Knobs Autoview

Configurable Node Graph labels and a live Nuke-knob Dashboard, built from the controls you select.

DOWLOAD KNOB AUTOVIEW

Watch Knobs Autoview video walkthrough

What the Plugin Does

Knobs Autoview set (in the panel with the same name) desired knobs of some selected node classes and displays them in the Node Graph, directly below each node name. You choose which node classes are tracked and which knobs are displayed for each class. The Node Graph shows the current values of these knobs, updated in real-time, only for knobs that were changed from their default values.

Knob Dashboard is part of the same plugin and uses the selected knobs from Knob Autoview and displays them in a single panel (knob Dashboard), using the same native Nuke knobs as in Properties. Its controls are live links to the original knobs: any edit made in Dashboard is applied to the node immediately, while animation, expressions and keyframes remain native. You have like a Control Panel for all desired/critical script knobs, without having to open each node Properties panel and being able to see at a glance all important relationships between parameters.

Knobs Autoview panel showing Classes, All knobs and AutoView selected

Node Graph labels shows current values on any selected node knobs (in Knobs Autoview configuration panel) and modified from its default values .

Installation

Copy the Knobs_Autoview folder into C:\Users\<user>\.nuke\.
Ensure the folder is loaded from menu.py, for example with nuke.pluginAddPath('./Knobs_Autoview').
Restart Nuke after updating any plugin files.

Configuration storage
For each saved Nuke script, Knobs Autoview creates a small configuration file next to the script:
<script folder>\.context\<script name>_autoview.json
The .context folder is created automatically and is expected. It stores the selected classes, AutoView knobs and visual settings for that specific .nk script.

For an unsaved script, configuration is temporarily stored in ~/.nuke/autoview_default.json until the script is saved.

Knobs Autoview

Opening the Panel

Location	Action
Menu	`Nuke > Pipeline > Knobs Autoview`
Shortcut	`Ctrl+Shift+C`
Dockable panel	`Pane > Knobs Autoview`

Node Graph labels and the Knobs Autoview configuration panel.

Quick Setup

Select a node in the Node Graph.
Click Add class of selected node. The node class is added and the All knobs list is populated automatically.
Select one or more knobs in All knobs.
Click Add knob > to move them into AutoView selected.
Click Save all changes.

Use Shift+click for a range and Ctrl+click for multiple selections.

Node Graph Display Rule

An AutoView-selected knob is displayed only when its value differs from the node default. This keeps labels clean and avoids repeating standard values.
If none of classes are selected, all knobs are displayed.

Animated knobs are displayed in bold and have a semi-transparent backdrop.
Knobs with keyframes at current time are displayed in red.
The backdrop option can display a semi-transparent black background behind the text, making it readable on any node color.
For Group nodes, AutoView information is added without removing existing label text.

Knobs Autoview panel.

Knob Dashboard

Opening the Dashboard

Location	Action
Menu	`Nuke > Pipeline > Knob Dashboard`
Shortcut	`Ctrl+Shift+D`
Panel list	`Pane > Knob Dashboard`

The Dashboard can be docked. If you close its tab, reopen it from the menu or shortcut.

Knob Dashboard docked with native Nuke controls grouped by node

Knob Dashboard docked with native controls grouped by node.

Native Live Controls

The Dashboard shows only the knobs chosen in AutoView selected, grouped by nodes in the comp. Each control is a Nuke Link_Knob connected to the original knob, not a copied value.

The control look and type remain native: sliders, menus, checkboxes, X/Y/Z values, animation and expressions.
Changes are realtime in Properties and vice versa.
Show only animated Knobs hides knobs without animation.
Show only selected nodes displays knobs only for nodes selected in the Node Graph.
Pin selected nodes to top keeps the selected nodes in a separate Pinned nodes section, even after they are deselected. Pins are saved with the current project configuration; use Clear pinned nodes to remove them.

Knob Dashboard showing live controls for the selected node

Dashboard controls remain live links to their original knobs.

Showing Only Selected Nodes

Selected nodes in the Node Graph reflected by the Dashboard.
With the selected-nodes filter enabled, Dashboard is empty when no matching node is selected in the Node Graph.

Pin the knobs you want to focus on

Select the nodes in the Node Graph and PIN them in the upper side of the Dashboard.
With the selected-nodes filter enabled, Dashboard will show only your pinned knobs.

Reset and Troubleshooting

Reset to Defaults clears the current configuration and returns to the initial state with no configured classes.
If a class is empty, select a node of that class and use Add class of selected node to read its knobs.
After manually editing Python files, restart Nuke so menus and panels are registered again.
If Dashboard is empty, first check that there are knobs in AutoView selected, then reopen Dashboard.

Empty Dashboard with the selected-nodes filter enabled

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