Hey all

I was just wondering if the help for houdini is available online, and if there is, if that is the latest help available coming out with each build?

reason being is that I'm looking into Houdini Object Model / HOU and im finding it really hard to find help and easy to find “This is not documented yet”

and I'm sure as time goes by, builds will include more help but I don't wanna have to re download new builds every time, to hope that the hython documentation is updated.

Thanks in advance

Brian

AFAIK, no, the docs aren't provided online. Each release does indeed have the latest, and yup there are definitely some holes which are being worked on.

Cheers,

J.C.

thanks :-)

aracid
Hey all

I was just wondering if the help for houdini is available online, and if there is, if that is the latest help available coming out with each build?

reason being is that I'm looking into Houdini Object Model / HOU and im finding it really hard to find help and easy to find “This is not documented yet”

and I'm sure as time goes by, builds will include more help but I don't wanna have to re download new builds every time, to hope that the hython documentation is updated.

Thanks in advance

Brian

It will be great . On my 64 bit ubuntu Houdini help doesn't work

They're probably not going to provide the help online - what you have is some sort of bug or configuration issue. I haven't looked at the state of the help issues on linux for a while, take a search through the forums for anything and see what the current status is. I was under the impression that help on ubuntu worked OK. You're installing the debian/ubuntu 64 bit version of houdini? If so, you might want to try the unbuntu 32 bit version(I'm not sure what's involved setting up 32 bit compatibility on 64 bit unbuntu but I know you can), and see if that works at least as a way to get the docs, which are obviously pretty important. Unless you're in heavy production, you don't really need the 64 bit version.

Cheers,

J.C.

Actually, mchaput said that they are going to working on getting the docs online like they did before with http://www.sidefx.com/docs [sidefx.com] which I think is a grand idea - especially if the new docs are automatically updated daily. It would definitely solve a lot of the 64bit linux and firewall issues that have resulted in the new help-server architecture.

Hello,

I am discovery Houdini and I have troubles to find the documentation.

Indeed, on the non-commercial version, when I go to Help -> Houdini Help or Example Files a browser opens but with no items in any sections than videos; and when I click F1 in the contextual menu nothing happens.

It there a doc with this version? Were can it be found?


Or maybe there is a pb somewhere, because I get this message the fist time I close the help browser:
—————————
hbrowser
—————————
loadTocBranch: [Exception… "Component returned failure code: 0x80004005 (NS_ERROR_FAILURE) “ nsresult: ”0x80004005 (NS_ERROR_FAILURE)“ location: ”JS frame :: chrome/houdini/content/browserUI.js :: loadTocItem :: line 1503" data: no]
—————————
OK
—————————


Thank you for your help,


WerwacK

I didn't know that, Jason, good to hear, unfortunately not there yet, though. It would be nice if the docs could be made to work with the widest possible number of platforms, of course.

Werwack, yes, that's where the docs are, you must be suffering from some sort of bug. What version are you running and what platform are you running on?

Cheers,

J.C.

Yes, I assume this is a bug…

I use the non-commercial version that was available on the website on sunday 7th oct (I cannot see the version on the software itself right now cause my fan burnt ).

Plateform is Windows XP pro SP2.

Is the doc in a local folder or online? Cause I didn't found anything in Houdini's folders.


Thank you

They're not html pages - they're compressed inside files. I'm running the same platform at home and they work for me. Not sure why it's not working, someone else may have a suggestion.

Cheers,

J.C.

I've installed the non-com version at work, and the problem is the opposite: I have the help files in every tab of the browser except the first one, with the videos

Beside while nagigating in the help I have a Python exception window that opens for every link I click on. navigation seems to work though and I can let that box open aside.


Is there a way to copy paste the help files from one computer to another? Do you know which files are concerned?

Thank you

Could you post what version of Houdini you installed, and on what OS, etc please?

Houdini: 9.0.725 non-commercial
Windows XP SP2

Intel Core2
6600 @ 2.4 GHz
3.25Go Ram

I am behin a firewall and very likely proxy because I had to install the key manually, but it works.

I send the content of the log when I get a pb on a link in the documentation.


Hum: text files not allowed so this is ti (sorry for the long message):

Traceback (most recent call last):
File “CPROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.725/houdini/scripts/python\textbook\support\webapp.py”, line 116, in __call__
result = fn(request, *args, **kwargs)
File “CPROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.725/houdini/scripts/python\textbook\server.py”, line 269, in GET
stream = urllib.urlopen(target)
File “C:\cygwin\home\prisms\builder-new\Nightly9.0\dev\hfs\python\lib\python2.5\urllib.py”, line 82, in urlopen
return opener.open(url)
File “C:\cygwin\home\prisms\builder-new\Nightly9.0\dev\hfs\python\lib\python2.5\urllib.py”, line 190, in open
return getattr(self, name)(url)
File “C:\cygwin\home\prisms\builder-new\Nightly9.0\dev\hfs\python\lib\python2.5\urllib.py”, line 325, in open_http
h.endheaders()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 856, in endheaders
self._send_output()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 728, in _send_output
self.send(msg)
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 695, in send
self.connect()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 679, in connect
raise socket.error, msg
IOError: (10060, ‘Operation timed out’)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 93, in run
self.finish_response()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 134, in finish_response
self.write(data)
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 217, in write
self.send_headers()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 273, in send_headers
self.send_preamble()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 199, in send_preamble
‘Date: %s\r\n’ % format_date_time(time.time())
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\socket.py”, line 261, in write
self.flush()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\socket.py”, line 248, in flush
self._sock.sendall(buffer)
error: (10053, ‘Software caused connection abort’)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 93, in run
self.finish_response()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 134, in finish_response
self.write(data)
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 217, in write
self.send_headers()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 273, in send_headers
self.send_preamble()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 199, in send_preamble
‘Date: %s\r\n’ % format_date_time(time.time())
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\socket.py”, line 261, in write
self.flush()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\socket.py”, line 248, in flush
self._sock.sendall(buffer)
error: (10053, ‘Software caused connection abort’)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 93, in run
self.finish_response()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 134, in finish_response
self.write(data)
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 217, in write
self.send_headers()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 273, in send_headers
self.send_preamble()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\wsgiref\handlers.py”, line 199, in send_preamble
‘Date: %s\r\n’ % format_date_time(time.time())
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\socket.py”, line 261, in write
self.flush()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\socket.py”, line 248, in flush
self._sock.sendall(buffer)
error: (10053, ‘Software caused connection abort’)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “CPROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.725/houdini/scripts/python\textbook\support\webapp.py”, line 116, in __call__
result = fn(request, *args, **kwargs)
File “CPROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.725/houdini/scripts/python\textbook\server.py”, line 269, in GET
stream = urllib.urlopen(target)
File “C:\cygwin\home\prisms\builder-new\Nightly9.0\dev\hfs\python\lib\python2.5\urllib.py”, line 82, in urlopen
return opener.open(url)
File “C:\cygwin\home\prisms\builder-new\Nightly9.0\dev\hfs\python\lib\python2.5\urllib.py”, line 190, in open
return getattr(self, name)(url)
File “C:\cygwin\home\prisms\builder-new\Nightly9.0\dev\hfs\python\lib\python2.5\urllib.py”, line 325, in open_http
h.endheaders()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 856, in endheaders
self._send_output()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 728, in _send_output
self.send(msg)
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 695, in send
self.connect()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 679, in connect
raise socket.error, msg
IOError: (10060, ‘Operation timed out’)

The first page of the “startup” help downloads the list of available videos from sidefx.com every time it opens. The error you're getting seems to mean that that it tried to download the list of videos but it timed out, presumably because it couldn't see sidefx.com.

Not saying I know what to do about it…

By the way, when you had no docs at all, was it on 64 bit windows?

Nop.
None of my computers are 64 bits.

Is there a way to copy the doc from one computer to the other? Or to have it online?

Do you know where I can find tutorials (I mean practicals, not just thebasics for the GUI) and example scences&?

Thank you

I just realized the tracebacks you're getting are due to the “user contributed notes” feature. I'll try to make it smarter about not trying to get notes from behind a firewall in a future version.

Copying things over from one install to another won't help. We plan to put the docs online at some point. In the meantime, can you please tell me more about the setup where the docs won't work, what you're trying to do that doesn't work, whether you have a firewall running at that location, etc. The more information the better.

Thanks very much.

Matt

Ok, let s make it step by step.

Currently, and unless specified, I am on a computer at work, so behind a big firewall and proxy I have no information about.

- I open HMaster: the Help Browser open. Nothing in the Video categ. All the otler ones (Basics, Transitions, Hotkeys, More Help) are there (as said above, at home it is the opposite)

- I click on Basics Sheet the on the combo to switch from 1. Welcome to 2. Viewing the Scene: a window opens, titled Internet security (cf screeshot 1). I click on Remeber checkbox then Allow button. Things are going well.

- then I click on the bottom right arrow (NextTab). I am now on 3. Display options. TThere is a yellow link in that page: Learn more abourt display options. It doesnt work: nothing happens when I click on it

- Now i close the browser an come into the interface of H9. I then click on the top right button, right bellow the window Close button, to open the Help in the GUI. The homepage “Houdini 9 online help” opens.

- I then click on Basics (could have been another but lets start with something then General FAQ. Here it takes a few seconds and the General FAQ opens. Then the Houdini Console pops up and displays that:


Traceback (most recent call last):
File “CPROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.725/houdini/scripts/python\textbook\support\webapp.py”, line 116, in __call__
result = fn(request, *args, **kwargs)
File “CPROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.725/houdini/scripts/python\textbook\server.py”, line 269, in GET
stream = urllib.urlopen(target)
File “C:\cygwin\home\prisms\builder-new\Nightly9.0\dev\hfs\python\lib\python2.5\urllib.py”, line 82, in urlopen
return opener.open(url)
File “C:\cygwin\home\prisms\builder-new\Nightly9.0\dev\hfs\python\lib\python2.5\urllib.py”, line 190, in open
return getattr(self, name)(url)
File “C:\cygwin\home\prisms\builder-new\Nightly9.0\dev\hfs\python\lib\python2.5\urllib.py”, line 325, in open_http
h.endheaders()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 856, in endheaders
self._send_output()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 728, in _send_output
self.send(msg)
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 695, in send
self.connect()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 679, in connect
raise socket.error, msg
IOError: (10060, ‘Operation timed out’)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “CPROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.725/houdini/scripts/python\textbook\support\webapp.py”, line 116, in __call__
result = fn(request, *args, **kwargs)
File “CPROGRA~1/SIDEEF~1/HOUDIN~1.725/houdini/scripts/python\textbook\server.py”, line 269, in GET
stream = urllib.urlopen(target)
File “C:\cygwin\home\prisms\builder-new\Nightly9.0\dev\hfs\python\lib\python2.5\urllib.py”, line 82, in urlopen
return opener.open(url)
File “C:\cygwin\home\prisms\builder-new\Nightly9.0\dev\hfs\python\lib\python2.5\urllib.py”, line 190, in open
return getattr(self, name)(url)
File “C:\cygwin\home\prisms\builder-new\Nightly9.0\dev\hfs\python\lib\python2.5\urllib.py”, line 325, in open_http
h.endheaders()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 856, in endheaders
self._send_output()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 728, in _send_output
self.send(msg)
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 695, in send
self.connect()
File “C:\PROGRA~1\SIDEEF~1\HOUDIN~1.725\python\lib\python2.5\httplib.py”, line 679, in connect
raise socket.error, msg
IOError: (10060, ‘Operation timed out’)




- I clear, close the console and click on other links and get other popups somewhat equivalent from time to time. And it is slow, slow slow to go from page to another (6 - 10 secs) …


That s it, hope that helps.

By the way do you know where I can get some sample files?

There are examples under the Help menu. Help > Examples

Cheers!
steven

Sorry, forgot to say, if the help isn't working, you can still try checking out the example files under $HFS/mozilla/documents/examples/nodes/. Some of them are .cmd (HScript) files, some are OTLs you can load and then instantiate the object node inside.

Thanks for the info.

Thank you for your help.

I've found the examples on the working version, at work, and it help a bit, event if there are not very details sometime.

Unfortunately on my version at home, where the online help just doesn't want to work correctly, the examples here: Help > Examples are not available. Beside I don't really understand how I can open or load the help pages in $HFS/mozilla/documents/examples/nodes/.

I desinstall the version 9.0725 and installed the 9.0747: Same problem, still stuck

I am not sure I want to continue to learn Houdini, view to the difficulties at the basic level…
Sad.. I was very curious and motivated.