When you connect an output port to an input port of a different type, a small ("collapsed") node called a type converter is inserted.
Sometimes you might want to use a type converter node without it being collapsed, for example if trying to connect it to multiple output ports. This screen capture by Bodysoulspirit (https://vuo.org/comment/2836) demonstrates with the Mix Audio Channels
node as the type converter: Auto Shrink.mov.
So, instead of always collapsing a type converter when it becomes connected on both ends, only collapse ones that were automatically inserted from a cable drag, and never collapse ones that were manually added from the node library.
Workaround until this is implemented: Connect the type converter node's output port to multiple input ports before connecting its input port. This leaves it un-collapsed.
Comments
Opened for voting.
Opened for voting.
thx for the workaround Jaymie
thx for the workaround Jaymie
I guess if we have collapsable nodes for other types of nodes in the future (to be more efficient with graph real-estate) for example in QC-land minimal splitters, math and logic patches then a right-click to swap state from one to the other would be handy.
I've often used the
I've often used the workaround when wiring up a collection of outputs, then connecting inputs after, but what I like about that technique is that the collapsable nodes collapse automatically if possible. I really like the ability to collapse nodes, even when I've added them myself; I'd be disappointed to see this incidental functionality disappear.
Perhaps another solution would be to allow Vuo composers to collapse and uncollapse nodes as needed, maybe with just a right-click. Whether the current automatic collapse functionality is altered or not, it would be nice to have a little more control over these things.
@Philip, agreed. As part of
Philip, agreed. As part of this feature request, we'll plan to add a right-click menu item to collapse/uncollapse a type-converter node.
Is there room to expand
Is there room to expand collapsable nodes outside of just type-converters? For instance:
Add
,Multiply
,Spint Off Event
/Value
...Get Item from List
where theList
port gets sent data, butWhich
is entered manually...Append Texts
node (with a / separator) to compile the pieces of a URL for an image that will be fed into aMake Image Layer
node. The first four nodes could be collapsed in this chain:Append Texts
>Fetch Image
>Invert Image Colors
>Convert Image to Layer
>Render Layers to Window
(As it is now, only the second last node is collapsed automatically.)@Philip, that's an
Philip, that's an interesting idea. To avoid expanding the current feature request beyond its complexity of 1 dot / up to a few days of work, I've created a separate feature request covering items 1 and 2: Ability to collapse other nodes besides type converters.
For item 3, I think a good way to accomplish that would be with the separate feature request plus Ability to create composition-local subcompositions. You could group the nodes into a subcomposition and give it a meaningful name, which would be displayed when you collapse the subcomposition node.
I had a visual concept for
.
Moderator note: