Implement "grouping" in the Node Editor

[trevor.adams]

(Copied from original User Voice forum)

"... (like in Houdini, Softimage ICE, Fabric Engine Sub-graphs).

Basically, we need a functionnlity similar to: 
- Houdini "Digital Assets" 
- Softimage ICE "Compounds" 
- Fabric Engine "SubGraphs"

We should be able to: 
- Group nodes by consolidating their inputs and outputs into one (implode) 
- Ungroup node (explode) 
- Register a group for future reuse (should be versionnable) 
- Change the used version for a registered group instance 
- Export/Import a registered group

This would greatly enhance the rigging/fx workflow and allow people to share their work on the internets.
ex: https://vimeo.com/90308439"

"Would be perfect to be able to group or concatenate a set of node and only publish the important inputs and outputs."

[klebedaja]

It is actually crazy that this doesn't exists already. I know there were "assets" or something earlier but it's gone in last few version. Can't put to words how important this is. We have such complex shading graphs and not being able to group certain nodes is total show stopper.

My 2 cents.

[Kranos_Orphydian]

absolutely agree

[mcw0]

WOW!  You guys are hardcore nodeEditor users.  I'm just starting to cross over from hypergraph.  LOL.  And all I want is for connections not to cross.  Why does this happen by default?  Maya knows the order of the plugs, can't it figure out the logic to arrange input and output connections without having them cross?

[mcw0]

OH, forgot one more thing.  In Maya if you select 2 nodes and open the connectionEditor, the first is on the left and the second is on the right.  Not with the nodeEditor.  It only works if you select your 2 nodes from the same graph.  If you select a node first outside of the nodeEditor and you select the second node from the nodeEditor, the connectionEditor will reverse the selection. 

If you select the first object in a nodeEditor graph and then go to a second nodeEditor graph and select a second object.  Then open the connectionEditor, again, the second node is on the left and the first node is on the right.  Why doesn't Maya test for consistency!!!