Master Input Geometry Node Groups
I have, for a long time after using Groups in the Geometry Node, often thought that it would be very convenient to have the ability to set input properties to "Master." This means that an input coming into the group could only receive a single input that gets reused every time the group is reused elsewhere in the node tree. As it is now, all inputs are unique for each instance of the group. If, when creating inputs, you could set the value/properties to "Master" via a checkbox in the sidebar, the input socket on the group would be greyed out once a value has been assigned. This way, it would no longer be unique for each instance of the group, but would instead use the same value that has already been set once.
3 Comments
I'm not a fan of this as debugging a node tree with "master" values is quite tedious in my opinion, i'd rather use a duplicate or even better a wrapper setting a default value for that use case.
What do you mean by "wrapper setting a default value for that use case"
you have your node setup a, that you make a node group. And instead of defining a master value you simply now create another node setup b as group with your setup a and your master value. Then name the group e.g. setupA-Master. Use that "wrapper" inside your other node setups. Adavantage here is you can create any number of wrappers with different values instead of having to clone the master setup A (because in your proposal setting a master value fixes the input forever). With "Wrappers" you gain more control over what's happening and you can change the input value even a tiny bit.
If this is too complicated or unpractical please elborate the advantages of the proposed master value.