This may have been brought up previous…

Is there a way to add a channel to a node permanently (no, not creating my own local HDA version)

So for example, adding a float to a Scatter SOP?


cheers,
-j

Yep. A couple ways: Using the permanent defaults or by modifying the tool script.

Permanent Defaults Method
Create your spare parameter on the node.
In the gear menu (top right of the parms) select “Save As Permanent Defaults”.

Next time you place the node, you will have your parameter.

Tool Script Method
Since all nodes are tools with wrapper Python scripts, you can also do your customization here.
Find your tool on the shelf. Edit the script. For the Scatter SOP, you could edit to the following:

import soptoolutils

mynode = soptoolutils.genericTool(kwargs, ‘scatter’, allow_obj_sel = False)
my_parm = hou.FloatParmTemplate('myparm', “My Parm”, 1)
mynode.addSpareParmTuple(my_parm)

brilliant!