Houdini Setup

Common

• Install license server on each machine
• Install HQueue Client (Reference)
• Directory in D:knlhouHQClient
• Server: ${env:EDEV_HOU_SERVER}:5000 (ex: ikrima-ryzen:5000)
• Logon Account: ${env:EDEV_HOU_SERVERACCOUNT} (ex: sa_server_account)
• Make sure firewall is accessible
• Update MachineSetup-Config.ps1:${env:EDEV_HOU_ROOT} to point to new path and rerun
• Make sure HOUDINI_USER_PREF_DIR is set (e.g. HOUDINI_USER_PREF_DIR=${env:EDEV_HOU_HOUDEV}/prefs/houdini__HVER__)
• Change symlink of C:Program FilesSide Effects SoftwareLatest to point to new directory

Optional

• Update git repos in tp directory
• Update binary plugins (Redshift, optix)

For Major Updates

For major-minor version updates (i.e. from 17.0 to 17.5)

• Copy previous version prefs folder to new one (eg: ${env:EDEV_HOU_HOUDEV}\prefs\houdini17.5)
• Update the new houdini.env Version envars. Ex:
• HOU_MAJOR_VER = 17
• HOU_MINOR_VER = 5
• REDSHIFT_VER = 17.5.173
• Create a new version specific dso folder (eg: ${env:EDEV_HOU_HOUDEV}\personal\dso-17.5)
• Compile dso's with new HDK (ex: SOP_ComputeTangents)
• mikktspace-for-houdini: Update the visual studio HDK props file to point to new HDK location
• Not needed anymore as PolyFrame node has builtin support for mikktspace
• Follow instructions for nightly build updates

For Nightly Updates

• Run ${env:EDEV_DEVOPS_DIR}/MachineConfig/Houdini-Setup.ps1:Update-HythonVenv
• Change nvidia graphics custom 3d settings for new hindie.exe

Houdini.env

Use $HSITE and $HFS to point site specific configuration & houdini install directory
The problem is that no one seems to understand the fully correct syntax, while some slightly bad variations happen to work depending on the platform/method.

Let me try to lay out some of the rules: (Reference)

• Houdini only expands environment variables in the hscript syntax. ie. $HOME, not the DOS syntax like %HOME%.
• The path separators should be semi-colon (;) instead of colon (:). This works on all platforms. Linux/OSX happen to also accept colon (:) as well.
• When you override a variable, you should have "&" in there somewhere so that the default path is still used. Depending on your shell, this is sometimes a special character, in which case you need to ensure that you set it with the correct escaping.
• On Windows especially, make sure you launch Houdini from the shell you set the environment variable. You cannot set it into a shell and then expect the Start Menu > Houdini to see it.
• You must set your environment variable BEFORE Houdini is loaded.
• If you're using houdini.env (as an alternative), then you must use double quotes if your variable value contains spaces.
• List of environment variables

UI Customization

• (Reference)

• Houdini Interface Customization Docs

• Slate Theme from Odforce: flat user interface

• unzip the files and put them in your $HOME/houdiniX.x/config/ directory and relaunch Houdini

• select theme in Edit ► Color Settings Window
  

• Changing the Desktop Layout file and place it in your local preferences desktop directory $HOME/houdiniX.x/desktop/

• You can switch between desktops using the menu at the top of the main window
  

• By default Houdini starts up in the Build desktop, but you can change that in the Edit ► Preferences ► General User Interface
  

• Simplifying Node Shapes

• In the network editor pane, click the View dropdown menu:
  

  • Show Custom Node Shapes ► Disable, so all nodes are rectangular

• In the network editor pane, click the Tools dropdown menu:
  

  • Make Room for New Nodes ► Disable

• In the main Houdini prefs, Edit ► Preferences ► Network Editor, Nodes and Trees:
  

  • Animate network changes ► Disable
  • Use simplified shape when node shapes off ► Enable, this uses a simple rectangle instead of a rounded rectangle

• Press the "d" key with your mouse over the network pane to raise the Network View Display Options:

  • General Tab ► Node size to show ring ► never show the ring
    
  • Themes Tab ► Default node shapes ► no shapes theme
    

• Changing the Splash Screen by Setting Houdini Environment Variables.

• Modify $HOME/houdiniX.x/houdini.env
  
  Bash

  HOUDINI_SPLASH_FILE = ~/Pictures/splashscreen_001.png
  HOUDINI_SPLASH_MESSAGE = "Welcome//n${USER} @ ${HOSTNAME}//n${HOUDINI_VERSION}//nGood Luck!"
  HOUDINI_NO_START_PAGE_SPLASH = 1
  

---

Last update: 2023-03-25
Created: 2020-04-30