Python States - Add HOM Handle API:

• New API for manipulating handles bound to python states
• Currently show/hide handles and can also trigger updates
• Update python state doc

Added the missing sweeproad.hda to PDG's roadbuilder_bounds example.

hython --pdg (PilotPDG version of hython) will now spawn subprocesses that can correctly acquire Houdini Engine license or other non-PilotPDG licenses. Previously subprocesses created by hython --pdg were always using a PilotPDG license.

Fixed a bug that prevented the Delete hotkey from deleting selected components in some situations.

Fixed a UI crash when setting the playbar start frame to a larger value than the end frame.

Fixed a bug in the Agent Configure Joints SOP where it did not draw guide geometry for existing limits described by point attributes on the input geometry. This made it appear as though the SOP erased the incoming limits and prevented edits from being made to particular joints.

Added several new HOM methods related to manipulating agent clips:

• hou.AgentClip.freeze()
• hou.AgentClip.addChannel()
• hou.AgentClip.setLocalTransforms()
• hou.AgentClip.sampleCount()
• hou.AgentClip.localTransforms()
• hou.AgentClip.worldTransforms()
• hou.crowds.computeLocalTransforms()
• hou.crowds.computeWorldTransforms()

Added a IOTranslator that allows to import various Digital Elevation Model file formats via the File SOP: .hgt, .flt, .asc, geotiffs and image file formats (like .jpg, .png, .tga, .tif) are now directly imported as Heightfields by the File SOP,

Fixed a rare crash when rendering curves.

Added Tile Index Order parm to the Partition by Tile which allows to specify row-major or column-major ordering for tile indices. Fixed bug with Partition by Tile not taking tile origin into account in some cases.

Fixed some hotkey errors in PilotPDG.

Fixed python errors when trying to invoke TOP-specific functions on sopnet and other non-TOP type nodes in TOPs Network Editor.

In TOPs Network Editor, removed Gather RMB menu, and Filter Static TOPs menu.

Removed "Dirty and Cook Output Node" from RMB menu and hotkey.

Fixed up shelf and TAB menu for PilotPDG.

Combine all CursorMapping files found in the HOUDINI_UI_CURSOR_PATH instead of just using the first one found. CursorMapping files found earlier in the search path can override entries from those later in the search path.

The BlendShapes SOP now supports optionally having the blend weight slider parameters control the weights per packed primitive input, (when using the "Treat Packed Primitives as Inputs" option), instead of per true input, so that a separate node isn't required in order to control the weights. Using a point, vertex, primitive, or detail attribute named "weight" will still act as multipliers on these parameter weights.

The BlendShapes SOP now supports receiving packed primitives as inputs in the first input, as long as the first input contains only packed primitives. If you previously had a first input that already contained only packed primitives and the "Treat Packed Primitives as Inputs" option is on, you will need to further pack the first input's geometry to get the old behaviour.

Add an example for using the Vellum Drape SOP to find a valid starting position for initially overlapping cloth.

The Alembic Archive Object now warns when unknown nodes are found in the Alembic archive.

Rename "Houdini PDG" to "Pilot PDG". The executables in $HFS/bin have also been renamed (houdinipdg -> pilotpdg).

The Wire-over-Packed display option is now saved properly when saving display options as default.

Added the possibility to specify a column delimiter in CSV Input. This fixes issues happening when the delimiter found automatically by sniffing the few first rows of the file was incorrect.

In VEX shading contexts, global variables which have no access and aren't initialized will now no longer be accessible in shaders. For example, the displacement context can no longer access the I or Lz variables.

Fixed a macOS-only bug where HQueue created NFS mount points on client machines that were inaccessible.

Partition by Tile now fully supports connected and disconnected points, with new radius parm for point size.

When computing orientations for Vellum hair, the Vellum Constraints SOP will now align the final hair vertex with the previous vertex, giving their Bend/Twist constraint a rest state of identity. This state is much more stable and prevents occasional oscillations that could occur in the last vertex orientation, particularly at higher substeps. In addition, on simulation output the final vertex should closely align with the previous vertex, absent other orientation constraints on the final vertex. Note that hair simulation results will be slightly different with this change.

Added alpha clipping to the shader in the Height Field Quick Shade SOP.