wrangle nodes pragma?

[bunker]

Does anyone knows if it's possible to define the UI of Wrangle nodes using some kind of vex #pragma?

[davpe]

you can define UI by code like

@myparm = ch("mychannel");

this will reference a float channel named "mychannel". the slider value will be then picked as an input value for associated parameter "myparm"

referenced channels are created by clicking on "Create spare parameters for each unique call" (located by the right side of the vex editor window).

for other kinds of UI you can use functions chramp (for ramps), chi (for integer channel), etc...

 

[bunker]

I meant for more advanced UI definition, eg: setting the default values of parameters, min/max ranges, name of parameters in the UI,... 
something like pragmas, but the wangle equivalent, if that exists:

#pragma range seed    0 10
#pragma label amp    "Noise Amplitude"
#pragma hint __nondiffuse toggle // Define as a toggle button

[davpe]

it does exist, never used it thou. check this docs page anyway: http://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/vex/pragmas.html

[davpe]

...but typically you can do everything you need via Edit Parameter Interface dialog and saving node presets. pragmas are used mostly when you're writing shaders or that kind of low level stuff.

[jkunz07]

If you look at 

$HFS/houdini/python2.7libs/vexpressionmenu.py

This is the the script they use to build the parameters by calling 

vexpressionmenu.buildSnippetMenu('attribwrangle/snippet')

It might be possible to expand on their code to fit your needs, or submit an RFE for more capabilities to be added to this function beyond channel data type detection.

[bunker]

thanks John, I think I'll submit and RFE yes.

[ikoon]

Hi @bunker

first I want to thank you very much, you give precious info on the forum and you helped me many times!

As regards this thread. Did you find any solution? I scripted this for myself:
http://lex.ikoon.cz/vex-ui-markup/

On the bottom of that page, there are some examples. Here is another one:

[bunker]

Thanks Jiri!

yes this is exactly what I was looking for - just never had the time to do it myself.
Would be great if Sidefx added this feature 

[ikoon]

I hope it may help you. The initial idea is from here, Matt Estela.

I tried to make the python scripts as clean as possible, but I have to say I am python beginner. So let me know if you get any errors, I will try to fix them asap.

It would be really easy for SESI to implement something like this, but maybe the biggest problem is to agree on the markup system, on the conventions and rules.

[Bandu]

Thanks @ikoon,

this is awesome !!

Thanks a lot, I will use it for sure !