Command Send TOP node

Sends code to a shared server to execute.

You need to use this node in conjunction with a shared server like the Python Server, Houdini Server Begin, Maya Server Begin, or Nuke Server Begin.

This node sends a command or custom code to a server, depending on what the server accepts. The Houdini Server runs Python code that uses the HOM API, the Maya Server uses MEL or Python, and the generic command server uses the format defined by its server implementation.

When executing Python code, a work_item object is automatically made available. You can use this to read or write data from PDG. This work_item object supports a subset of the pdg.WorkItem API.

myattr_value = work_item.stringAttribValue('myattr')
file_path = save_my_file(myattr_value)
work_item.addResultData(file_path)

The command script is evaluated in a temporary namespace, so any local variables you create will be cleaned up afterwards. If you wish to use a variable in a subsequent command, you should make it global.

# Make myvar visible to subsequent commands on this server
global myvar;
myvar = 42;

Note

When using this node with a Maya Server, the command script is assumed to be Python code unless //mel is the first line of the script, in which case the script text is treated as MEL code. The last line of the MEL script determines the value that is added to the Command Send work_item.

Parameters

Command

Work Item Generation

Whether this node generates static or dynamic work items. You should generally leave this set to "Automatic" unless you know the node’s work items can be computed statically, or that they need to be generated dynamically.

Dynamic

This node always creates dynamic work items: it waits until the upstream work items are known, and generates new work items from the upstream work items.

Static

This node always creates static work items: it creates the number of work items it thinks it needs based on the parameters (and any upstream static items) before the network runs.

Automatic

If the input is static (a static processor, or a partitioner with only static inputs, or a mapper), this node generates static work items, otherwise it generates dynamic work items.

Cache Mode

How the processor node handles work items that report expected file results.

Automatic

If the expected result file exists on disk, the work item is marked as cooked without being scheduled. If the file does not exist, the item is scheduled as normal.

Read Files

If the expected result file exists on disk, the work item is marked as cooked without being scheduled. Otherwise the work item is marked as failed.

Write Files

Work items are always scheduled and the excepted result file is ignored, even if it exists on disk.

Copy Spare Parms to Attributes

When enabled, all spare parms are copied to generated work items as attributes. If there are parms that you want to prevent being copied apply the tag pdg::nocopy.

Remote Script

Specifies the code to send to the shared server.

If the server is a Houdini Server this script should contain Python code and you can make use of the HOM API in it. If the server is a Maya Server, this script should contain python code for the Maya API.

Output

Expected Output From

Determines how the expected output file paths are added.

You can supply the expected output file paths to the node if you want to make use of caching and/or access these paths downstream.

None

No expected outputs are added.

Attribute

The given attribute name is evaluated and added as expected outputs. This can be a file or string array attribute.

File List

The given output file paths are added.

See also

TOP nodes

Attribute Array

Creates and modifies array attributes on work items.
Attribute Copy

Copies attributes from work items in one branch onto work items in another branch.
Attribute Create

Creates or sets an attribute on all incoming work items.
Attribute Delete

Removes attributes from work items.
Attribute Rename

Renames attributes on work items.
Attribute from String

Parses attribute values from a string, such as a file name.
Block Begin Feedback

Starts a feedback loop. TOP nodes within the block execute serially, optionally looping for each incoming work item.
Block End Feedback

Ends a feedback loop. TOP nodes within the block execute serially, optionally looping for each incoming work item.
CSV Input

Copies data from a CSV file into work item attributes.
CSV Output

Writes work item attributes to a CSV file.
Command Send

Sends code to a shared server to execute.
Command Server End

Ends a command server block.
Deadline Scheduler

The PDG scheduler for Thinkbox’s Deadline software.
Download File

Downloads the contents of one or more URLs into files.
Environment Edit

Edits the variables set in the environment work item command lines execute in.
Error

Create warnings or errors when a condition is met
Error Handler

Error handler for failed work items.
FFmpeg Encode Video

Encodes a sequence of still images as a video file.
FFmpeg Extract Images

Extracts a sequence of still images from a video file.
File Compress

Compress files into an archive.
File Copy

Copies a file from one location to another, either at runtime or whenever the node generates.
File Decompress

Decompresses archive files specified by incoming work items into individual files.
File Pattern

Creates work items based on files that match a certain pattern.
File Range

Creates a range of work items based on files that match a certain pattern.
File Remove

Deletes a file at a specified path.
File Rename

Renames or moves a file.
Filter by Expression

Conditionally filter upstream work items
Filter by Range

Filter upstream work items that fall within a specified frame or attribute range
Generic Generator

Generates work items with no attributes that run a command line.
Geometry Import

Loads points or primitives from a SOP or geometry file into work item attributes or a temporary file.
HDA Processor

Creates work items that cook a digital asset
HQueue Scheduler

Schedules work items using HQueue.
Houdini Server Begin

Starts a persistent Houdini command server
ImageMagick

Provides easy access to ImageMagick functionality such as mass image convert, resize, and image mosaics.
In Process Scheduler

Controls the scheduling of in-process work items
Invoke

Invokes a compiled block on input geometry
Json Input

Extracts data from JSON files and creates attributes
Json Output

Performs various operations that produce JSON output
Local Scheduler

Schedules work items on the local machine.
Make Directory
Map All

Maps all upstream work items to downstream work items.
Map by Expression

Maps upstream work items to downstream work items using an expression
Map by Index

Maps upstream work items to downstream work items based on their index.
Map by Range

Map upstream work items to downstream work items using range values
Maya Server Begin

Starts a persistent Maya command server
Merge

Merge all upstream work items
Nuke Server Begin

Starts a persistent Nuke command server
Null

Does nothing
OP Notify

Notify an OP node that some TOP work has completed
Output

Subnet output
Partition by Attribute

Partitions work items based on their attributes
Partition by Bounds

Partitions source items spatially using the bounding items.
Partition by Combination

Partitions work items into pairs, triples, etc
Partition by Comparison

Partitions work items using existing comparisons
Partition by Expression

Partitions work items based on an expression
Partition by Frame

Partitions work items based on their frame
Partition by Index

Partitions work items based on their index
Partition by Node

Partitions work items based on their node
Partition by Range

Partition work items based on range values
Partition by Tile

Partitions work items spatially using axis-aligned bounding boxes.
Perforce

Execute Perforce commands through PDG
Python Mapper

Maps work items using a Python script
Python Partitioner

Partitions work items using a Python script
Python Processor

Generate work items using a Python script
Python Scheduler

A Python-based programmable Scheduler for PDG.
Python Script

Creates work items that run a script
Python Server Begin

Starts a python command server.
ROP Alembic Output

Creates work items that cook an embedded Alembic ROP node
ROP Composite Output

Creates work items that cook an embedded Composite ROP node
ROP Fetch

Creates work items that cook a ROP node or network.
ROP Geometry Output

Creates work items that cook an embedded Geometry ROP node
ROP Mantra Render

Creates work items that cook an embedded Mantra ROP node
ROP USD Output

Creates work items that cook an embedded USD ROP node
Range Generate

Generates work items on the specified range
Render IFD

Creates work items that render an IFD file with Mantra
SQL Input
SQL Output
Send Email

Sends an email.
Shotgun Create

Creates shotgun entities
Shotgun Delete

Deletes entities from shotgun
Shotgun Download

Downloads shotgun attachments
Shotgun Find

Finds shotgun entities
Shotgun Server Begin

Starts a persistent Shotgun command server
Shotgun Update

Updates shotgun entities
Shotgun Upload

Uploads files to shotgun
Sort

Sorts work items by a list of attributes
Split

Splits upstream items in two
Subnetwork

Container for TOP nodes
Switch

Switch which between network branches
TOP Fetch

Cooks another TOP network
TOP Fetch Input

Input to a TOP fetch-ed network
Text Output

Writes text to a new file or appends to an existing file.
Tractor Scheduler

Schedules work items using Pixar’s Tractor.
USD Import

Creates work items from prims found in a USD stage.
USD Import Files

Creates work items from file references found in a USD stage.
USD Render

Creates work items that render a USD file.
Wait for All

Waits for all upstream work items to complete.
Wedge

Creates work items with varying attribute values.
Work Item Expand

Expands file lists or partitions into multiple work items
Xml Input

Extracts data from XML into Work Item attributes