Basics Configure hotkeys

To... Do this

Open the hotkey editor

  1. In the main menus, choose Edit > Hotkeys.

  2. Click a context in the left list, then an action in the center list. The keys currently assigned to that action (if any) are listed on the right.

    In Houdini, hotkeys often have different meanings in different contexts. By the same token, a hotkey such as Del will be assigned to similar functions in many different contexts.

    The context list is hierarchical. The context you want may be buried several levels down. For example, hotkeys for the textport are in Houdini/Panes/Textport.

Change a hotkey assigned to an action

  1. Double-click the name of the hotkey in the list on the right.

    The text should change to “Press any key…”.

  2. Press the new hotkey, or use the arrow button pop-up menu to choose a key (useful for hard-to-type keys). To use modifier keys with the menu, hold the keys when as you open the menu.

Add a new hotkey for an action

  1. Double-click the empty space below the last hotkey in the list on the right (or at the top of the list if there are not hotkeys currently assigned to the action).

    The text should change to “Press any key…”.

  2. Press the new hotkey, or use the arrow button pop-up menu to choose a key (useful for hard-to-type keys). To use modifier keys with the menu, hold the keys when as you open the menu.

Remove a hotkey from an action

  • Click the delete (X) button next to the name of the hotkey in the list on the right.

Find an action so you can assign it a hotkey

  1. Click Search at the top right of the hotkey editor.

  2. Enter text describing the action you want in the Match action string field, then click the Find button next to it.

  3. The list below the search field shows all actions matching the text you entered. Click an item in the list to open it in the hotkey editor.

Find where a hotkey is currently assigned

  1. Click Search at the top right of the hotkey editor.

  2. Click in the Match existing hotkey field and press the hotkey you want, then click the Find button next to the field.

  3. The list below the search field shows all actions using the hotkey you typed. Click an item in the list to open it in the hotkey editor.

Quickly assign a hotkey to an interface item

  • Ctrl + Alt + ⇧ Shift + click the item to open it in the hotkey editor.