Basic steps for creating a simple tool ?

[br1]

Hi,

I have a small network of nodesdriven by motionfx that I'd like to use to drive the animation of different objects in another hip file. I thought to myself, ok let's make a tool out of this network and use that tool in my other file.

I Collapsed all those nodes into a Subnetwork. Yet everything still works as intended. If I plug a box or cylinder into my subnet input 1, everything moves as it should.

Now how do I make a tool out of this subnet1 node ? I I try to edit the parameters and expose a few more from my nodes, everything stops working and my parameter window starts with Input #1 Label, Input #2 Label, Input #3 Label, etc... before showing my custom parameters.

I guess I'm doing it wrong. I watched a few 3Dbuzz videos but didn't see what are the wrong steps I did. I also took a look at the tool Masterclass but it's a bit too high level for me at the moment.

I can post my basic file, but I don't think it's really necessary. I just want a bit more information on the workflow.

thanks

Br1

[michael]

if you're talking about building HDAs Jeff Wagner has a series of tutorials on his Old School Blog:

http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com...&Itemid=216

http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com...&Itemid=216

http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com...&Itemid=216

http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com...&Itemid=216

also the documentation will be valuable to look through.

[br1]

Hi Michael,

I hadn't see Jeff's blog about HDA, so I'll have a look at them tomorrow. The video seem to be done with Houdini 8. As I'm a newcomer and didn't play with Houdini before version 9, do you think those still apply ?

About the documentation, I was willing to learn a bit more about the Subnetwork surface node. But when using the help, I'm having a problem. The doc says :

"Please refer to sub-networks for a complete discussion and an example of how to use sub-networks."

But when I press the link which refer to http://localhost:48626/basics/organize, I end up on an error page, as if that part of the documentation was nonexistent.

Am I alone here, should I reinstall ?

Thanks

Bruno