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# Expanding an Action Node

An Action node is collapsed by default. When you connect to its output tab, it expands temporarily. If the node contains multiple outputs, you can then connect to any output.

You can also expand an Action node manually to connect to its outputs. Do this when you want the node to remain expanded after connecting to its outputs. You can also display a proxy of a specific output on an expanded node as well as set a context view on an output.

Outputs are set up in the Action menu’s Output list. See Processing Outputs from Action.

If an Action node is expanded manually, you can connect to its outputs manually, automatically, or using the Advanced Autolink feature.

If a collapsed Action node contains multiple outputs, you connect to its outputs using the Advanced Autolink feature.

To expand an Action node:

1. Select the Action node and press Ctrl+C.

   The Action node expands displaying available outputs.

   (a) Expanded node (b) Proxy display window (c) Tabs of available outputs (d) Names of available outputs

   NotePress Ctrl+C again to collapse the node.

To display a proxy of an output in an expanded Action node:

1. Press T and click the tab of the output that you want to display.

   The top and bottom borders of the output tab turn white indicating a proxy of its output is displayed in the display window.

   NoteWhen a proxy is displayed, you can also press Ctrl+Shift+up arrow or Ctrl+Shift+down arrow to navigate the outputs of the node.

   (a) Proxy of complete_scene output (b) Yellow text indicates proxy of output is displayed

   NoteThe output names also appear as options in the View box. You can display any output in a viewport, including the left or right eye output of stereo footage.

To set a context view for any output in an expanded Action node:

1. Press - and click the tab of the output whose context you want to set.

   (C1) or (C2) is added to the output name and the node name. As well, a green dotted line appears around the output name.

   (a) Context 1 is set for complete_scene mattes

To set a context view for the current output in an expanded Action node:

1. Select an output from the Action menu’s Output list.

   The selected output is the current output. Its name in the group node is highlighted.

   (a) Current output

2. Press - and click anywhere in the node.

   A context view is set on the current output. (C1) or (C2) is added to the output name and the node name. As well, a green dotted line appears around the output name.

   (a) Context 2 is set for the current output

To change the size of an expanded Action node:

1. Drag the lower-right corner of the icon to make it wider or narrower.

To connect to a multiple output tab of a collapsed Action node:

1. Using the Advanced Autolink feature (see Connecting Nodes), bring the extended arm of an input tab close to the Action output tab.

   When the arm is close to the Action node, the Action node expands displaying its outputs. Three outputs have been set up in the following example.

   (a) Possible outputs

   NoteIf a tab is grey, its output in the Output list is muted and you cannot connect to it.
2. Connect the arms to the applicable output tabs.

   When you are finished connecting, the Action node collapses again.

   TipIf you expand the node manually, it stays expanded.