Hello all, I'm very happy to be getting started with Houdini. However I have a small question: when a new release comes out, how do I go about getting the update onto my computer? Do I have to manually re-download the whole program and replace everything in my SideFX folder? Or is there something in a sub-program like HQueue, etc. that will allow me to run an automated installer?

Thank you,
Georgina

I update mine by manually uninstalling the old version then download and install the new version.

Alright, thanks. How do I ensure that I don't get any software conflicts when I do this, or that all my images and .hip files are retained and put under the same directories?

the Houdini install shouldn't have any effect on your other files.
when I come into work in the mornings I run a script that installs the daily builds of 15.0, 15.5 and 16.0 - no problems. There is a folder created in your HOME directory with a name that matches the version number - houdini16.0 etc
this directory will not be affected by installing a new build of that version.

Just don't store your .HIP files, or any other files in the folder that the installer makes. On my system, it currently reads “C:\Users\Admin\Documents\houdini16.0”. I keep my HIP files here. “D:\Documents\Houdini_Scenes”

Then I can install/uninstall versions of Houdini and all is cool. The installer is even good about keeping custom shelf tools intact as long as you are not migrating between a major version.

All your preferences are saved in that “houdini16.0” directory which won't change until something like 16.5 or 17 (whenever those come) are out. Even then it's pretty easy to copy your shelves, toolbars etc to the new folder.

I usually have at minimum 5-6 versions of Houdini installed at any time (15.5 still, for older files, latest production build of 16, latest Daily build of 16 only if it has something new I need to test, plus some others for specific reasons) and it's super painless.

The pleasure of pro software that doesn't try to overwrite the old version

Cheers,

peter B