Docs → houdini → reference manager
Houdini: Reference Manager
What it does
Reference Manager is a Houdini-only tool. It finds library file paths on the current hip, shows what is missing or sitting outside the project, and lets you repair them without hunting through every node.
Use it after a library folder moved, a teammate opened the hip on another drive, or you need to package a scene for delivery.
It updates paths on scene nodes. It does not re-import geometry or rebuild materials.
Open it
- Asset Library shelf → Reference Manager…
- Panel Actions → Reference Manager…
- Health Check → Open Reference Manager… when scene references look wrong
The dialog includes an in-window ? help page.
Scan modes
A fast scan of Asset Library imports runs when the dialog opens (files and material-set folders).
Optional checkboxes:
- Full scene file scan — every file path Houdini reports on the hip
- Scan LOP / USD — Solaris Stage references, sublayers, and cache files
Refresh after changing those options.
The table
Each row is a path on a node. Status is OK (under the project), Missing (broken), or External (exists, but outside $JOB / $HIP).
- Filter the table, then choose Apply to: all scanned, filtered rows, or selected rows
- Double-click a row to jump to the node
- Right-click: Go to node, Relink path, Open folder
- Export CSV for a handoff list
- Relink… fixes one selected path
- Migrate… opens Migrate Scene to Project
Prefix replace
When a parent folder moved, rewrite the old prefix to the new one. Browse with …, Preview Replace, then Commit Replace. Save the hip after commit.
Localize to project
Copy external files and material-set folders into the Houdini project and rewrite parms to portable $JOB / $HIP paths.
- Save the hip
- Use $JOB, Use $HIP, or Browse…
- Leave Use Houdini project folders on so files land in textures/, geo/, import/, and similar
- Preview Localize, then Commit Localize, then save again
UAL copies what the scene needs. It does not delete the original library files.