kunz Difference between revisions of "Customizing the Houdini Interface"

Difference between revisions of "Customizing the Houdini Interface"

From kunz
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Download the .desk file and place it in your local preferences desktop directory $HOME/houdiniX.x/desktop/
Download the .desk file and place it in your local preferences desktop directory $HOME/houdiniX.x/desktop/


You can switch between desktops here https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/ref/menus.html#desktop
You can switch between desktops here https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/basics/panes.html#layouts


By default Houdini starts up in the Build desktop, but you can change that here [https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/ref/windows/mainprefs.html#ui]
By default Houdini starts up in the Build desktop, but you can change that here [https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/ref/windows/mainprefs.html#ui]

Revision as of 14:36, 14 October 2021

Houdini provides almost limitless customization, it's easy to be overwhelmed at first as there's lots of different places where you change settings.

Outlined below are the steps I take to customize Houdini to my liking.

Get the Slate Theme

For a flat user interface, I'm using this Slate Theme from Odforce I found a while ago. It eliminates a lot of the shading on UI elements like buttons and tabs. I find it easier on the eyes as well as more simplified modern look.

The theme can be downloaded here Slate_Theme_Houdini.zip, unzip the files and put them in your $HOME/houdiniX.x/config/ directory. The next time you launch Houdini, you should see the Slate theme as an option in your Edit > Color Settings Window

Changing the Desktop Layout

Download the .desk file and place it in your local preferences desktop directory $HOME/houdiniX.x/desktop/

You can switch between desktops here https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/basics/panes.html#layouts

By default Houdini starts up in the Build desktop, but you can change that here [1]

Simplifying Node Shapes

https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/network/menus.html#view_menu

Show Custom Node Shapes -> Disable, so all nodes are rectangular


https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/network/menus.html#tools_menu

Make Room for New Nodes -> Disable


https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/ref/windows/mainprefs.html#net

Use simplified shape when node shapes -> Enable, uses an even simpler default node shape (a simple rectangle instead of a rounded rectangle)

Animate network changes -> Disable


https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini/network/options.html#display

Default node colors -> Disable

Changing the Splash Screen

Some aspects of Houdini can only be customized through Setting Houdini Environment Variables.

You can customize the following Houdini Environment Variables by editing $HOME/houdiniX.x/houdini.env

HOUDINI_SPLASH_FILE = ~/hsplash/hsplash_014.png
HOUDINI_SPLASH_MESSAGE = WELCOME ${USER}@${HOSTNAME}\\nVERSION: ${HOUDINI_VERSION}
HOUDINI_UI_QUEUE_SIZE = 2500000
HOUDINI_NO_START_PAGE_SPLASH = 1
HOUDINI_MAX_FILE_HISTORY = 32
HOUDINI_ENABLE_OLD_PRESETS = 1
HOUDINI_USE_OTL_AS_DEFAULT_HDA_EXT = 1