• object merge node: like object teleporter for far links

• ref:
  • 5 Ways to Organize your Network in Houdini 17.5 (IndiePixel3D) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8yBoO-qvsk

• Python 3 and built-in PySide2
• houdini has its built-in qt library (PySide2), just import its own

  from hutil.Qt import QtCore, QtGui, QtWidgets

• houdini lic type check

  import hou
  lic = hou.licenseCategory()
  if lic == hou.licenseCategoryType.Apprentice or lic == hou.licenseCategoryType.ApprenticeHD or lic == hou.licenseCategoryType.Education:
      self.memoData['hda_ext'] = 'hdanc'
  elif lic == hou.licenseCategoryType.Indie:
      self.memoData['hda_ext'] = 'hdalc'

• core hou class
  • hou.HDADefinition (https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/hom/hou/HDADefinition.html)

    cur_def.libraryFilePath() # get file path
    cur_def.version() 
    cur_def.description()
    cur_def.comment() # user
    # set
    cur_def.setVersion('2.1') 
    cur_def.setDescription(description) 
    cur_def.setComment('update details') # user
    # --- check
    node.type().definition() is None # check if current node is hda
    node.matchesCurrentDefinition() # check whether the contents of the node are locked to its type definition
    # --- action
    node.allowEditingOfContents() # unlock node (Allow Editing of Contents)
    node.type().definition().updateFromNode(node) #  save the contents of an unlocked node to the definition (Save Operator Type)
    node.matchCurrentDefinition() # reload defition (Match Current Definition )

• detect selected hda node info

  import hou
  if len(hou.selectedNodes()) == 1:
      node = hou.selectedNodes()[0]
      if node.type().definition() is not None:
          hda_file_path = node.type().definition().libraryFilePath()
          print(hda_file_path)
          definitions = hou.hda.definitionsInFile(hda_file_path)
          print(definitions)
          for d in definitions:
              print(str(node) + " name: " + node.type().name() )
              print(str(node) + " version: " + d.version())
              print(str(node) + " description: " + d.description())
              print(str(node) + " comment: " + d.comment())
              print(str(node) + " path: " + node.type().definition().libraryFilePath())
      else:
          print("Selected node is not a HDA")
  else:
      print("Please select 1 hda node")

• HDA = houdini digital asset
• VHDA = versioned houdini digital asset
  • ref: create your own videos https://vimeo.com/458751335

• Houdini default menu source code:

  Houdini_VERSION\houdini\OPmenu.xml

  • related hda menu code

    #menu id: opmenu.create_hda
    kwargs["node"].canCreateDigitalAsset()
     
    #menu id: opmenu.vhda_options_create
    import hou
    import assettools
    node = kwargs["node"]
    if assettools.isSubnet(node):
        return 1
    else:
        return 0
     
    #menu id: opmenu.vhda_create
    import hou
    import assettools
    node = kwargs["node"]
    assettools.createNewVHDAFromSubnet(node)

• Houdini python API library path:

  Houdini_VERSION\houdini\python3.7libs\
  #hda related files
  assettools.py

* check and remove HDA

# hda_file_path: the path of hda file
cur_path = hda_file_path
if os.path.isfile(cur_path):
    # uninstall for safe
    definitions = hou.hda.definitionsInFile(cur_path)
    is_installed = 0
    for d in definitions:
        if d.isInstalled():
            is_installed = 1
    if is_installed:
        # Uninstall the HDA
        hou.hda.uninstallFile(cur_path)
    # remove action
    # os.remove(cur_path)

• [Houdini official] Houdini Digital Assets | 1. Introduction to HDAs (2021)
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybk8XWBnO4o