Being able to open the docs through houdini with F1 is very useful, unfortunately it seems to only work the first time after I launch Houdini. Every time after, the web page load just hangs.
It seems to load a page in the browser @ 127.0.0.1:48626, but it just hangs.
I have tried using an external browser as well by setting the HOUDINI_EXTERNAL_HELP_BROWSER=1 environment variable. This does not resolve the issue (the issue is with the local webserver that houdini seems to be running).
Is there a way to fix this? It would be unfortunate if I would have to instead google for all the docs instead of using this nice feature of jumping to docs within houdini.
Full Version: Houdini documentation through the app does not load
Does Houdini behave the same way when you click on the question mark icon? I mainly select any node and then click on the question mark to bring up the help. Once in the help I type what I am looking for in the search field. I rarely use F1.
Where are you hitting F1?
It works for me when I repeatedly hit F1 over different shelf tools.
It works for me when I repeatedly hit F1 over different shelf tools.
This bug doesn't seem to repro for me anymore. I will post an update with houdini console logs if it repros again!
I'm having the same problem as the original poster while using Houdini Apprentice 18.0.416
Whenever I use F1 to try to bring up help, Houdini opens a window with 127.0.0.1:48626 filled in as the URL, but nothing else happens; it just stays there empty.
Sometimes Houdini will give a fuller path based on what I clicked F1 over, such as http://127.0.0.1:48626/nodes/sop/metaball [127.0.0.1] when I tried to get help with metaball from the shelf menu
I'm on a Windows 10 Pro PC. Had been using this feature without difficulty previously. I upgraded to .416 recently, but not sure if this problem happened with that update or something else.
Is there a preference I need to set? Or something with Envelope / Path (if so would appreciate details on what I need to do since haven't messed with environmental paths in quite some time and don't want to mess anything up)
Thanks for any suggestions.
Whenever I use F1 to try to bring up help, Houdini opens a window with 127.0.0.1:48626 filled in as the URL, but nothing else happens; it just stays there empty.
Sometimes Houdini will give a fuller path based on what I clicked F1 over, such as http://127.0.0.1:48626/nodes/sop/metaball [127.0.0.1] when I tried to get help with metaball from the shelf menu
I'm on a Windows 10 Pro PC. Had been using this feature without difficulty previously. I upgraded to .416 recently, but not sure if this problem happened with that update or something else.
Is there a preference I need to set? Or something with Envelope / Path (if so would appreciate details on what I need to do since haven't messed with environmental paths in quite some time and don't want to mess anything up)
Thanks for any suggestions.
No way, I am from the future 2022.
On Houdini 19.5 the problem is still there.
I have reported the bug.
Surely it will be fixed by 2030.
On Houdini 19.5 the problem is still there.
I have reported the bug.
Surely it will be fixed by 2030.
same problem here 
Sorry to revive an old thread but this happened to me for Houdini 21.0.700 and perhaps my solution will help someone.
Turns out it was a json file in Documents/Houdini_version/packages that was pointing to the Arnold installation for Houdini 20.5.640. Once I removed that json file, the next time I opened Houdini the Help browser opened just fine.
So if your Help browser doesn't open within Houdini, maybe try renaming the Houdini folder in Documents (if you're on a PC) and then open Houdini and check if the Help browser loads.
Turns out it was a json file in Documents/Houdini_version/packages that was pointing to the Arnold installation for Houdini 20.5.640. Once I removed that json file, the next time I opened Houdini the Help browser opened just fine.
So if your Help browser doesn't open within Houdini, maybe try renaming the Houdini folder in Documents (if you're on a PC) and then open Houdini and check if the Help browser loads.