Python state handles

How to bind handles to your state and react to user interaction with the handles.

On this page

Overview
Static handles
Dynamic handles
- onHandleToState
- onStateToHandle
Handle types
- HUD integer slider settings
- HUD slider settings

Python viewer states

Overview

The standard way to allow the user to interactively edit parameters by working in a node’s viewer state is by binding handles to node parameters.

Even though it’s possible to interpret lower-level input device events, handles are likely still the main way you will set up user interaction in your state. Handles can be very powerful on their own, letting you specify a ready-made user interface for a wide variety of parameter setups. You can choose from a large library of different handles.

You bind handles to your state when the state template is created. Currently, you cannot dynamically create or destroy handles – you must specify ahead of time all the handles your state will need. However you can dynamically manipulate handles with hou.Handle.

Static handles

A static handle binding supports a simple 1:1 mapping of handle parameters to node parameters. This is often all you need, since handle parameters such as translate, rotation, scale, length, and so on, often correspond exactly to parameters you have on your node.

For each static handle you want to add to your state, call hou.ViewerStateTemplate.bindHandleStatic() with the name of the handle type, an internal name for the handle (each handle’s name must be unique amongst other handles in the tool), and a list of ("node_parm_name", "handle_parm_name") tuples mapping node parameters to handle parameters.

class PythonMeasureState():
    def __init__(self, state_name, scene_viewer):
        self.state_name = state_name
        self.scene_viewer = scene_viewer


template = hou.ViewerStateTemplate(
    "pythonmeasure.pystate",
    "Python Measure",
    hou.sopNodeTypeCategory()
)
template.bindFactory(PythonMeasure)

# Assume the asset this state is for has two translate
# parameters, "start" and "end"
template.bindHandleStatic(
    "xform", "start_handle",
    [("startx", "tx"), ("starty", "ty"), ("startz", "tz")]
)
template.bindHandleStatic(
    "xform", "end_handle",
    [("endx", "tx"), ("endy", "ty"), ("endz", "tz")]
)

Dynamic handles

Dynamic handle bindings let you decide in a callback function how changes to a handle affect parameters on the node, or how changes to parameters on the node affect handle parameters.

For each static handle you want to add to your state, call hou.ViewerStateTemplate.bindHandle() with the name of the handle type, and an internal name for the handle (each handle’s name must be unique amongst other handles in the tool).

Note

hou.ViewerStateTemplate.bindHandle() takes a cache_previous_parms boolean argument.

If you pass cache_previous_parms=True, Houdini keeps track of the handle values and in the handle callback gives you both the previous and the new handle values. This can be useful if you want to track deltas, for example to see how fast the user is moving the handle.

If you pass False (the default), Houdini does not pass the previous values to the handle callback.

from __future__ import print_function
import hou

class PythonTwistState():
    def __init__(self, state_name, scene_viewer):
        self.state_name = state_name
        self.scene_viewer = scene_viewer

    def onHandleToState(self, kwargs):
        # Called when the user manipulates a handle

        handle_name = kwargs["handle"]
        parms = kwargs["parms"]
        prev_parms = kwargs["prev_parms"]

        print("User edited handle:", handle_name)
        for parm_name in kwargs["mod_parms"]:
            old_value = prev_parms[parm_name]
            new_value = parms[parm_name]
            print("%s was: %s now: %s" % (parm_name, old_value, new_value))

    def onStateToHandle(self, kwargs):
        # Called when the user changes parameter(s), so you can update
        # dynamic handles if necessary

        parms = kwargs["parms"]
        print("Parameters are now:", parms)
        for p in parms:
            print(p)


template = hou.ViewerStateTemplate(
    "pythontwist.pystate",
    "Python Twist",
    hou.sopNodeTypeCategory()
)
template.bindFactory(PythonTwistState)
template.bindHandle("xform", "twist_handle", cache_previous_parms=True)

The dictionary passed to the dynamic handle event methods contains the following standard items:

node

Contains a hou.Node instance representing the node being operated on by the current state.

Menu items

The dictionary also contains the current values associated with menu items, using the menu item name as the key.

onHandleToState

This lets you update node parameters (and/or the state/display) when a handle changes.

The dictionary passed to this method contains the following extra items:

handle

The string ID of the handle.

parms

A dictionary containing the new handle parameter values.

mod_parms

A list of of the names of parameters that changed.

prev_parms

This key is only present if you passed cache_previous_parms=True to the hou.ViewerStateTemplate.bindHandle() method.

This is a dictionary containing the previous handle parameter values. This can be useful for computing deltas.

ui_event

A hou.UIEvent object to access the handle status. For instance, you can use the hou.uiEventReason value returned by hou.UIEvent.reason() to know if the user has started or finished dragging the handle.

These hou.uiEventReason values have different meanings for onHandleToState:

uiEventReason.Active: User is dragging the handle.
uiEventReason.Changed: User has finished dragging the handle. prev_parms should contain the most recent handle values at this point.
uiEventReason.Start: User has started dragging the handle.
uiEventReason.Picked: Handle menu action, hotkey or mouse click. For instance, a Picked value is generated when clicking on a HUD slider.

onStateToHandle

This method is called separately for each dyanmic handle bound to your state whenever a parameter on the node changes. It lets you update handle parameters to match changed node parameters.

The dictionary passed to this method contains the following extra items:

handle

The name of the handle.

parms

A dictionary mapping the handle’s parameter names to values. You can change the values in this dictionary to edit the handle parameters.

In this method you would read parameters from the node’s parameters, and do whatever dynamic updates of the handle’s parameters in kwargs["parms"] you want:

def onStateToHandle(self, kwargs):
    node = kwargs["node"]
    handle_parms = kwargs["parms"]
    if kwargs["handle"] == "my_angle":
        node_tx = node.parm("tx").evalAsFloat()
        handle_parms["tx"] = node_tx * 2

Handle types

Name	Description	Parameters
`angle`	A position and rotation handle.	`input, onoff, px, py, pz, rx, ry, rz, scale, trs_order, tx, ty, tz, xyz_order`
`bboxvector`	Bounding Box Vector	`input, onoff, scale, twist, tx, ty, tz, vx, vy, vz`
`boundingbox`	Bounding Box	`bound_type, centerx, centery, centerz, constant_scale, onoff, rx, ry, rz, sizex, sizey, sizez, uniform_scale`
`boundingrect`	Bounding Rectangle	`centerx, centery, centerz, constant_scale, onoff, orient, rx, ry, rz, sizex, sizey, sizez, uniform_scale`
`boundboundingbox`	Bounder Bounding Box	`centerx, centery, centerz, constant_scale, onoff, orient, rx, ry, rz, sizex, sizey, sizez, uniform_scale`
`circle`	Circle Transform	`onoff, orient, rx, ry, rz, sx, sy, tx, ty, tz`
`clayxlate`	Clay Translate	`input, onoff, tx, ty, tz, u, v`
`curvepoint`	Curve Point Options	`keepingeo, pointlist`
`distance`	Distance	`dist, input, onoff, px, py, pz, vx, vy, vz`
`domain`	Domain	`input, onoff, u0, u1, v0, v1`
`edit`	Edit	`brushswitcher, dist, handle_group_pivot, input, inputtype, localspace, onoff, pivot_comp_rx, pivot_comp_ry, pivot_comp_rz, pivot_comp_shear_xy, pivot_comp_shear_xz, pivot_comp_shear_yz, pivot_comp_sx, pivot_comp_sy, pivot_comp_sz, pivot_comp_trs_order, pivot_comp_tx, pivot_comp_ty, pivot_comp_tz, pivot_comp_xyz_order, pivot_rx, pivot_ry, pivot_rz, px, py, pz, rx, ry, rz, shear_xy, shear_xz, shear_yz, switcher, sx, sy, sz, trs_order, tx, ty, tz, upx, upy, upz, xyz_order`
`extrude`	Extrude	roup_pivot, grst_order , grx , gry , grz , gshear_xy , gshear_xz , gshear_yz , gsx , gsy , gsz , gtx , gty , gtz , gxyz_order , input, onoff, pivot_comp_in_obj_prexform, pivot_comp_rx, pivot_comp_ry, pivot_comp_rz, pivot_comp_shear_xy, pivot_comp_shear_xz, pivot_comp_shear_yz, pivot_comp_sx, pivot_comp_sy, pivot_comp_sz, pivot_comp_trs_order, pivot_comp_tx, pivot_comp_ty, pivot_comp_tz, pivot_comp_xyz_order, pivot_rx, pivot_ry, pivot_rz, px, py, pz, roffsetx, roffsety, roffsetz, rpivotx, rpivoty, rpivotz, rpostx, rposty, rpostz, rprex, rprey, rprez, rx, ry, rz, shear_xy, shear_xz, shear_yz, soffsetx, soffsety, soffsetz, spivotx, spivoty, spivotz, sx, sy, sz, trs_order, tx, ty, tz, uniform_scale, xyz_order
`extrude2`	Extrude v2	input, onoff, pivot_comp_in_obj_prexform, pivot_comp_rx, pivot_comp_ry, pivot_comp_rz, pivot_comp_shear_xy, pivot_comp_shear_xz, pivot_comp_shear_yz, pivot_comp_sx, pivot_comp_sy, pivot_comp_sz, pivot_comp_trs_order, pivot_comp_tx, pivot_comp_ty, pivot_comp_tz, pivot_comp_xyz_order, pivot_rx, pivot_ry, pivot_rz, px, py, pz, roffsetx, roffsety, roffsetz, rpivotx, rpivoty, rpivotz, rpostx, rposty, rpostz, rprex, rprey, rprez, rx, ry, rz, shear_xy, shear_xz, shear_yz, soffsetx, soffsety, soffsetz, spivotx, spivoty, spivotz, sx, sy, sz, trs_order, tx, ty, tz, uniform_scale, xform_front, xyz_order
`fallbackvector`	Vector with Fallback	`onoff, scale, useval, vx, vy, vz`
`hudintslider`	HUD Int Slider	`value, onoff` settings
`hudslider`	HUD Slider	`value, onoff` settings
`isosegment0`	Isoparm Segment	`input , knotu, knotv, onoff, scale, useu, width`
`isosegment1`	Isoparm Segment	`input, onoff, knotu, knotv, scale, useu, width`
`mousewheelbump`	Mouse Wheel Bump	`onoff, value`
`mousewheelradius`	Mouse Wheel Radius	`radius`
`pasterange`	Paste Range	`input1, input2, onoff, u0, u1, v0, v1`
`peak`	Peak	`dist, input, onoff, radius`
`pill`	Pill	`botheight, botrx, botry, botrz, cbotheight, cbotrx, cbotry, cbotrz, colorb, colorg, colorr, corient, crx, cry, crz, csx, csy, csz, ctopheight, ctoprx, ctopry, ctoprz, ctx, cty, ctz, czfactor, orient, onoff, rigadjrx, rigadjry, rigadjrz, rigadjsx, rigadjsy, rigadjsz, rigadjtx, rigadjty, rigadjtz, rigadjzfactor, rx, ry, rz, topheight, toprx, topry, toprz, tx, ty, tz, x, y, z, zfactor`
`pivot`	Pivot	`input, onoff, tx, ty, tz`
`project`	Project	`axis, input, onoff, scale, twist, vx, vy, vz`
`softxform`	Soft Transformer	input, localspace, onoff, pivot_comp_in_obj_prexform, pivot_comp_rx, pivot_comp_ry, pivot_comp_rz, pivot_comp_shear_xy, pivot_comp_shear_xz, pivot_comp_shear_yz, pivot_comp_sx, pivot_comp_sy, pivot_comp_sz, pivot_comp_trs_order, pivot_comp_tx, pivot_comp_ty, pivot_comp_tz, pivot_comp_xyz_order, pivot_rx, pivot_ry, pivot_rz, px, py, pz, roffsetx, roffsety, roffsetz, rpivotx, rpivoty, rpivotz, rpostx, rposty, rpostz, rprex, rprey, rprez, rx, ry, rz, shear_xy, shear_xz, shear_yz, soffsetx, soffsety, soffsetz, spivotx, spivoty, spivotz, sx, sy, sz, trs_order, tx, ty, tz, uniform_scale, upx, upy, upz, xyz_order
`sphere`	Sphere Transformer	`onoff, orient, rx, ry, rz, sx, sy, sz, tx, ty, tz`
`translate`	Translate	`input, onoff, tx, ty, tz`
`torus`	Torus Transformer	`onoff, orient, rx, ry, rz, sx, sy, tx, ty, tz`
`tube`	Tube Transformer	`onoff, orient, rx, ry, rz, sx, sy, sz, tx, ty, tz`
`uisoparm`	U Isoparm	`input, k, onoff`
`uvedit`	UV Edit Manipulator	`input, onoff, px, py, rz, shear_xy, sx, sy, trs_order, tx, ty, xyz_order`
`uvedit_reversez`	Texture Transformer	`input, onoff, rz, sx, sy, tx, ty`
`uvpoint`	UV Point	`input, onoff, px, py, pz, rx, ry, rz, sx, sy, sz, u, v`
`uvproject`	UV Project Manipulator	`onoff, projtype, px, py, pz, rx, ry, rz, sx, sy, sz, torrad, trs_order, tx, ty, tz, xyz_order`
`uvrange`	UV Range Manipulator	`onoff, projtype, px, py, pz, rx, ry, rz, sx, sy, sz, torrad, trs_order, tx, ty, tz, u0, u1, v0, v1, xyz_order`
`uvxform`	UV Transform Manipulator	`group_pivot, input, onoff, px, py, rz, shear_xy, sx, sy, trs_order, tx, ty, xyz_order`
`uvunwrap`	UV Unwrap Manipulator	`input, onoff, projplanes, px, py, pz, ref_input, rx, ry, rz, trs_order, tx, ty, tz, xyz_order`
`vector`	Vector	`input, onoff, scale, twist, tx, ty, tz, vx, vy, vz`
`visoparm`	V Isoparm	`input, k, onoff`
`xform`	Transformer	input, onoff, pivot_comp_in_obj_prexform, pivot_comp_rx, pivot_comp_ry, pivot_comp_rz, pivot_comp_shear_xy, pivot_comp_shear_xz, pivot_comp_shear_yz, pivot_comp_sx, pivot_comp_sy, pivot_comp_sz, pivot_comp_trs_order, pivot_comp_tx, pivot_comp_ty, pivot_comp_tz, pivot_comp_xyz_order, pivot_rx, pivot_ry, pivot_rz, px, py, pz, roffsetx, roffsety, roffsetz, rpivotx, rpivoty, rpivotz, rpostx, rposty, rpostz, rprex, rprey, rprez, rx, ry, rz, shear_xy, shear_xz, shear_yz, soffsetx, soffsety, soffsetz, spivotx, spivoty, spivotz, sx, sy, sz, trs_order, tx, ty, tz, uniform_scale, xyz_order

HUD integer slider settings

hudh: Height

hudharbourname('name') Assigns the slider to a group. Sliders in the same group will dock together.

hudharbourx(int) Slider group X position.

hudharboury(int) Slider group Y position.

hudnameside(int) Label position: top(1), left(2), right(3), bottom(4)

hudrangehigh(int) Slider range high value.

hudrangelow(int) Slider range low value.

hudlockhigh(int) High value limits.

hudlocklow(int) Low value limits.

hudvalueside(int) Value position: top(1), left(2), right(3), bottom(4)

hudx(int) X position in the viewer pane.

hudw(int) Y position in the viewer pane.

hudw(int) Width

HUD slider settings

hudh: Height

hudharbourname('name') Assigns the slider to a group. Sliders in the same group will dock together.

hudharbourx(int) Slider group X position.

hudharboury(int) Slider group Y position.

hudnameside(int) Label position: top(1), left(2), right(3), bottom(4)

hudrangehigh(float) Slider range high value.

hudrangelow(float) Slider range low value.

hudlockhigh(float) High value limits.

hudlocklow(float) Low value limits.

hudvalueside(int) Value position: top(1), left(2), right(3), bottom(4)

hudx(int) X position in the viewer pane.

hudw(int) Y position in the viewer pane.

hudw(int) Width

Python viewer states

Python state selections

Python state guide geometry

Python state handles

Overview

Static handles

Dynamic handles

onHandleToState

onStateToHandle

Handle types

HUD integer slider settings

HUD slider settings

Python Scripting

Getting started

Next steps

Python viewer states

Guru level

Reference