Lock an adjacent node?

[appearsharmless]

An annoyance I frequently run into is trying to adjust a cusp node adjacent to a smooth node. I'll have the smooth node dialed in  (e.g., the example below shows both handles an equal length, and at the angle I want).
When I pull on the segment between the nodes to obtain the control handles for the cusp node, the adjacent smooth node handle also moves, and I have to go back and fiddle it into place again. Is there any way to lock the adjacent node (or perhaps some other workaround?
 

[lepr]

Drag on the sharp node with the Pen Tool to recreate it as a smooth node with extended handles, and then use Node Tool to opt/alt-click on the unwanted handle of that recreated node to make the node sharp again but now with only the wanted handle extended.

[appearsharmless]

Yes!

It's a bit of a clunky workaround, but it's much better then the micro-fiddling I had been doing. THANK YOU!

[appearsharmless]

Your suggestion must have finally got my brain in gear. I figured out another workaround without leaving the node tool:

Holding Command + Control while dragging the sharp/cusp node to displace it slightly will reveal it's handles without altering the adjacent node.

[lepr]

15 minutes ago, appearsharmless said:

Your suggestion must have finally got my brain in gear. I figured out another workaround without leaving the node tool:

Holding Command + Control while dragging the sharp/cusp node to displace it slightly will reveal it's handles without altering the adjacent node.

Yep. I didn't bother to mention that because it changes the segment to the right of the sharp node. The cmd key is redundant there, though, if you are already using Node Tool - cmd temporarily enables Node Tool while the Pen Tool is active, but I'm not aware of it doing anything when the Node Tool is active.

[appearsharmless]

Hmmm... when I drag on the sharp node with the Pen Tool it also changes the segment to the right of the sharp node (maybe I'm doing it wrong?). And you're right, adding the cmd key is completely unnecessary; thanks for pointing that out.

[lepr]

Just now, appearsharmless said:

Hmmm... when I drag on the sharp node with the Pen Tool it also changes the segment to the right of the sharp node

Yes, and then you use Node Tool to opt-click the unwanted handle which deletes that handle and the segment to the right is restored to how it was. The result is the node is sharp and in its original location, the segment to the right of the sharp node is unchanged, and the smooth node on the left is unchanged.

[appearsharmless]

Got it... yep, that makes it perfect. Thanks for untangling my personal Gordian Knot 👍.