Houdini 13.0 Nodes

interface version 1

Miscellaneous tools for ROP networks.

This operator contains various helper functions related to ROP rendering, such as progress reporting and pushing operator function buttons (or just simply specify a frame range for upstream ROPs).

Parameters

Frame Range

Regular ROP frame range settings. This can be used to specify a frame range for upstream render operators.

Verbose

A more detailed output log is written to the console (stderr) if this is enabled.

Message(s)

Messages to display at various phases of the rendering process. Their intended practical use is progress indication.

All message strings are “expanded” (i.e. variables, expressions, etc. work). Multi-line messages are also supported (even at pre/post-frame events).

Messages are displayed on the status line (first line only for multi-liners), and also written out to the console.

Timestamp and the operator name are always used as prefixes.

Example console output: * 

[130902 09:16.53 rop_tool_ql1]: ** STARTING RENDER [1..2] **
[130902 09:16.53 rop_tool_ql1]: (let's go baby!!)
[130902 09:16.53 rop_tool_ql1]: * Starting frame 1...
[130902 09:16.53 rop_tool_ql2]: * Frame 1 completed.
[130902 09:16.53 rop_tool_ql1]: * Starting frame 2...
[130902 09:16.53 rop_tool_ql2]: * Frame 2 completed.
[130902 09:16.53 rop_tool_ql2]: ** RENDER COMPLETED. **
[130902 09:16.53 rop_tool_ql2]: (is that all baby?!?!)

(* : where 130902 is short for 2013-09-02)

Tip

This might be stating the obvious, but if you want to display a render post-frame (or -render) message, this has to be done in a ROP Tool that is inserted after the actual rendering node.

(See the example file for more details.)

Push Operator Button(s)

A list of operator buttons to push in various phases of rendering. Any button of any network operator can be specified.

Pre-Render, Pre-Frame, Post-Frame, Post-Render

If enabled, the specified button will be pressed in the corresponding render phase. (The default setting is Pre-Render only.)

Operator Path

Path to the node containing the button. It can be any node in any network context.

Button

Parameter name of the button. The pop-up menu contains a few presets for the most frequently used button types.

(To see the actual parameter name of a button, hover over it with the mouse and it will be displayed in a tooltip.)

To Do

  • setting object visibilities

  • enable/disable OPs

  • ...

Release Notes

interface version 1 —

2014-09-17

Error messages are now properly propagated to asset container

2013-08-02

Added support for

  • progress message display

  • frame range (for upstream OPs)

2013-08-31

First version.