nicer extrude:
is it possible to include an option for
a multiple-face global extrude that
keeps the face continuity as best as
possible? (refer to 3sdmax ‘local
extrude’ which sort-of does this)

-cpb

if i understand what you are asking for correctly, houdini already has the ability to do this. once you have added a polyextrude, right-click on the handle and uncheck local control. now non-planar faces will extrude with continuity. if you mean something different, can you further explain it?

hope that helps

will

the following picture from the 3dsmax forum has the kind
of extrude I'm after but performed badly on the left-hand
side (the 3dsmax way) and the ideal on the right.
Houdini would, in this case, make a 45 degree protrusion
with global and two continuous, but intersecting extrusions
with local.

http://support.discreet.com/webboard/wbpx.dll/~3dsmax/upload/better%5Fextrude.jpg [support.discreet.com]

cpb
i think what you are after is an extrude by normal? which is not available.
and yes it woud be very much needed!!!!!!!!!!

This is a very specific case to handle but I see your point.

You can achieve this result but requires two steps. The first is to do what Will said and RMB on the handle then turn off local control then pull your faces. Next scale the faces back using the horizontal scale loop until you get it there. Certainly not exact or precise but close.

A good RFE. I will submit it.