Creating New Nodes

Question

Hi All, 
 Just wondering if anyone has any experience creating icon/nodes from functions. 
 To explain what I am trying to do: 
 I have created a few functions using the basic method shown in the 2019_02 GC SIG "The GC SDK Digging_Deeper". 
 Using just a script in simple string form, as a easy way to get into creating Add-ins. 
 That all works fine as and we can utilise the function from the function dialog or using a function call. 
 
 I would however like to create an icon/node that I can link to this function. 
 I have created an icon/node and placed it into a NodeTypePaletteCateory etc 
 Just wondering what how I would go about calling the function I created? I assume I would need to create a funcitoncall as an input and populate it with the new function I created. 
 We are trying to make the custom function more accessible to new users that are more familiar with node based workflows. 
 
 Any help would be appreciated. 
 Will post the results, maybe someone will find it useful. 
 
 Thanks 
 Wayne

Jeff Brown · Accepted Answer

Hi Wayne, 
 I'm glad you're successful with your new node types. Congratulations! 
 Regarding your SplitList node type, I see the problem: In your NodeState's first constructor, you're missing this statement: 
 ResultList1Property = AddProperty(NameOfResultList1Property); 
 Sometimes it just takes a second set of eyes. 
 Jeff

Jeff Brown · Answer

Hi Wayne, 
 1. To make an output port appear on the node by default, add ".SetIsAlwaysPinned(PropertyDirections.Output)" to the end of your call to 'AddParameterDefinition' for that property. 
 Here I've added that phrase to the end of the two outputs on your SplitList node type: 
 technique1.AddParameterDefinition(environment, NameOfResultList1Property, typeof(object[]), "", Ls.Literal("The first part of the list."), NodePortRole.TechniqueOutputOnly).SetIsAlwaysPinned(PropertyDirections.Output); 
 technique1.AddParameterDefinition(environment, NameOfResultList2Property, typeof(object[]), "", Ls.Literal("The second part of the list."), NodePortRole.TechniqueOutputOnly).SetIsAlwaysPinned(PropertyDirections.Output); 
 2. I don't recommend forcing a node's color, since the node-color facility is intended for users to color the nodes as they wish, based on the significance of those nodes in their own GC models. 
 However, since you asked, here's how to force a node to be a particular color: Somewhere within the body of your class (but not within the embedded NodeState class), add this method: 
 
 public override System.Windows.Media.Color GetNodeColor(bool enablePropertyCalculatorIfThereIsOne=true) { return Colors.Orange; // ...Or whichever color you want. } 
 (Note: In order to use the types 'System.Windows.Media.Color' and 'Colors', your project must have a reference to the standard Framework assembly, PresentationCore. It probably already does.) 
 Jeff

Creating New Nodes

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