So I'm newer to houdini coming from 3ds max, and in modelling how can I simply duplicate an edge which is selected? In 3ds max I just had to select what I wanted and then hold shift and drag and that would make a copy, is their something like that in Houdini which I'm missing? seems like a must have, but i can't for the life of me find it, is it a keyboard shortcut like 3ds max or something else? I feel so dumb asking this but it's just not right in front of me like in 3ds max.

Thanks,

Daniel

This duplicate operation is actually not a standard in modelling packages. It is like an invitation to create bad geometry, but I agree that it should be available in every package.

In Houdini you can use a blast or delete node to isolate a selection, then move it with a transform node, edit node (or manipulate it with many many others) and then merge it with the geometry that you got it from. You could also build a shelf tool or Houdini Digital Asset (HDA) to automate this.

Hi, this is the exact thing I was missing in poly edit mode. It is super fast because just by holding shift and draging a mouse you could specify two things in one click (1/ extrude operation, 2/ extrude lenght). When you are using snap tool you also get specific lenght. This way I feel more like sculpting than clicking..

But hey, you could use polyextrude of selected edges, and you will also get several useful parameters.

Hope this helps

What does duplicating an edge mean? are you trying to create a new edge-loop? or split a face? extract an edge into a line segment?

@jsmack - yes, this was about extracting an edge into a line segment.