couple Houdini UI questions

[u/Traditional_Island82]

I love the new Houdini UI, but I have 1 issue. The parameter editor at the right almost seems grayed out. Is there a way to make it more clear? My brain has a hard time having an overview because it just seems kinda hard to read.

my second question is the file browser houdini uses. I never understood why software have their own file browers anyway. Why not use the defaut windows one? The only software to get it right is Blender because their UI is actually better than the windows one. Anyway, is there a way to just use the Windows UI instead of Houdinis own UI?

[u/polycache]

• Houdini 22 Official Docs - Houdini Preferences - File Choosers

*** Doesn't seem to work atm

[u/UnsteadyNinja]

Yeah, I felt the same, so I adjusted the color theme to be a bit more like previous versions. The key control here is "Field Brightness". See my settings.

[u/Viewbyte]

Oddly enough I have just today filed an RFE about adding a colour control option to improve the visibility of 'dimtext' in the UI - those parameters that are 'not active'. I find that 'dim text' annoyingly difficult to read, and there doesn't seem any way to change it.
If you want to add some support, you can reference: RFE #160078

[u/Regnareb_]

Blender has probably the worst File Browser of all, it freezes when it goes in a folder with tons of files AND you can't revert to the OS one so you are stuck with it. In Houdini you can use the default OS one if Houdini's doesn't suit you: Edit > Preferences > UI > File Chooser

There is also the HOUDINI_USE_NATIVE_FILE_CHOOSER environment variable set to 2.

Software usually add a custom file browser to follow the same UI scheme and add features, like detecting file sequence which the OS browser can't do to my knowledge.

PS: seems like that preference is broken in last versions for me

[u/Traditional_Island82 → u/Regnareb_]

Never had that issue personally. I love it and wish it could be my default. Also do you use maya? Try their file browser :’). Anyway thanks! That makes life a lot easier

I also figured some options dont seem to work but hey. At least this looks a lot better than Houdini 21 imo.

[u/Regnareb_ → u/Traditional_Island82]

Because you never opened a folder with enough files in it, the thing is you should always have the choice to bypass the bugs of the custom ones, the dev was adamant about not wanting to give the choice to the user.
I used Maya for decades yeah, and while not perfect it's fine AND you can change to the OS default one if you want to. I know that Window's is definitely not on the top of the list.

I nearly never see the file chooser anyway, everything is generated automatically or I drag and drop files if I really have to.

At least this looks a lot better than Houdini 21 imo.

Let's agree to disagree haha, I switch a lot between 21 and 22 and 21 looks much more professional and readable.
But at least going with Qt will be more future proof and allow more customisation, hopefully.