Right now I can bind parameters and settings to a handle so I can use exported parameters and hou.Handle.applySetting

But what if I want to pass geometry (or any other custom data) to the handle. One use case for example is custom collision for a handle.

I just can't wrap my head around it. Is there a way to communicate with the handle other from bound parameters and settings?

The way to communicate with handles in Houdini (built-in or python handles) is done through parameters, which provides a generic way for handling to We don't allow handles to access geometries directly for instance. Internally we have an intermediate object called a PI (not exposed to python) which is responsible to manage the parameter mapping/access between a node and a handle. We have some use cases internally that let the PI do pretty much whatever it wants with handles. Introducing a hook between a python state and a python handle is probably harmful for the encapsulation, but I guess it would make sense for highly specialized handles.

Thanks!

Well, I've managed to pass a node session id as an integer setting (I just set it through hou.Handle.applySetting on state enter). So basically I have reference to whatever I want.
It's actually working but I'm not sure how bad it is

elovikov
Thanks!

Well, I've managed to pass a node session id as an integer setting (I just set it through hou.Handle.applySetting on state enter). So basically I have reference to whatever I want.
It's actually working but I'm not sure how bad it is

I'm curious, are you binding a new setting and passing the node id to applySetting or just reusing an existing handle setting ?

Not sure if I'm not overcomplicating things...

I'm binding a new integer setting (like node_id) and then just pass node id on state start. That of course not ideal, setting is exposed and handle is not usable without a state.

But this is the only way I found where I can interact with the geometry.

Simple example is aligned handle:


I've attached a very basic example with the handle from image to illustrate what I'm doing

elovikov
Not sure if I'm not overcomplicating things...

I'm binding a new integer setting (like node_id) and then just pass node id on state start. That of course not ideal, setting is exposed and handle is not usable without a state.

But this is the only way I found where I can interact with the geometry.

Simple example is aligned handle:

Image Not Found

I've attached a very basic example with the handle from image to illustrate what I'm doing

Technically it works but it's also potentially problematic for the handle to cook a node it might be bound to in order to get the geometry. An alternative would be to align the handle from the state itself.

Take a look at geo_deformer_demo.hip