Houdini: Troubleshooting
Common issues
| Symptom | Try this |
|---|---|
Panel / shelf missing, ASSETLIB is None | Unzip to a permanent folder; run install.bat; or use Manual packages/ / houdini.env steps; confirm file is in …/houdiniX.Y/packages/AssetLibrary.json (folder name is packages, plural); fully restart Houdini |
| Installer finds no prefs folder | Launch that Houdini version once, quit, run install.bat again — or install manually via packages / houdini.env |
| Both packages JSON and houdini.env set UAL | Remove UAL from one of them — use a single method only |
| Edited houdini.env but nothing loads | Confirm path uses forward slashes; keep ;& on HOUDINI_PATH / PYTHONPATH; fully restart Houdini |
| Panel will not open | Re-run installer; restart Houdini; use shelf Open Asset Library or Windows → Universal Asset Library |
| Library empty | Add library root in Setup Wizard / Settings; Rescan / Rebuild Index |
| Online search fails | Enable source; sign in / paste token; Test connection |
| Fab / Backup locked | Paste UAL API key → Connect; wait for seat refresh; Fab also needs Epic sign-in |
| Save stuck / incomplete | Run Health Check; confirm cache ≠ library; keep cache off OneDrive; retry download |
| Import looks wrong | Confirm SOP vs Stage target; check materials on the imported geo or Stage |
| Broken / moved library paths | Open Reference Manager (shelf or Actions); prefix replace or localize to $JOB / $HIP |
| Thumbs missing | Allow generation to finish; check disk space on cache |
Still stuck?
Contact Support with:
- UAL version
- Houdini version
- Whether the issue is Library, Online, or Import
- Result of
print(os.environ.get("ASSETLIB"))from the Python Shell (if install-related)