node editor, nodes keep rearranging

[reniferziolo]

Hello everyone,

Whenever I connect nodes to chosen "channels" they jump around the node editor viewport, making me loose track of my progress. It's really confusing. I don't know how to fix this. Any help appreciated!

[benm3d]

Is this still not sorted?

At least when I rigged using the old hypershade node editor stuff stayed in one place.

This is *&^%%*(% useless on any rig over a few nodes.

adding MAYA_ENABLE_LEGACY_HYPERSHADE=1  to my maya.env to go back to old hypershade graph is a vague workaround, but takes away the point of the node editor..

Autodesk reps? Any feedback?

[paulluttrellTA]

nope it still does this **** in Maya 2018. Haven't tried 2019 yet

[johnkeates2865]

It's buggered in 2019 also. People suggest the option to automatically pin nodes, but that can actually make things worse.

The thing just needs a good looking at an an overhaul (re-write?).

[benm3d]

Yes. Tried pinning. It just means half your nodes sit still whilst the
recently connected ones fly hundreds of units south.

I'm using Connection Editor rather than Node to make multiple links because
at least it stays in one place.

Must learn Houdini...

Bm

[reniferziolo]

Hello everyone,

It's funny to see that the Autodesk crew marked this issue as solved and gives no crap anymore. The pinning never worked for me, I use nodes in the hypershade only but would be great if they somehow fixed it. (is it that hard to keep the nodes were they went and crate a new one  near it?)

[johnkeates2865]

"Tried pinning. It just means half your nodes sit still whilst the
recently connected ones fly hundreds of units south."

Yep. I got exactly the same. It beggers beliefe how it could be so bad. I mean... we are talking about 2d space here...

[benm3d]

So.. support request in:

" I'm currently senior TD/rigger and this is making it impossible to do my
job properly in Maya. As the (100+ seat) studio also uses Houdini, I'm
looking at having them move the work across to Houdini.
Can one of the tech team come in on the forum thread and tell us when this
is getting solved? Because all it needs is nodes NOT to do anything in the
display."

Apparently " It looks like your question is a great candidate for Autodesk
Directly experts. To get you the fastest answer possible, we’d like to
direct your question to a group of known, vetted and trusted Autodesk
experts available via the Directly platform. These experts are Autodesk
enthusiasts who have related knowledge and experience using your product.
In most cases, you can expect to receive a response within minutes. "

So that's nice... Autodesk enthusiasts who are also experts... up til now
I'd assumed the two were mutually exclusive.

Can I suggest everyone else submit their own support ticket so the feedback
algorithms start paying attention.

[benm3d]

So the feedback from the Autodesk Expert -

  I did some tests about these problems and here is my result: 

There are some bugs in the Node Editor and i think this is the main problem. 

1. When opening the Node Editor the it creates an Auto Layout based on the current selection. 
When creating a new connection the first time after opening this auto layout, the re-arranging happens. It does not happen for the second time (for example when re-setting the layout/connections and try the same again). 
However after saving and re-loading the scene or when closing and re-opening the Node Editor it happens again (for the first connection made). 

2. Nodes created automatically like unitConversion nodes will NOT be placed at the "correct" position, they will be created based on the position of nodes when opening the Node Editor. So for example, if you move 2 nodes far to the right and create a connection, then an inbetween unitConversion node will be created far at the left where the nodes have been before. 

3. Options > Pin all nodes by default 
will be ignored for the first connection (see 1.) 
I can't see any difference with this option "on" or "off" 


I will report these bugs. 


I also recommend to create a new Maya Idea for Node Editor layout / node arrangement: 
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/maya-ideas/idb-p... 
Developers check this frequently and look how they can improve Maya for customers. 
Please add the link for the Maya Idea also to the forum here: 
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/maya-forum/node-...

There is already an Idea where some of these problems and other features requests are mentioned in the comments, but not in the main "Idea". 
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/maya-ideas/impro... 


If there is anything i overlooked or if you have any further questions about this, please feel free to ask. 

(However Autodesk policy does not allow to talk about future products so i can't say when this will be solved. But i will follow this, cause i also have sometimes the problem searching for nodes the have been re-arranged.) 



Best Regards, 

Name removed by benm3d
Autodesk Expert Elite 
More than 20 years of experience in all kinds of media production

AUTODESK • 510 ANSWERS • 100% HELPFUL

I just wanted to add that "1. When opening the Node Editor..." is per node, so this happens for the first connection of any node that triggers a re-arrangement

• YOU

  Thanks for taking a look. 
  
  I'll post this to the forum. 
  
  Autoarrange needs to be an option that can be turned off. 
  
  If I pin a node, or autopin a node, it needs to stay exactly where I put it unless I unpin it. 
  
  If extra nodes are autocreated by a connection, the best place to put them is between the two items that are connected. 
  
  If I'm building a node tree, I want the nodes to stay where I bloody put them. 
  
  I should be able to build something like a Nuke script in the Node Editor.

[BenediZ]

Same problems are in the Hypershade..

And if you create new nodes and forgot to close before the tab, they mess up the existing layout, you can't turn it off.

[benm3d]

The expert says:

• • The forum is not a good place to report bugs. The developers don't read this. 
    It's a user forum and offers users the possibility to help other users. 
    If you are not sure if a certain behavior is a bug you can post it there, or if you are searching for a workaround or any other kind of help. 
    
    But if you are aware of a bug and want it to be fixed, then the best way is to report it to Autodesk by using in Maya main menu: 
    Help > Speak Back > Report a problem 
    
    If you want a new feature then add this to Maya Ideas. 
    
    A short update about "Options > Pin all nodes by default". 
    I think i found the problem. 
    This only works for new nodes created or added to the window. 
    But this feature will not be saved, it will be unchecked every time you close the Node Editor. 
    Because of this it does not work with initial networks displayed in the Node Editor. 
    If the state of this feature would be saved it should work as expected, as pinned nodes do not move. 
    
    The only workaround for now would be to pin all nodes displayed initially and then enable "Options > Pin all nodes by default" (every time you open the Node Editor)

[benm3d]

 
"So basically we've just been sat in in a room by ourselves yelling at each other?" 
- Yes. Sometimes it's good to keep a thread alive and a problems public, but it's not a replacement for submitting a bug-report or contacting support, which can/should be done at the same time. 

You heard him.. so report the bug formally if you want stuff to have a chance of happening.

[sketchaholic]

I recently switched from 2015 to 2018.  This issue wasn't present in 2015.  I was hoping that it was just a new setting that I wasn't aware of.   

[benm3d]

You need to formally report it as a bug for Autodesk to take any action.
The more people do this, the more it gets flagged to the dev team.

[slandiof]

XD  I'm pretty sure the dev team is aware of this by this point. Does anyone at Autodesk ever actually use Maya?

[benm3d]

The more official reports they get, the more priority it gets, and the more
it is confirmed it's not a user error problem.

If we only complain on the forums, there is no official report going in and
we're basically sat in a room shaking our fists at the ceiling.

Forum is for peer to peer advice, not reporting things that are definite
bugs. (See earlier discussions )

[slandiof]

yep that makes sense, i just reported it as a bug. autodesk is a wonder

[sketchaholic]

I think I found it.  Setting this made it so that the graph is not re-arranged (even when unit conversion nodes are added).  Specifically checking "Pin all Nodes by default" AND un checking "Auto-Size Nodes."  This was on my mac.  I'll try on a windows machine later.  Does this work for any one else? 

[reniferziolo]

Will check it out

[mspeer]

Hi!"

@sketchaholic .

Will this setting (Pin all Nodes by default) be saved and restored if you close and re-open the Node Editor?