This has been a problem for years, but as I'm trying to perfect a very complex shader, I've had just about enough!  Why does Poser like to randomly move nodes around?  I polish off a material, work on something else, and when I return to that material, at least one node (usually the one I was last working with) has jumped a ridiculous distance away from all the others (and from where I left it).  And within a compound node, plugging in or unplugging an external input or output causes the input or output node to shoot off into left field too!  Seriously, developers, if you're listening, unless I'm doing something wrong or there's some setting that I'm not aware of, the RNM (Random Node Movement) has got to stop!  I just went back to a material I've been working on, and Poser has randomly decided to line up all the nodes along a vertical line, making it very difficult to see the flow of how my shader works!  I lose alot of time just repeatedly dragging and scrolling to bring a distant straggler back into reasonable proximity to other nodes!

Long-lasting bug, I think. :( Likely not high on the priority list as it's far from being a showstopper bug.

Kinda like the icons on the desktop... they re-arrange themselves

I don't know why it happens, but the one free script that has saved my sanity on many an occssion is one of Structure's goodies.

Check it out, as I'm sure you'll find it handy, as there are several options --  Structure's Node Tidier

Yep, experienced that also.  It is very annoying.  I have Structure's Node Tidier installed, it looks like I'll need to rely on it more often to organize the nodes in the Material Room.

YUP, hate that bug with a passion!  

I didn't realize I had this script already! Thanks. Gotta start using it.

Is there a version for P11?

There was Sam, as I've been using it with Poser11.  I don't know for sure, but I've been wondering if the current version is just an "update", and not a totally new script.

Since I don't use P12 regularly . . . yet . . . I haven't had a need to try it out to see if it's totally different coding than the original version I've been using for quite a while.

If it's a script to work with P12, I don't think it will work with previous versions of Poser.  I could try, I guess.

Ken1171_Designs also has a Python tool that will clean up nodes. It's here in the marketplace.

From what I understand, Ken1171_Designs products require internet connections which might put off some individuals from investing.

This is one of the issues that completely turned me off from using Poser. 

The bigger question is this: why does such a seriously annoying bug get no attention from the development team? I believe the answer is because they do not use the product and have no idea how painful this is.

In my work, yesterday the product management team was asking for a bunch of changes in the software to help expose the cause of various problems (in a product of another company that we bought). I pointed out that the software can't get better until the developers stop isolating themselves from the user experience.

We're now (today) forcing the developers to install and use the product. I expect that lots of extremely annoying things will suddenly get the attention they deserve.

WOW, some don't even have Poser installed on their own systems?  That's insane to me.  

I"m curious what you all mean about nodes moving. I use Poser all the time and am constantly in the material room. The only node that I see moving is the external output node when using the compound node. That can get annoying, but with as few shaders as use the compound node, it doesn't seem like it's as big of a deal as what you all are talking about. So I wonder if there's something else that's going on that only happens to some people.

WOW, some don't even have Poser installed on their own systems?  That's insane to me.  

I used to call it "node drift", back in Poser 5 days, RedPhantom.  Err... assuming it is still the same phenomenon.  Nodes attached to the root would gradually move up and to the right, with repeated saves of the file.  I think eventually that manifestation was reined in, but I've been seeing a rightward drift with complex materials in Poser Pro 2014, largely when I have scrolled to the right to make some modification.  I've always used an inverted selection to drag the affected nodes back into place.  Or a script.

This is just my experience but I've found that if I have a neat set up that I don't want drifting around after multiple saves (or even sometimes just exiting the material room or switching materials) If I save an mt5 of the setup and reapply it seems to make the arrangement "stick". Unfortunately this doesn't seem to work for material collection files.

For scripts I use an align nodes and a Root Default pos value script that ADP made for me as a python request.

That script would be a better alternative to controlling the relative positioning of the nodes.  I wonder if that would be a practical addition to a remodified Scene Fixer for P12.

"That script would be a better alternative to controlling the relative positioning of the nodes.  I wonder if that would be a practical addition to a remodified Scene Fixer for P12."

Not sure how relevant it is to the problem at hand, it's more of a OCD type utility but it's saved me work and does what it says on the tin. Here's the original thread...

https://www.renderosity.com/forums/threads/2963717/simple-script-request

As far as the align nodes script, I've had it for years and don't remember the original source... a script with that functionality is probably available via many sources free and paid.

Here's a screen cap of the align nodes script, which I don't think can fall under redistribution really. I actually think I got the script from a many years ago forum post. It's a very simple thing really and not sure if anyone bothered to write it if it would work in 12, I use 11.

...

The apply as copy mt5 trick has served me well though, I have very frequently iteratively saved WIP files where the nodes are set up precisely across like shaders for the intent of potential distribution. Mostly scatter blinn variations, which can be rather elaborate with masks and such, and I haven't noticed any drift. I hate when you switch from one like material to another and there's that little jump from the node drift where it should be an exact match. I'm not saying it won't happen but it's how I've come to terms with the problem, seems to fix it.

For anyone interested in the script for poser 11, check out Structure's sharecg page. He has it there called tidynodes.

For anyone interested in the script for poser 11, check out Structure's sharecg page. He has it there called tidynodes.

I am still using P11, but my material setups are so minimal that I rarely ever see problems with anything shifting on me. I only plug in 2 or 3 (although up to 8 sometimes if I am using masks) nodes in at most.

Sad thing to me is that no one from the development team stopped by to admit or deny the comment .

More, why not just buy node tidier outright and distribute the script for free?

Sad thing to me is that no one from the development team stopped by to admit or deny the comment .

More, why not just buy node tidier outright and distribute the script for free?

EClark1894 posted at 8:42 PM Wed, 9 March 2022 - #4435714

Sad thing to me is that no one from the development team stopped by to admit or deny the comment .

More, why not just buy node tidier outright and distribute the script for free?

Node Tider IS free Earl.  It's one of Structure's goodies.  The version here in the Free Stuff section is up-to-date for Poser 12.  I'm pretty sure Structure has the original TidyNodes version over at ShareCG.

Miss B posted at 10:14 PM Wed, 9 March 2022 - #4435721

EClark1894 posted at 8:42 PM Wed, 9 March 2022 - #4435714

Sad thing to me is that no one from the development team stopped by to admit or deny the comment .

More, why not just buy node tidier outright and distribute the script for free?

Node Tider IS free Earl.  It's one of Structure's goodies.  The version here in the Free Stuff section is up-to-date for Poser 12.  I'm pretty sure Structure has the original TidyNodes version over at ShareCG.

Good point. Then why not distribute node tidier with Poser?