houdini_python_snippets

Various python snippets that I have found useful for use in Houdini Solaris.

Copy .hip path to clipboard

I usually put this into a shelf button for easy access.

path = hou.hipFile.path()
hou.ui.copyTextToClipboard(path)

Set Network Graph Display flag

hou.node("/stage/NodeName").setDisplayFlag(True)

isUIAvailable

I put this on the input parameter on a Switch node as a python expression. When the Houdini UI is active the switch value is 1 and so anything in that input will be active. Handy for when you want certain nodes to be active locally, and inactive when on the farm.

hou.isUIAvailable()

Callback Scripts

kwargs["parm_name"]
kwargs["script_multiparm_index"]

Sops

houdini_renderview_bg.py

Easily find and set the background image for the Mantra RenderView tab in SOPs.

Frustratingly, an image sequence isn't initially accepted and just the current frame is set, even if an image sequence is used. Workaround at the moment is to press 'D' when the cursor is over the pane, and re-select the image sequence.

houdini_pintabs.py

Quickly find and pin several node parameter tabs to specific tab panes

Lops

RenderVarEdit

Disable RenderVar objects in the SceneGraph and also within OrderedVars on the RenderProduct. Accepts the usual Houdini Lops primitive matching patterns patterns.

PerLightObject_RenderVar

Searches prims at the defined source(s) for Arnold light group names and creates a RenderVar per light group.