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Node Autocomplete

Node Autocomplete enables you to build and edit Dynamo graphs faster by showing you a subset of viable nodes that you can choose from instead of having to search through the full list of nodes. When triggered from a node’s input or output port, Node Autocomplete shows you a list of nodes that will work with the triggering port. Click a node on the list to have it be automatically wired to the port.

How to access Node Autocomplete

You can access Node Autocomplete by double-clicking on any input or output port on a Dynamo node. The Autocomplete popup dialog will appear next to the triggering port. To narrow down a large set of results, use the search field.

If Node Autocomplete does not trigger, in the top navigation menu, go to Dynamo Preferences Features Node Autocomplete and make sure the feature is enabled.

Ranking methods

Node Autocomplete provides two ranking method options: Recommended Nodes and Node Type Match. The ranking method determines which nodes are shown in the list and their order.

To change ranking methods within the workspace, click the arrows icon in the bottom right corner of the Node Autocomplete dialog. You can select a default ranking method in Dynamo Preferences Features Node Autocomplete.

The Recommended Nodes method suggests relevant nodes by using a recommendation engine powered by machine learning. Its suggestions are rooted in an analysis of node usage (node type, frequency of use) in thousands of sample graphs. More sophisticated than the Node Type Match method, Recommended Nodes is able to make more meaningful suggestions based on common and realistic graph practices. This method is enabled by default.

The machine learning algorithm behind the Recommended Nodes method does not analyze individual user data. Instead, its recommendations are based on node use in a large set of sample graphs that the Dynamo team has selected.

To use this method, you must agree to the ML Node Autocomplete terms of use. You’ll be prompted to review the agreement the first time you open Dynamo. You can also access the agreement from the top navigation bar under Dynamo > Agreement and Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the terms of use, you can continue to use Node Autocomplete with the Node Type Match method.

Node Type Match

The Node Type Match method uses a ranking mechanism based the type of data the port can accept, such as string (text), integer (whole number), object (such as a Revit wall), and so on.

Nodes are prioritized in the Node Autocomplete dialog in this order:

  1. Nodes closest to the input/output port type
  2. Nodes that are further away from the port type
  3. Group (such as Curve, List, or Math)
  4. Returned value (output parameters)
  5. Name (alphabetically)

For nodes that do not match any of the result ranking criteria, Node Autocomplete will show a fixed list of suggestions containing String, Number Slider, Integer Slider, Number, and Boolean.

Each recommended node is shown with a confidence level represented as a percentage. Confidence level represents the machine learning model’s estimated probability that the given node is a good choice for the triggering port. Recommended nodes are ordered from highest to lowest confidence level. Confidence level can help you pick the most feasible option from the list of recommended nodes.

Since there are many ways to build graphs, and these confidence levels are simply predictions, they will never be perfectly accurate or reach a 100% level of confidence. However, as the algorithm improves over time, the predictions should also become more and more helpful.

Nodes below a 10% confidence threshold are initially hidden beneath an expandable header. To see the full list of nodes, click the Low Confidence header in the Node Autocomplete dialog. In the Preferences panel, you can edit the percentage below which results are hidden.

If you want to see node recommendations of all confidence levels by default, you can disable the preferred confidence level setting. These settings are only available when the Recommended Nodes method is selected.

Which ranking method should I choose?

The Recommended Nodes method enables you to build your graph faster and with better results than Node Type Match. Beyond simple type matching, Recommended Nodes can provide more realistic and usable options, helping Dynamo users of all experience levels make better node selections. The Recommended Nodes method will also continue to improve as the algorithm analyzes new sample graphs, making it an even more helpful design partner over time.

If a node you’re looking for does not appear in the list of recommended nodes, try the Node Type Match ranking method to see a full list of nodes that match the triggering port’s expected data type.

The Recommended Nodes method generates network traffic, while Node Type Match does not. If you are experiencing network slowdowns while using the Recommended Nodes method, try switching to Node Type Match.

Package support

Packages extend Dynamo functionality by allowing you to access and share custom nodes. In addition to the out-of-the-box set of Dynamo nodes and nodes from host programs such as Revit, Node Autocomplete may recommend nodes from a set of popular packages. For a full list of supported packages, visit the Node Autocomplete documentation inside Dynamo by accessing Node Autocomplete and clicking the info icon.

Node Autocomplete only recommends nodes from packages that are currently installed. Likewise, it only recommends nodes that depend on host programs if you are running Dynamo from that host program.

Only the latest version of these packages is supported. If you have an older version of a package installed, any nodes from that package that have been deprecated in a newer version will not be included in the recommendations. To take full advantage of Node Autocomplete’s package support, make sure you have the latest versions of these packages installed.

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