If you're beginners in 3D here's an important thing to realize. The software being used and certainly the version of the software being used is kind of secondary to understanding the art and science behind what's going on.

I've seen lots of posts that say the magic of Houdini is for version 8! The fact that it was written using version 8 is just a minor inconvenience. I learned quite a bit from the magic of Houdini book about Houdini yes, but also stuff in 3ds Max made sense that never did before. Even though it's geared towards Houdini beginners I think it could apply to version 8, version 9, or even Max/Maya.

It's a very well written resource on the science of 3D and proceduralism, the fact that there aren't any basics books for H9 is probably because there is already a very good one and it would be kind of redundant.

IMO the online help for Houdini is really only valuable in a working-on-a-project or trying-stuff-out context. It wouldn't really translate to linear form very well.

It's all node based help, which is sorely lacking in other apps. I would follow books and tutorials for learning 3D .. use the help / reference for troubleshooting and exploration.

“The Magic of H” is a wonderful book indeed and it´s everything anyone would need to get introduced into Houdini…and much more.
Please SESI, do NOT spend time printing manuals…use that time to develop more fancy stuff

el_diablo
XSI comes in a package box as well as Maya with numerous books etc.

Not at all. XSI comes in a small box with 2 DVDs, a dongle and a leaflet with contact and support info. And because it's boxed, I had to wait 4 or 5 weeks for its delivery.
Compare with Houdini which gives you temporary licenses the moment you order it, so you can get started right away.

Dragos

Please SESI, do NOT spend time printing manuals…use that time to develop more fancy stuff

the help files are already written….not a lot more to do
i don't think they would actually print them on site….

probably take a secretary 1 hour to run to office depot or some other print shop
some people actually like printed manuals….i read them in bed

some people actually like printed manuals….i read them in bed

Then those “some” people should print the manuals themselves, according to their need.
Almost no software comes with printed manuals nowadays, but they include PDFs so the user can print the parts he needs. Those PDFs would be nice to have, I agree.
Printed manuals cost money, so this will increase the price of the product (for everybody, including the users who don't need/want them).
Also, making a layout for something like this is not a “1-hour job for a secretary”. It involves resources and time, both of which can be more usefully spent on something else, like more help docs or more video tutorials.

Dragos

these people would print them themselves and do

The manual does not have to increase the price….if people want it they pay for it.
Lightwave has about a 1000 page manual that you pay extra for if you want it…..which I did…
And they are identical to there help files….and they make money selling the manuals.

This thread is for people who are pushing for houdini to make it available….if you don't like it don't buy it.

It's like saying “Hey SideFx, please discontinue copy stamping and focus on cooler things….cause I never use it”

People on this thread are asking for a manual……that I would gladly pay seperately for.

It's not a big issue…ya a little more than an hour….but not of any programmers time!!

The help files are already written……

A lot of pdf creators do not support 64-bit OS. Month ago I have discovered Free PDF Converter [ronyasoft.com] in the net. It works perfectly on my 64-bit XP.

achillepr
I think that without a good printed or pdf manual that cover the most important aspect of the program it'll be impossible for me to begin use Houdini.
I cannot follow the video tutorials while using the program, and the help is for who know yet the use of it and need deeper explanations.
I think a beginner manual, with tutorials and so on is the best for most of people.
I hope Sidefx will consider that.
Bye.
Achille

I think a good idea for you to do is to dictate what you listen to in the videos then go back and follow along with your dictation. You can open up a help file screen in houdini, save the dictation in a free doc writer (google docs), then open that document in the help file browser. This will allow you to have your notes in the same window as your workspace without having to flip back and forth.

Plus, you can just open the help files through that browser as well. If you find a node or icon you dont understand, set your mouse over it then hit f1 and it will bring up info about that node in the help file window for you to read. Here is a helpful video that will explain this a little more. http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=839&Itemid=241 [sidefx.com]

Good luck!

Hairston

Houdini now launches the help in an external browser. Under the Edit menu, select Open Help Browser at Startup. For me, this opens up in Firefox.

From there, you can print to your heart's content. I think people who are asking for printed docs should have the option, but the ownus should not be on Side FX to produce these. People are underestimating the time and cost to design and print a manual. SESI should spend their time filling in the documentation gaps more and more.

HTML cross-referencing is definitely the best way create docs. Not to mention, the docs are easier to keep current with each build of Houdini. Imagine trying to print out a manual each time there are doc updates!

As for pdfs…. You can print to PDF on Mac OSX from Firefox.

I printed out the entire manual twice - one for work, one for home. Then I printed a third ‘mobile’ edition that I keep in my backpack.
Then I went out to the forest and cut down a few extra trees and peed on 'em.
:twisted:

I wonder if you could get the PDF docs onto a Kindle?

www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini10.0 + iPhone
(ok, you can't load examples on an iPhone, but still handy)

save a tree, buy a small electronics device with heavy metals in it

Swissarmychainsaw
save a tree, buy a small electronics device with heavy metals in it

best reply ever

I wonder how much one can charge for the iPhone/Touch version of the Houdini online manuals in the app store …