ID 84019 - Parameters that are added to LiveGroup nodes are wrongly discarded when performing a reload from source, leading to loss of data

Problem summary:

When editing a LiveGroup node from which LiveGroup assets (.livegroup file) are created, any user parameters that are being added to the node end up defining the parameter interface of LiveGroup nodes that use the published LiveGroup asset.

When loading a LiveGroup asset into a target LiveGroup node, the contents of the target LiveGroup node are replaced with the contents from the node that is stored in the LiveGroup asset, and the parameters of the target LiveGroup node are replaced with the parameters from the node that is stored in the LiveGroup asset.

Values that are set for parameters in LiveGroup assets are effectively used as default values for those parameters. Those default values can be overridden with other values in LiveGroup nodes that use those LiveGroup assets.

It is possible to edit user parameters even for LiveGroup nodes whose parameter interface is defined by (/loaded from) a LiveGroup asset. (Such LiveGroup nodes are also described as non-editable LiveGroup nodes.) Currently, any additional parameters that are added to such a LiveGroup node are removed when reloading the LiveGroup's definition from its source.

Steps to reproduce:

1. In the Node Graph tab, create a LiveGroup node, and set its edit flag.
2. In the Parameters tab, choose Edit Contents from the the LiveGroup node's Edit Node menu.
3. Choose Publish and Finish Editing Contents from the the Edit Node menu.
4. In the File Browser dialog, enter the filename under which to save the LiveGroup asset, e.g. /tmp/empty.livegroup, and click Accept.
5. In the Parameters tab, choose Edit User Parameters from the LiveGroup node's Edit Node menu.
6. Add a new String parameter to the user parameter.
7. Choose Finish Editing User Parameters from the Edit Node menu.
8. Choose Reload from the Edit Node menu.

Expected behaviour:

The string parameter that had been added to the user parameters of the LiveGroup node should remain.

Actual behaviour:

Workarounds:

• Saving the parameter changes as part of a KATANA project file, and reloading that project.
• Converting the LiveGroup node to a Group node to retain its parameter interface.

Reproduced versions/platforms:

• 1.6v2 on Linux
• 2.1v4 on Linux

Customer version/platform:

Not supplied.