Network Managing dependencies

Tools for revealing dependencies between nodes.

Get a list of dependencies on a node

Right-click a node in the network editor and choose View dependencies.

The window shows which parameters of the target are used by other nodes, and which parameters use values from other nodes.

Use the View menu to choose whether to list parameters that depend on this node (Dependents) or references to other node in this node’s parameters (References).

Houdini color-codes the parameter name in the dialog:

Black (normal)

The parameter is referenced/dependent.

Grey

Ambiguous. The parameter may be dependent, but the dependency checking isn’t fine-grained enough to tell for sure. For example, dependency checking works at the parameter level, so Houdini might see a dependency on the Translate parameter, but not know if the dependency is in tx, ty, or tz (or all three).

Red

Circular reference. This node references a parameter on another node, and that node references this node.

Yellow

Ambiguous circular reference.

Show dependencies as visible links in the network editor

  1. In the network editor, press D to open the display options (or right-click the background and choose Viewing controls > Display options).

  2. Click the Network view/Dependency tab.

  3. Use the checkboxes to make various dependencies visible in the network editor.