Can I make the Node Editor's Icon Swatches big by default?

[mgoncalvesAV38C]

Can I make the Node Editor's Icon Swatches big by default?

I like to work on the Hypershade and the Node Editor with the big icons. 

But it's annoying to have to press the button to make then bigger every new project.

Is there a way for me to make this the default?

So every time I create a new project the nodes will have the big icons?

[brentmc]

Hi,

There is no preference for this so the only way to change the default swatch would be to modify Maya's installed .mel files and add the "-nodeSwatchSize large" flag to the places where the Node Editor is created.

If that is something you are interested in then reach out and I'll provide details but I wouldn't recommend modifying installed Mel files as it could create other problems. (and you would need to reapply your changes each time Maya is updated etc) 

[mgoncalvesAV38C]

Hi @brentmc, 

Can I make the suggestion to have this as an option in the preferences? I'm surprised it isn't there as an option.

And yes, I'm interested in your suggestion It is simply a pain in the as to have to click the button all the time. if it was just once per file it would be ok, but Maya does not remember that you clicked the button Every time I graph another Material i have to hit the button to get the bigger icons.

What do I have to do to use the "-nodeSwatchSize large" flag?

[brentmc]

Hi,

I logged a feature request for this: MAYA-121748 - Node Editor: add a preference for large swatches

If you want to modify your installed Mel files to add the flag for large swatches then you need to modify 1) nodeEdCreateCallback in nodeEditorPanel.mel and 2) createNodeEditor in hyperShadePanel.mel.

[mgoncalvesAV38C]

Cool, thanks for logging the request.
about the mel files, where do I find them? Which folder?

[brentmc]

They should be under runTime/scripts/others in your Maya installation.

Don't forget to back them up before modifying them.

[mgoncalvesAV38C]

I'm not finding the folder. 

Can you type the whole address for Windows 10?

[brentmc]

Should be under C:\Program Files\Autodesk\...

[mgoncalvesAV38C]

Thanks, I found them now.

Can you point exactly where I should put the flag?

I took a look at the .mel files and they are quite complex. I assume it should be in the function definition with the names you gave me?

[brentmc]

If you are not comfortable with Mel you might want to reconsider modifying your installed Mel files.

Search for the Mel proc names I mentioned in each file. Those procedures each have a big nodeEditor command so just add the flag in there on a separate line like this:

global proc nodeEdCreateCallback(string $panelName) {
...
	string $ned = ( $panelName + "NodeEditorEd" );
	nodeEditor
		-unParent
		-nodeSwatchSize large
		-showNamespace `optionVar -q nodeEdShowNamespace`
...