it odd that Sidefx makes you go through shelf items for various UI functions that have nothing to do with the shelf, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Also maybe I'm nostalgic but despite it's flaws the maya shelves were kinda easier to understand.

Bernie: /* Shelf Tools */

2025-08-01T14:06:59Z

Shelf Tools

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:06, 1 August 2025
Line 4:		Line 4:
	I find it odd that Sidefx makes you go through shelf items for various UI functions that have nothing to do with the shelf, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Also maybe I'm nostalgic but despite it's flaws the maya shelves were kinda easier to understand.		I find it odd that Sidefx makes you go through shelf items for various UI functions that have nothing to do with the shelf, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Also maybe I'm nostalgic but despite it's flaws the maya shelves were kinda easier to understand.
	As I understand it single shelf items in houdini can be stored in different files, which means if you fumble around you can easily have two items with the same name but saved in two different places (I think. I'm confused).		As I understand it single shelf items in houdini can be stored in different files, which means if you fumble around you can easily have two items with the same name but saved in two different places (I think. I'm confused).
			Just make sure you keep an eyeball on where your shelf tool is stored (often in Default.shelf or some random production folder if you use Rez like us)

			=== Selection to bounding box to delete ===

			Very often I manually select prims to delete a few local faces, then change something upstream, then my blast is all mangled. This will create a bounding box of the currently selected geo, group them with it and then blast the group. It's never perfect because of how bounding boxes operate (points/prims/othogonal to world axes), but it's very useful in my daily work.

			Also Gemini did 90% of the coding and actually does error catching. It's a lot better than me :0

			https://i.imgur.com/xMUPRr3.gif

			<pre>
			import hou, toolutils

			def create_group_from_bbox():
			"""
			Creates a 'group' node and sets its bounding region parameters
			based on the bounding box of the current geo selection
			"""
			try:
			selected_nodes = hou.selectedNodes()
			geo = toolutils.sceneViewer().selectGeometry()

			# Check if exactly one node is selected.
			if len(selected_nodes) != 1:
			print("Please select a single geometry node to get the bounding box from.")
			return

			selected_node = selected_nodes[0]

			# Check if the selected node is a geometry node (SOP).
			if selected_node.type().category() != hou.sopNodeTypeCategory():
			print("The selected node is not a geometry node (SOP). Please select a valid node.")
			return

			hou.clearAllSelected()

			bbox = geo.boundingBox()
			parent_node = selected_node.parent()
			selected_node.setSelected(0)
			group_node = parent_node.createNode("groupcreate", "bbox_group")

			pos = [selected_node.position()[0],selected_node.position()[1]-1]
			group_node.setPosition(pos)
			group_node.setInput(0, selected_node)
			group_node.parm("groupbounding").set(1)
			group_node.parmTuple("size").set(bbox.sizevec())
			group_node.parmTuple("t").set(bbox.center())

			blast = parent_node.createNode("blast", "bbox_blast")
			blast.setInput(0, group_node)
			pos[1] = pos[1] - 1
			blast.setPosition(pos)
			blast.parm('group').set(group_node.parm("groupname").eval())

			group_node.setSelected(1)
			blast.setDisplayFlag(1)
			blast.setSelected(1)
			blast.setRenderFlag(1)
			group_node.setCurrent(True, clear_all_selected=True)

			except hou.Error as e:
			print(f"An error occurred: {e}")

			create_group_from_bbox()
			</pre>

Bernie: /* Screenshot to background image */

2025-07-08T16:05:59Z

Screenshot to background image

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:05, 8 July 2025
Line 126:		Line 126:
	import nodegraphutils as utils		import nodegraphutils as utils
	from time import gmtime, strftime		from time import gmtime, strftime
			from os.path import expanduser
			home = expanduser("~")
	from pathlib import Path		from pathlib import Path
	~~from sys import platform~~
			exe = home+"\Downloads\exe\MiniCap.exe"

	widthRatio = 4 # change to make screenshot bigger or smaller, this is ~x4 node width		widthRatio = 4 # change to make screenshot bigger or smaller, this is ~x4 node width

	def takeScreenShot(savePath):		def takeScreenShot(savePath):
	'''change to your preferred capture app /!\ no error checking for now '''		'''change to your preferred capture app /!\ no error checking for now '''
			subprocess.check_call([exe,"-captureregselect","-save",savePath,"-exit"])

			#following is older code for linux i'll update it if I linux again
			'''
	Path(os.path.dirname(Path(savePath))).mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)		Path(os.path.dirname(Path(savePath))).mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
	if platform == "linux" or platform == "linux2":		if platform == "linux" or platform == "linux2":
Line 147:		Line 153:
	elif platform == "win32":		elif platform == "win32":
	subprocess.check_call([r"C:\Users\bernie\Documents\houdini18.0\config\exe\MiniCap.exe","-captureregselect","-save",savePath,"-exit"])		subprocess.check_call([r"C:\Users\bernie\Documents\houdini18.0\config\exe\MiniCap.exe","-captureregselect","-save",savePath,"-exit"])
			'''

	def removeBackgroundImage(**kwargs):		def removeBackgroundImage(**kwargs):
Line 183:		Line 190:
	hippath = str(hou.getenv('HIP')) + '/screenshots'		hippath = str(hou.getenv('HIP')) + '/screenshots'
	screenshotName = hipname + '.' + timestamp + '.png'		screenshotName = hipname + '.' + timestamp + '.png'
	systempath = hippath + '/' + screenshotName		pythonpath = hippath+'/'+screenshotName
			systempath = hippath + '\\' + screenshotName
			systempath = Path(systempath)

			print(systempath)

	houdinipath = '$HIP/screenshots/'+screenshotName		houdinipath = '$HIP/screenshots/'+screenshotName

	#take screenshot with capture region~~, should work with linux (fedora xfce screenshot)~~		#take screenshot with capture region
	takeScreenShot(systempath)		takeScreenShot(systempath)

Line 214:		Line 226:
	nullNode.move([lastSel.size()[0]2,-lastSel.size()[1]2])		nullNode.move([lastSel.size()[0]2,-lastSel.size()[1]2])

	rez = hou.imageResolution(~~systempath~~)		rez = hou.imageResolution(pythonpath)
	ratio = 1.0*rez[1]/rez[0]		ratio = 1.0*rez[1]/rez[0]
	rect = hou.BoundingRect(0,-lastSel.size()[1]1.1,widthRatio,-widthRatioratio-lastSel.size()[1]*1.1)		rect = hou.BoundingRect(0,-lastSel.size()[1]1.1,widthRatio,-widthRatioratio-lastSel.size()[1]*1.1)

Bernie: /* Auto create a wrangle node */

2024-06-05T10:25:03Z

Auto create a wrangle node

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:25, 5 June 2024
Line 43:		Line 43:
	</pre>		</pre>
	=== Auto create a wrangle node ===		=== Auto create a wrangle node ===
	I'm pretty sure this exists already but why not reinvent the wheel.		I'm pretty sure this exists already but why not reinvent the wheel. Creates an attr wrangle and keeps inputs/outputs, with the code box already in focus. I only use the 'P' parameter viewer (the one that pops up in your network view) so other desktops might not work.

			bound to ctrl-shift-w
	<pre>		<pre>
	~~#creates a wrangle and keeps inputs/outputs, bound to ctrl-shift-w~~
	# TODO weird inputs.outputs		# TODO fix some weird inputs/outputs configurations
	~~# parm window not updating~~

	import hou		import hou
Line 69:		Line 70:
	w.moveToGoodPosition(relative_to_inputs=True, move_inputs=False, move_outputs=True, move_unconnected=False)		w.moveToGoodPosition(relative_to_inputs=True, move_inputs=False, move_outputs=True, move_unconnected=False)

			networkview = hou.ui.curDesktop().paneTabUnderCursor()
			networkview.setCurrentNode(w,True)
			networkview.parmMoveFocusTo('snippet')
	</pre>		</pre>

Bernie: /* Auto create a wrangle node */

2024-06-04T09:07:39Z

Auto create a wrangle node

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:07, 4 June 2024
Line 46:		Line 46:
	<pre>		<pre>
	#creates a wrangle and keeps inputs/outputs, bound to ctrl-shift-w		#creates a wrangle and keeps inputs/outputs, bound to ctrl-shift-w
			# TODO weird inputs.outputs
			# parm window not updating

	import hou		import hou
	sn = hou.selectedNodes()		sn = hou.selectedNodes()
Line 53:		Line 56:

	w.setInput(0,sn[-1])		w.setInput(0,sn[-1])
	w.setSelected(True)		w.setCurrent(True, clear_all_selected=True)
			w.setSelected(True,clear_all_selected=True, show_asset_if_selected=True)
	w.setDisplayFlag(True)		w.setDisplayFlag(True)
	sn[-1].setDisplayFlag(False)		sn[-1].setDisplayFlag(False)
Line 64:		Line 68:

	w.moveToGoodPosition(relative_to_inputs=True, move_inputs=False, move_outputs=True, move_unconnected=False)		w.moveToGoodPosition(relative_to_inputs=True, move_inputs=False, move_outputs=True, move_unconnected=False)

Bernie: /* Auto create a wrangle node */

2024-06-04T08:46:32Z

Auto create a wrangle node

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:46, 4 June 2024
Line 53:		Line 53:

	w.setInput(0,sn[-1])		w.setInput(0,sn[-1])
			w.setSelected(True)
			w.setDisplayFlag(True)
			sn[-1].setDisplayFlag(False)
	if outputs:		if outputs:
	for output in outputs:		for output in outputs:
	output.setInput(0,w)		output.setInput(0,w)



	else:		else:
	#should not error out if it's launched in a shelf above a network plane		#should not error out if it's launched in a shelf above a network plane
Line 65:		Line 64:

	w.moveToGoodPosition(relative_to_inputs=True, move_inputs=False, move_outputs=True, move_unconnected=False)		w.moveToGoodPosition(relative_to_inputs=True, move_inputs=False, move_outputs=True, move_unconnected=False)



	</pre>		</pre>

	=== Copy auto Paste-Merge ===		=== Copy auto Paste-Merge ===
	Copy from https://berniebernie.fr/wiki/Houdini_Python#Paste_clipboard_nodes_to_object_merges		Copy from https://berniebernie.fr/wiki/Houdini_Python#Paste_clipboard_nodes_to_object_merges

Bernie: /* Copy auto Paste-Merge */

2024-06-04T08:40:51Z

Copy auto Paste-Merge

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 if mode == 'Manual':
      hou.setUpdateMode(hou.updateMode.AutoUpdate)
 </pre>
 === Copy auto Paste-Merge ===

Bernie: /* Screenshot to background image */

2024-05-28T16:18:39Z

Screenshot to background image

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:18, 28 May 2024
Line 82:		Line 82:
	https://i.imgur.com/kuc1PnO.gif		https://i.imgur.com/kuc1PnO.gif

	Customize your capture command line, no~~/little~~ error checking 'cause I'm not a professional programmer.		Customize your capture command line, no error checking 'cause I'm not a professional programmer, aka it works on my machine.

	~~'''''19.5 edit''''': looks like the update broke some things ? Will look into it when I have time but it should be an easy fix.~~		Should work with windows (hardcoded path to [https://www.donationcoder.com/software/mouser/popular-apps/minicap minicap] ) and linux centos with xfce-screenshoter


	~~TODO: make it~~ work ~~under linux/xfce:~~
	~~<pre>~~
	~~import hou, os, subprocess, fnmatch~~
	~~savepath = os.path.dirname~~(~~hou.hipFile.~~path~~()) #hip dir~~

	~~screenshotPNG = subprocess~~.~~check_output('mv "$(xfce4-screenshooter -ro ls)" -v '+savepath,shell=True)~~
	~~screenshotPNG = screenshotPNG~~.~~decode().strip().split('\n')[0].split('~~ -~~> ')[1~~]~~.replace("'",""~~) ~~#helluva nasty oneliner~~
	~~print(screenshotPNG)~~
	~~</pre>~~

	<pre>		<pre>
			#python 3.5+
	import hou		import hou
	import os		import os
Line 103:		Line 93:
	import nodegraphutils as utils		import nodegraphutils as utils
	from time import gmtime, strftime		from time import gmtime, strftime
			from pathlib import Path
			from sys import platform

	widthRatio = 4 # change to make screenshot bigger or smaller, this is ~x4 node width		widthRatio = 4 # change to make screenshot bigger or smaller, this is ~x4 node width

	def takeScreenShot(savePath):		def takeScreenShot(savePath):
	'''change to your preferred capture app /!\ no error checking for now '''		'''change to your preferred capture app /!\ no error checking for now '''
	subprocess.check_call([r"C:\Users\me\~~Downloads~~\exe\MiniCap.exe","-captureregselect","-save",savePath,"-exit"])
			Path(os.path.dirname(Path(savePath))).mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
			if platform == "linux" or platform == "linux2":
			savepath = os.path.dirname(Path(savePath)) #screenshot dir
			screenshotPNG = subprocess.check_output('mv "$(xfce4-screenshooter -ro ls)" -v '+savepath,shell=True)
			screenshotPNG = screenshotPNG.decode().strip().split('\n')[0].split(' -> ')[1].replace("'","") #helluva nasty oneliner
			os.chdir(savepath)
			os.rename(os.path.basename(screenshotPNG),os.path.basename(savePath))

			# linux
			elif platform == "darwin":
			exit
			elif platform == "win32":
			subprocess.check_call([r"C:\Users\bernie\Documents\houdini18.0\config\exe\MiniCap.exe","-captureregselect","-save",savePath,"-exit"])

	def removeBackgroundImage(**kwargs):		def removeBackgroundImage(**kwargs):
Line 145:		Line 150:
	hippath = str(hou.getenv('HIP')) + '/screenshots'		hippath = str(hou.getenv('HIP')) + '/screenshots'
	screenshotName = hipname + '.' + timestamp + '.png'		screenshotName = hipname + '.' + timestamp + '.png'
	systempath = hippath + '\\' + screenshotName		systempath = hippath + '/' + screenshotName
	houdinipath = '$HIP/screenshots/'+screenshotName		houdinipath = '$HIP/screenshots/'+screenshotName
	~~try:~~
	~~os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(systempath))~~
	~~except OSError:~~
	~~if not os.path.isdir(os.path.dirname(systempath)):~~
	~~raise~~


	#take screenshot with capture region		#take screenshot with capture region, should work with linux (fedora xfce screenshot)
	takeScreenShot(systempath)		takeScreenShot(systempath)