3dsinghvfx/align_nodes

This tool allows to align the nodes of node-editor.

Align Nodes

This tool allows to align the nodes in any nodes editor e.g., Shader Nodes Editor, Compositing Nodes Editor, Simulation Editor, Animation Nodes Editor, Sverchok Nodes Editor.

Installation:

• Download the zip file Align Nodes add-on.
• Open the Blender, go to Edit -> Preferences -> Add-ons.
• Press the Install button, locate the zip file of Align Nodes add-on, install it.

How to Use Align Pie:

• Press the shortcut key Shift + E in any node-editor, an Align Pie menu will pop up.
• The Align Pie menu has eight nodes alignment operations:
  • Dependent (Right) - Aligns all dependent nodes w.r.t active node to its right side.
  • Dependencies (Left) - Aligns all dependencies nodes w.r.t active node to its left side.
  • Selection (Top) - Stacks up all selected nodes w.r.t active node.
  • Selection (Bottom) - Stacks down all selected nodes w.r.t active node.
  • Selection (Top Right) - Aligns only the header of all selected nodes w.r.t active node.
  • Selection (Top Left) - Aligns only the header of all selected nodes w.r.t active node.
  • Selection (Bottom Right) - Aligns only the side of all selected nodes w.r.t active node to its right side.
  • Selection (Bottom Left) - Aligns only the side of all selected nodes w.r.t active node to its left side.
• You can change the default Horizontal Offset (side distance between nodes) and Vertical Offset (height distance between nodes) from the preferences of the add-on.

How to Use Snap Pie:

• Press the shortcut key Shift + Q in any node-editor, an Snap Pie menu will pop up.
• The Snap Pie menu has six nodes snaps operations:
  • Snap Bottom (Top Left) - Snaps the bottom of all selected nodes w.r.t active node.
  • Snap Height (Top) - Snaps the height center of all selected nodes w.r.t active node.
  • Snap Top (Top Right) - Snaps the top of all selected nodes w.r.t active node.
  • Snap Left (Left) - Snaps the left side of all selected nodes w.r.t active node.
  • Snap Width (Bottom) - Snaps the width center of all selected nodes w.r.t active node.
  • Snap Right (Right) - Snaps the right side of all selected nodes w.r.t active node.

align_nodes's Issues

After choosing the Align Nodes .zip file to install, nothing happens

After I select the addon .zip file to install, nothing happens. Go back to the addon screen and it is not there to be active.
I am using version 2.79b.
I tried to compress the files again loose in the .zip file and also inside a folder, but none of the options worked in version 2.79b that I have installed here.

Blender 2.93 Support

Doesn't seem to work in 2.93. I have it installed but the pie menus don't come up when using the default shortcuts or custom shortcuts.

Looking forward to getting this working. It looks very helpful :)

Thanks

Feedback

Found this addon last night and its really handy. I do have some feedback. First is the hotkey, when you add the addon, nothing is shown about the hotkeys. It could be a nice idea to add hotkey options in the preferences.

The naming of the modes is a bit vague, why not give them clear names. For instance, we see 2 times selection, i guess the placement in the pie-menu tells as what side it will align to. But why not simply give it left, right etc etc. Also the other ones like dependencies and dependent.

The vertical offset doesnt seem to work on all nodes. I tested super simple scene with a couple material outputs and Princibled BSDF and i noticed the material outputs did seem to work, yet the Princibled BSDF did not get that offset.

After i tried it again a couple times and changing the offset height, it does seem to work. Not sure whats going on.

SHIFT + W-KEY conflicts with Node Wrangler

SHIFT + W-KEY used by Align Nodes is also used by Node Wrangler. How can one change the shortcut in Align Node to avoid the conflict?