Houdini Resources

Updated on June 26  2024


Houdini Interface Tips

Deborah R. Fowler



Houdini Interface Tips:

Posted 2013
Updated on Aug 4  2024


Check out the shot scult tip and lit spheres on Paul Esteves - 8 Houdini Tips (July 8/2022) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loAvP68H8SM

TIP Interface improvements H19 and up
TIP:
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For more information on Houdini env variables go to:

GUI for Demos:

TIP: you can set the environment variable HOUDINI_UISCALE to a larger value for demos (tested on Windows 10)

SPACEBAR (or ALT as of H12.5up) for the camera view manipulation

Copy a node with full references? shift ctrl fn alt and drag mouse OR right-click the node and Actions/Create Reference Copy

Edges? H14 and up - read viewport instructions.

Function name help? In a textport window use exhelp. For example, exhelp opinputpath.

Grouping geometry? Select parts, then hit tab in the scene view and select group

Lasso select to change a bunch of object displays (works with parameters too)

Promoting parameters In VOPS? MMB to promote parameter, RMB to expose parameter

VOPS short names? Edit -> Preferences -> Network Editor, Nodes, and Trees uncheck the checkbox that says Show Full Input and Output Names on VOP nodes. (can also be set in houdini.pref file with tiles.fullinoutnames.val := 0; see forum post).

Visualizing Information

On the information popup you can click on the attribute to see it in the viewport - thanks Entagma
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A short list of commonly used hot keys below: (updated for H14, now H19)

Hot Keys

View
   Result - toggle the key for turning on and off
select alt drag
network
   select nodes and then alt drag from bottom dot to create merge Thanks @simon_houdini
 a and drag
network
   hold a and drag the mouse to align nodes (or select them) Thanks @simon_houdini
c network
   gives the color palette
y network
   hold to give you scissors to disconnect nodes
alt(on wire) network
   adds an elbow (delete to get rid of it while selected)
r and lasso select network
   toggles display (w will toggle template, q or b toggles bypass)
p network
   displays the parameters for the selected node
g or h network
   g home selected, h home all
shift-r
network
   swaps the inputs to the merge node for example - click on merge node, shift-r
shift-s network
   toggles between the straight or rounded wiring style
ctrl f
network
   allows you to search your node network for a name
other options
network
  
   use the eyeball for various display settings such as the node ring display
l
network    tidies (lines up) the network (but beware of network boxes and stickies - ignored)
ctrl-enter
network
   commit changes to vexpressions or text in the font node
arrows
network
   arrows beside context listing allows you to go back and forth between contexts
ctrl scene view    ctrl clicking an object from the create shelf tool will put is it at the origin
   (just as clicking the object and then hitting enter does)

e - r - t
scene view
   scale - rotate - translate
ctrl-shift
scene view
   grab multiple elements
double LMB
scene view
   grab an edge and double click LMB to select edge loop
2-3-4
scene view
   selection of points, edges, primitives
lit spheres
display option
   thanks to Paul Esteves 8 tips - shows points as sphere with pscale value

Note that if you hold ctrl down and click on a light it takes the position currently in the viewport

bundle list is like a selection set
parameter spreadsheet - easy place to manipulate multiple values

TIP: USE the data tree for light linking (new data tree works with instanced lights - "light linker" should not be used - use data tree instead)

Looking for details view In pops in dops?  you can access the "details view" by right clicking the node and selecting the spreadsheet. NOTE In H14 and up it is now called the Geometry Spreadsheet.

TIP: (use CTRL-ENTER to commit changes in the vex snippet window, also works on the font node)
pre-made snippets are contained in the multi-line editor drop-down menu
 
Have a favorite Houdini tip? email me and I'll add it to the list.

Not that you'd ever want to do this ;-), but if you bring in an fbx from Maya you can use the Pre-Flight Scene under the Render menu to resolve file references (Thanks Drew!)