Context-Sensitive Rule-Based Hotkey System R8 | Houdini 20

Context-Sensitive Rule-Based Hotkey System for Houdini 20

Setup video: https://vimeo.com/390438508/0e1ba34f29

Current list of features:

1. Based on mnemonics and key layout for shorter key travel.

2. Ability to define hotkeys using a CSV file, and automatic regeneration of action dictionaries on the fly.

3. Seperate action for each context, keyboard modifier keys (Ctrl, Alt, Shift), mouse button states (LMB, MMB, RMB), and selection state (whether a node selection is present in the network editor or not).

4. Dual key actions that bring up a pop up menu that can be populated by a list of operators or any other custom action.

5. Ability to invoke custom Python functions.

6. Automatic node creation and intelligent connection algorithm:

If a single node is selected it will try to connect all outputs of the selected node to the inputs of the new node by index. If multiple nodes are selected, the nodes will be sorted from left to right and connected to the new node in this order. If no selection, then the new node will not be connected to anything.

For VOPs if a single node is selected, it will try to match all inputs of the new node to the outputs of the selected node and connect them if the types match. This works great if both nodes have a similar number of compatible inputs and outputs.

7. Ability to set default parameters on creation.

8. Ability to load a preset on creation.

9. Ability to define multiple node types for the same hotkey and automatically create the first available one, in case a node type is not available in a different build.

10. Transparent hotkeys that go through the overlay network editor and act on the current viewport, for actions such as Frame Selection/All, switch to different shading modes, switching to different views, toggling the transparency of the overlay network editor, etc.

11. Rapid network traversal tools mapped to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to display select/select/template/selectable template/bypass the nearest node, and Alt+combo for working on the selected nodes instead.

12. Intelligent actions to convert VOP nodes into other data types based on the first output data type:

To Float Or Vector, To Vector Or Float, To Vector4 Or Float, To Matrix3 Or Float, To Matrix Or Float.

13 Custom hotkey actions for resetting the network zoom level, pushing nodes in and out, custom jump up action that allows you to ascend to a context-less level, toggling the fullscreen mode, etc.

14. Rapid mouse-bound selection and navigation:

Shift+RMB: Dive Inside Nearest Node

Shift+MMB: Jump Up One Level

Ctrl+RMB: Display Select Nearest Node

Ctrl+MMB: Select Nearest Node