Reference Parameter editor

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 on the node’s tile in the network editor

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.

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.

Click to view documentation of the node’s parameters.

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.

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.

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.

See editing color parameters.

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

See HUD sliders.

See how to manage parameter keyframes.

See copying and pasting parameter values.

Show the parameter(s) in the channel editor.

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

Return to the previous parameter value.

Options for scoping parameters as well as setting and removing keyframes.

Additional menu with options for working with expressions.

Options for motion effects such as: Cycle, Cycle with Offset, Despike, Lag, Limit, Noise, Shift, Smooth, Spring, Stretch, and Wave.

Copies the parameter to the clipboard.

Pastes in the values of the parameter on the clipboard. If you copied parameters with expressions, this will paste the computed values of the expressions.

Pastes the values and expressions of the parameter on the clipboard. Does not convert expressions to values.

Pastes a reference to the copied parameter (using the ch expression function). Unlike pasting a copy of the value of the other parameter, this expression will fetch the other parameter’s value every time it is evaluated, so it stays up to date with the current value of the other parameter.

This command inserts an expression with an absolute path to the copied parameter. To insert a relative reference instead, use Paste Copied Relative References.

Same as Paste Copied References, but the ch expression uses a relative path to the copied parameter, instead of an absolute path.

Pastes a copy of the channel. Once the channel is pasted, it is independent from the original channel and can be modified without altering the original.

Adds the parameter to the take. For more information on takes, see Create variations with takes.

Locking a parameter protect it from being edited.

Resets the value to the current default. If you have changed the default value with Make Current Value Default, it will be reset to this value, not the default value that ships with Houdini.

Resets defaults to the ones that ship with Houdini.

Makes the current value the default so that every time you create a new node it will have the new default value.

Adds parameter to the Existing Parameter list in the Operator Type Properties dialog.