nodeEditor

Go to: Synopsis. Return value. Flags. Python examples.

Synopsis

nodeEditor( [string] , [addNewNodes=boolean], [addNode=string], [additiveGraphingMode=boolean], [allAttributes=boolean], [allNodes=boolean], [autoSizeNodes=boolean], [beginCreateNode=boolean], [beginNewConnection=string], [breakSelectedConnections=boolean], [control=boolean], [createInfo=string], [createNodeCommand=script], [cycleHUD=boolean], [defineTemplate=string], [deleteSelected=boolean], [docTag=string], [dotFormat=string], [downstream=boolean], [exists=boolean], [extendToShapes=boolean], [feedbackConnection=boolean], [feedbackNode=boolean], [feedbackPlug=boolean], [feedbackType=boolean], [filter=string], [filterCreateNodeTypes=script], [forceMainConnection=string], [frameAll=boolean], [frameModelSelection=boolean], [frameSelected=boolean], [graphSelectedConnections=boolean], [highlightConnection=string], [hudMessage=[string, int, float]], [ignoreAssets=boolean], [island=boolean], [keyPressCommand=script], [layout=boolean], [layoutCommand=script], [lockMainConnection=boolean], [mainListConnection=string], [nodeViewMode=string], [panView=[float, float]], [panel=string], [parent=string], [pinSelectedNodes=boolean], [popupMenuScript=script], [removeNode=string], [renameNode=string], [restoreInfo=string], [rootNode=string], [rootsFromSelection=boolean], [scaleView=float], [selectAll=boolean], [selectConnectionNodes=boolean], [selectFeedbackConnection=boolean], [selectNode=string], [selectionConnection=string], [settingsChangedCallback=script], [shaderNetworks=boolean], [showAllNodeAttributes=string], [showSGShapes=boolean], [showShapes=boolean], [showTransforms=boolean], [stateString=boolean], [syncedSelection=boolean], [toggleSwatchSize=string], [toolTipCommand=script], [traversalDepthLimit=int], [unParent=boolean], [unlockMainConnection=boolean], [updateMainConnection=boolean], [upstream=boolean], [useTemplate=string])

Note: Strings representing object names and arguments must be separated by commas. This is not depicted in the synopsis.

nodeEditor is undoable, queryable, and editable.

Return value

In query mode, return type is based on queried flag.

Flags

Long name (short name)	Argument types	Properties
exists(ex)	boolean
Returns true|false depending upon whether the specified object exists. Other flags are ignored.
defineTemplate(dt)	string
Puts a command in a mode where any other flags and args are parsed and added to the command template specified in the argument. They will be used as default arguments in any subsequent invocations of the command when templateName is set as the current template.
useTemplate(ut)	string
Force the command to use a command template other than the current one.
panel(pnl)	string
Specifies the panel that the editor belongs to. By default if an editor is created in the create callback of a scripted panel it will belong to that panel. If an editor doesn't belong to a panel it will be deleted when the window that it is in is deleted.
parent(p)	string
Specifies the parent layout for this editor. This flag will only have an effect if the editor is currently un-parented.
unParent(up)	boolean
Specifies that the editor should be removed from its layout. This cannot be used with query.
control(ctl)	boolean
Query only. Returns the top level control for this editor. Usually used for getting a parent to attach popup menus. Caution: It is possible, at times, for an editor to exist without a control. This flag returns "NONE" if no control is present.
mainListConnection(mlc)	string
Specifies the name of a selectionConnection object which the editor will use as its source of content. The editor will only display items contained in the selectionConnection object.
forceMainConnection(fmc)	string
Specifies the name of a selectionConnection object which the editor will use as its source of content. The editor will only display items contained in the selectionConnection object. This is a variant of the -mainListConnection flag in that it will force a change even when the connection is locked. This flag is used to reduce the overhead when using the -unlockMainConnection , -mainListConnection, -lockMainConnection flags in immediate succession.
selectionConnection(slc)	string
Specifies the name of a selectionConnection object which the editor will synchronize with its own selection list. As the user selects things in this editor, they will be selected in the selectionConnection object. If the object undergoes changes, the editor updates to show the change.
highlightConnection(hlc)	string
Specifies the name of a selectionConnection object which the editor will synchronize with its highlight list. Not all editors have a highlight list. For those that do, it is a secondary selection list.
filter(f)	string
Specifies the name of an itemFilter object to be placed on this editor. This filters the information coming onto the main list of the editor.
lockMainConnection(lck)	boolean
Locks the current list of objects within the mainConnection, so that only those objects are displayed within the editor. Further changes to the original mainConnection are ignored.
stateString(sts)	boolean
Query only flag. Returns the MEL command that will edit an editor to match the current editor state. The returned command string uses the string variable $editorName in place of a specific name.
unlockMainConnection(ulk)	boolean
Unlocks the mainConnection, effectively restoring the original mainConnection (if it is still available), and dynamic updates.
updateMainConnection(upd)	boolean
Causes a locked mainConnection to be updated from the orginal mainConnection, but preserves the lock state.
docTag(dtg)	string
Attaches a tag to the Maya editor.
addNewNodes(ann)	boolean
New nodes should be added to the graph, default is on.
addNode(an)	string
Adds a specified node to the graph. Passing an empty string means the current model selection will be added to the graph.
allAttributes(ala)	boolean
Attributes should not be filtered out of the graph, default is off.
allNodes(aln)	boolean
Nodes should not be filtered out of the graph, default is off.
autoSizeNodes(asn)	boolean
When enabled, default node widths will be dynamically determined by the node name length, default is on.
beginNewConnection(bnc)	string
Begin a new interactive connection at the given attribute.
beginCreateNode(bcn)	boolean
Begin interactive node-creation at the mouse position. This will create a control which allows quick creation of a node in the editor. The actual creation is delegated to the createNodeCommand.
createNodeCommand(cnc)	script
Specifies a function to be used to create nodes through the editor. The function will be passed the name of the chosen node type. This is used by the tab-create workflow. By default createNode is used.
cycleHUD(ch)	boolean
Change the HUD to the next state.
dotFormat(dot)	string
In query mode: Get the graph information in DOT format. The flag argument specifies a file path to write to. If "-" is supplied, the data is returned as a string, otherwise the size in bytes of the written file is returned. In edit mode: Sets the positions of nodes in the graph from a Graphviz output file in plain format. Only the node position, width and height information is used. If the argument starts with "graph ", it will be treated as the plain data instead of a filename. In query mode, this flag needs a value.
downstream(ds)	boolean
Include nodes which are downstream of the root nodes.
filterCreateNodeTypes(fcn)	script
Specifies a function to be used to filter the list of node types which appear in the inline-creation menu (tab key). The function should accept one string array argument and return a string array.
ignoreAssets(ia)	boolean
Do not display asset contents as subgraphs, instead show asset-related nodes as normal nodes, default is off.
upstream(ups)	boolean
Include nodes which are upstream of the root nodes.
rootNode(rn)	string
Add a node name as a root node of the graph. Passing an empty string clears the current root node list. When queried, returns the list of current root nodes.
rootsFromSelection(rfs)	boolean
Specify that the root nodes for the graph should taken from the currently active selection.
selectAll(sa)	boolean
Select all items in the graph.
selectNode(sln)	string
Select a node in the graph. Passing an empty string clears the current selection. When queried, returns the list of currently selected nodes.
syncedSelection(ssl)	boolean
Keep the graph selection in sync with the model selection.
toolTipCommand(ttc)	script
Specifies a function to override the tooltip that is displayed for a node. The function will be passed the name of the node under the cursor, and should return a text string to be displayed. A simple HTML 4 subset is supported.
traversalDepthLimit(tdl)	int
Specify the maximum number of edges which will be followed from any root node when building the graph. A negative value means unlimited. Default is unlimited.
layout(lay)	boolean
Perform an automatic layout of the graph.
layoutCommand(lc)	script
Specifies a function to override the default action when a graph layout is required. The function will be passed the name of editor. The function should arrange the nodes in the graph.
frameAll(fa)	boolean
Frame all the contents of the node editor.
frameModelSelection(fms)	boolean
Frame the current model selection.
frameSelected(fs)	boolean
Frame the selected contents of the node editor.
island(isl)	boolean
Graph DG islands instead of dependency nodes.
popupMenuScript(pms)	script
Set the script to be called to register the popup menu with the control for this editor. The script will be called with a string argument which gives the name of the editor whose control the popup menu should be parented to.
scaleView(sv)	float
Scales the graph view by the given factor. An argument of zero means reset to default.
showAllNodeAttributes(saa)	string
Display all attributes for the given node, not just primary attributes.
showShapes(ss)	boolean
Show shape nodes.
showSGShapes(ssg)	boolean
Show shapes which are connected to the network through a shading group.
showTransforms(st)	boolean
Show transforms.
extendToShapes(ets)	boolean
Include child shapes for each selected transform.
feedbackConnection(fbc)	boolean
Returns a description of the feedback connection(s) in the editor view, if any. The connection(s) will be returned as a list of strings, which are pairs of plugs for each connection.
feedbackNode(fbn)	boolean
Returns the name of the feedback node in the editor view, if any.
feedbackPlug(fbp)	boolean
Returns the name of the feedback plug (attribute) in the editor view, if any.
feedbackType(fbt)	boolean
Returns the most specific type of the feedback item in the editor view, if any. Will be one of "plug", "node", "connection" or an empty string. Use the other feedback* flags to query the item description.
hudMessage(hm)	[string, int, float]
Display the given message on the editor HUD. The flag arguments are (message, type, duration), where type is: upper-left corner. top center. upper-right corner. Duration 0 means the message stays until removed. Duration > 0 means it stays for that number of seconds. An empty message erases whatever is currently displayed for the given type.
removeNode(rem)	string
Removes a node from the graph. An empty string indicates that currently selected nodes should be removed.
renameNode(ren)	string
Rename a node in the graph. Depending on the zoom level of the view, an edit field will either appear on the node item or in a popup dialog to allow the new name to be entered.
restoreInfo(ri)	string
Restores the editor state corresponding to supplied hyperGraphInfo node.
createInfo(ci)	string
Creates or modifies a hyperGraphInfo network to save the state of the editor.
deleteSelected(deleteSelected)	boolean
Delete the selected nodes and break the selected connections.
keyPressCommand(kpc)	script
Specifies a function to be called when a key is pressed and the editor has focus. The function will be passed the name of the editor and an (uppercase) string representation of the key that was pressed, and should return true if the key was handled, and false if it was not. Note: `getModifiers` can be used to query the current state of key modifiers.
nodeViewMode(nvm)	string
Sets the attribute view mode of selected nodes in the active scene. Mode values are: "simple" (no attributes displayed), "connected" (connected attributes only), and "all" (all interesting attributes displayed).
panView(pv)	[float, float]
Pan the view by the given amount. Arguments of 0 0 will reset the view translation.
settingsChangedCallback(scc)	script
Specifies a function to be called whenever settings for the node editor get changed.
toggleSwatchSize(tss)	string
Toggles the swatch size of the given node between small and large.
pinSelectedNodes(psn)	boolean
Pins or unpins the selected nodes.
shaderNetworks(sn)	boolean
Graph the shader network for all the objects on the selection list that have shaders.
breakSelectedConnections(bsc)	boolean
Break the selected attribute connections.
graphSelectedConnections(gsc)	boolean
Graph the nodes connected by the selected attribute connections.
selectConnectionNodes(scn)	boolean
Select the nodes connected by the selected attribute connections.
selectFeedbackConnection(sfc)	boolean
Select the feedback connection(s) in the editor view, if any.
additiveGraphingMode(agm)	boolean
When enabled the graphing will add node networks to the existing graph instead of replacing it.

Flag can appear in Create mode of command	Flag can appear in Edit mode of command
Flag can appear in Query mode of command	Flag can have multiple arguments, passed either as a tuple or a list.

Python examples

import maya.cmds as cmds

cmds.window()
form = cmds.formLayout()
p = cmds.scriptedPanel(type="nodeEditorPanel", label="Node Editor")
cmds.formLayout(form, e=True, af=[(p,s,0) for s in ("top","bottom","left","right")])
cmds.showWindow()