Shir Manor

Quick set ups

When working on VEX heavy projects you can simply apply an existing expression in the click of a button, have various snippets apart of one pipeline? select > apply, select > apply and your all set. No need to remember complete set ups, simply name it, organise it for later and make your changes on the fly.

Snappy lightweight UI

Built entirely in python this responsive and quick UI is made from no more than 2000 lines of python, logic (and CSS - notice the styling) this tool instantly runs and is of no expense to your memory.

On The Move

This tool is ideal for artists who work in multiple places and would like to localize their vexpression.txt file either on a usb/cloud or wherever, simply load your file and its corresponding folders.txt file and you will have all of your snippets and notes wherever you go.

Save time fishing through folders

This UI automatically loads your current vexpressions.txt file according to version, if you're tired of copying your file time and time again after every new build, simply load it up from a single location when needed.

Versioning

If you've created a snippet and have multiple attributes or values that you are happy with for specific use cases you can simply use the slider, hit and save or update version for storing various versions of the same snippet all under one title, keeping your interface clean and organised.

Other ways to use this script

Notes, references, task list... and more

Instead of leaving notes all over your nodes which is great in some cases, you could alternately use this tool to save notes, references or other ideas you have to file, using this function in the same way you could have a reference list of colours, instructions, project specific notes or anything else and then easily organise these into a folder all inside the Vex Code Manager, the way you use it is up to you!

Key Features

• Out of wrangle workflow: Build script templates for your most commonly used vexpressions and apply them where needed without damaging existing code, want to save an iteration? Store current version with the slider and keep experimenting.

• User-Friendly Interface: Clean, intuitive layout for easy access to VEX code and note taking.

• Load/Create VEX Document: Easily load existing scripts or create new ones.

• Categories/Groups: Organise VEX snippets into custom folders or categories.

• Drag & Drop: Move your snippets around, into and out of folders.

• Search Functionality: Quick searching through VEX snippets by keywords.

• Save: Save changes to a snippet or save a new snippet by simply clicking away from any selection and then pressing save,
  your input VEX and title will now be saved to file.

• Edit: Safely update your VEX or VEX name and press edit to store.

• Import: Easily import snippets from your selected node with one click

• Delete: Removes code snippets entirely.

• Apply: Pressing the apply button appends your code to the end of your wrangles vex snippet without replacing any code to avoid accidents.

• Append: Click the A button to swap to Append mode and easily append snippets to the end of your code without replacing existing snippets.

• Rename: Double click on your code to rename and press enter.

• Robust Find & Replace: A complete tool set for searching your code, replacing one or many words.

• Autocomplete: “@” or Typing the beginning of known functions will bring up the Houdini native functions.

• Version Control: Create and manage multiple versions of your VEX code using the slider and drop down menu found next to the save button, click the drop down to see all save, edit, delete and version functions.

• Scalable UI: Adaptable UI for screens of all sizes.

• Preset Management: Reads and manages current vexressions.txt presets.

Shortcuts

• General

  • Ctrl + G: Creates a new folder from your selected snippets.

  • Ctrl + N: Creates a new, empty folder.

  • Ctrl + F: Shows/hides the Find & Replace bar.

  • Delete: Deletes the selected folder(s) or snippet(s) (with all their versions).

  • F2 / Double-Click: Rename the selected item.

  • Enter: Confirms a rename.

• Code Editor

  • Ctrl + /: Toggles commenting on selected lines.

  • Tab: Indents selected lines.

  • Shift + Tab: Un-indents selected lines.

Non-Destructive Workflow

• Folder Management: The folder structure is saved separately to ensure that your VEX code is never affected. The path to the folder structure is:

     C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\houdiniXX.X\vexpressions_folders.txt

• Safe Interactions: The VEX code is read from:

     C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\houdiniXX.X\vexpressions.txt