Houdini 11 Reference Panes

Parameters are the “options” of a node. Changing the parameters changes the look or behavior of the node. For example, a Sphere SOP has position and radius parameters.

Toolbar

Node menu

Shows the icon of the node you are currently editing. Click to show the node’s context menu. (This is the same menu you get if you press RMB on the node’s tile in the network editor

Name

The node’s name. When you create a node it has a default name of the operator type name plus a number. You can edit the textbox to change the node’s name (this is the same as clicking the name next to the node’s tile in the network editor). Node names can only contain letters and numbers. Spaces are not allowed in the name.

Gear menu

Use the items in this menu to Load and save parameter presets.

  • Edit the node’s parameter interface. See the Edit Parameter Interface window.

  • Save presets. Once you save a preset

  • Edit the node’s delete script (this lets you define a script that Houdini will run if/when the node is deleted).

  • Edit the node’s comment string.

Help (question mark)

Click to view documentation of the node’s parameters.

Text box color coding

Background color Meaning
Light Green

The parameter is controlled by an expression, and the current frame is a keyframe.

Cyan

The parameter is controlled by an expression but the current frame is not a keyframe (or the channel value at the current frame is disabled from the dopesheet).

Yellow

Pending keyframe (the current value at this frame is different from the keyed value, but you have not yet keyframed it).

Orange

The parameter is currently controlled by a channel operator (CHOP).

Controls

Angle icon

For edit fields which accept angular measurements, type the number of degrees in the edit field or press and drag on the angle icon to set the angle graphically.

Sliders

Polar jack

For edit fields which accept angular measurements, type the number of degrees in the edit field or drag the small point at the intersection of the two rings in the polar jack.

Input list

Some operators, such as the Merge SOP and Switch SOP, allow multiple inputs to their single input connector. In these operators, an input list appears in the parameters, where you can reorder or disconnect any of the inputs.

Color controls

See editing color parameters .

Parameter pop-up menu

Toggle Expression

Switch the text box between showing the computed value for the current frame and the expression itself.

HUD Sliders

See HUD sliders .

Step to Prev/Next Key, Set/Remove Keyframe

See how to manage parameter keyframes .

Copy Parameter, Paste Copied ..

See how to copying and pasting parameter values .

Scope Append Channels, Scope Channels

Show the parameter(s) in the channel editor.

Delete Channels

Removes any animation on the parameter, making it a static, constant value.