Provide named inputs in Programmable Filter
From @DennisConklin on #15710 (closed):
I think we need to add some functionality to the inputs[] object to solve all this plus other issues We need to be able to type in: inputs[NameOfInputInPipeline] to access a specific input, rather than trying to keep track of what is inputs[0], inputs[1], inputs[2], inputs[3], etc
With this added functionality you could assign short meaningful names to your inputs and then invoke them Temp=inputs['MyTempInput'].CellData['TEMP'] Energy=inputs['MyEnergyInput'].CellData['ENERGY'] newVar = Energy/Temp
This would also apply and be useful in other places - Example - in the Python Calculator:
Expression: inputs['MyEnergyInput'].CellData['ENERGY']/inputs['MyTempInput'].CellData['TEMP']
Lots of possibility here. Makes the inputs[] more consistent with CellData[] and PointData[] Also solves a lot of problems with not knowing which is inputs[0] vs inputs[1], etc - removes clicking order dependency!
Also improves documentation - in a state file etc, which input is being referenced is more explicitly shown
I'm putting it here but it addresses more than just this issue so feel free to move it as you see fit