Version 2.2.5 - Houdini 20.5.487

The plugin is now linked to Houdini 20.5.487 / HAPI 7.0.9

Source code and binaries are included for:
UE5.5, UE5.4 on Windows and Mac OS (Apple silicon / x86).

Please note that the source code available in the 5.0 branch is compatible with UE 5.0 - 5.5.

Also, please remember that the plugin's binaries AND source code are always available with the launcher/installer for a given version of Houdini. If you install or want to use a daily build of Houdini, please use the version of the plugin binaries/source code included with it.

CHANGES:

• Convert raw pointers used as members in the plugin classes to TObjectPtr<>.
  This change should allow the usage of incremental garbage collection / incremental reachability analysis on your projects.
• Only use one session when using Shared Memory, since Shared Memory is only allocated once per process.
• Fixed an issue where errors may occur when sending animations to Houdini.
• Fixed issues with motion clips being exported and imported incorrectly.
• Animation nodes are no longer cooked when created by the plugin.
• Enforce skeleton bone order required by Unreal when importing from Houdini.
  Updated KineFXToUnreal HDA.
• Fixed an issue where skeletal meshes may use incorrect bones when using an existing Unreal skeleton.
• Fix for components not registering owned objects.
• Added the Houdini.DumpNode console command to print details of a Houdini Node, as seen by Houdini Engine.
  This is mostly useful for debugging or for developers customizing the plugin.
• Internal fixes for unit tests on Unreal 5.5

Version 2.2.4 - Houdini 20.5.445

The plugin is now linked to Houdini 20.5.445 / HAPI 7.0.7

Source code and binaries are included for:
UE5.5, UE5.4 on Windows and Mac OS (Apple silicon).

Please note that the source code available in the 5.0 branch is compatible with UE 5.0 - 5.5.

Also, please remember that the plugin's binaries AND source code are always available with the launcher/installer for a given version of Houdini. If you install or want to use a daily build of Houdini, please use the version of the plugin binaries/source code included with it.

CHANGES:

• Added UE5.5 binaries for the Houdini for Unreal plugins.
• Improved the performance of deleting light actors when recooking.
• Fixed data layers and HLODs not being applied correctly to all instancers.
• Fixed hda_level macro not expanding correctly in World Partitioned levels.
• Data Layers and HLOD Layers are now applied to Landscape Streaming Proxies as well as the parent landscapes.
• Updated UI for the multi-asset selection dialog. It is now scrollable, resizable and has display options for hiding parts of node names (namespace, version...).
• Removed benign warning when setting actor labels in world partition levels.
• Fixed bake outlinder folder not being set correctly if specified on a primitive attribute.
• Fixed unreal_output_name not being read correctly for primitive and detail attributes.
• Added support for landscape creation in Unreal 5.5.
• Fixed an issue where the edit layer name could be ignored when creating a landscape.
• Landscape import performance optimizations.
• HDAs are now placed in a dormant state if loaded as a level instance inside a level. Editing the level instance will allow the HDA Component to be cooked. This fixes several issues when using level instances.
• Fixed a regression that caused an infinite loop setting landscape spline segment meshes by attributes.

Version 2.2.3 - Houdini 20.5.410

The plugin is now linked to Houdini 20.5.410 / HAPI 7.0.6

Source code and binaries are included for:
UE5.4, UE5.3 on Windows and Mac OS (Apple silicon).

Please note that the source code available in the 5.0 branch is compatible with UE 5.0 - 5.4.

Also, please remember that the plugin's binaries AND source code are always available with the launcher/installer for a given version of Houdini. If you install or want to use a daily build of Houdini, please use the version of the plugin binaries/source code included with it.

CHANGES:

• Added support for Starting/Stopping HAPI Performance monitoring.
  This can be done by using the Houdini.StartHAPIPerformanceMonitor and Houdini.StopHAPIPerformanceMonitor commands respectively.
  The performance logs can then be easily viewed by opening the Performance Monitor in Houdini when using session sync.
  The HAPI traces are stored in the current unreal trace directory.

• Added support for the "unreal_pdg_asset" detail attribute.
  It can be used to indicate to the plugin if an HDA is expected to use PDG.
  This is especially useful on big HDAs that contain a lot of nodes - as it will speed up instantiation and rebuild times significantly.

• Added support for exporting Physics Assets for Skeletal Meshes from Houdini to Unreal. An auto-generated Physics Asset is now created by default.

• Fixed build warnings and errors for UE5.5 preview 1.
  You should now be able to build the plugin from source with UE5.5 preview 1.
  However, incremental Garbage collection is still not supported by the plugin at the moment.

• Fixed crash with landscape spline inputs.

• Fixed incorrect Landscape Spline input Rotation values.

• Fixed incorrect Landscape Spline input Mesh scale values.

• Prevent an unreal crash if failing to commit landscape splines.

• Optimizations for large HDAs (lot of noes/parameters).
  Rebuilding an HDA no longer causes every parameter to be individually re-set on the Houdini side.
  The plugin now relies on parameter presets for setting parameters on rebuilt/loaded HDAs.
  This significantly reduces the time needed for these operations on HDAs that have a lot of nodes and parameters.

• Improved the performance of run-length encoding by limiting the number of packets created.

• Fixed an issue where level instance inputs would not always be uploaded to Houdini.

• Fixed an issue where animation matrices would be scaled in Houdini when importing from Unreal.

• Fixed an issue where masks on height fields could sometimes have the wrong size when exporting to Houdini from Unreal.

• Fixed an issue where level instances would not always bake in non-world partition levels.

Version 2.2.2 - Houdini 20.5.370

The plugin is now linked to Houdini 20.5.370 / HAPI 7.0.5

Source code and binaries are included for:
UE5.4, UE5.3 on Windows and Mac OS (Apple silicon).

Please note that the source code available in the 5.0 branch is compatible with UE 5.0 - 5.4.

Also, please remember that the plugin's binaries AND source code are always available with the launcher/installer for a given version of Houdini. If you install or want to use a daily build of Houdini, please use the version of the plugin binaries/source code included with it.

CHANGES:

• Fixed an issue where invisible collisions would not be correctly set to invisible when using packed primitives.
• Fixed a regression that caused mesh sockets created by detail attributes to be ignored by the plugin.
• Added an attribute to disable gamma correction on colors.
• Added landscape actors to baked actor list returned by the wrapper API.
• Internal updates to landscape input splines.
• Fixed Actor Tags created by attributes being lost when baking curve outputs to Actors.
• Fixed several issues with incorrect attributes being applied incorrectly to landscape splines.

Version 2.2.1 - Houdini 20.5.332

First production release of the Houdini Engine for Unreal plugin for Houdini 20.5.
The plugin is now linked to Houdini 20.5.332 / HAPI 7.0.2

Source code and binaries are included for:
UE5.4, UE5.3 on Windows and Mac OS (Apple silicon).

Please note that the source code available in the 5.0 branch is compatible with UE 5.0 - 5.4.

Also, please remember that the plugin's binaries AND source code are always available with the launcher/installer for a given version of Houdini. If you install or want to use a daily build of Houdini, please use the version of the plugin binaries/source code included with it.

CHANGES:

• Fixed an issue where landscape splines would not recook correctly.
• Fixed issue that caused the Data Table translator to failed to use existing RowStructs.
• Fixed a similar issue when reading LightmapResolutions, and DataTable output paths.
• Stopping a session when using session sync no longer cleans up / destroy every node in the session automatically.
• Prevent NodeSync components and invalid HAC from automatically starting the session upon loading the level.
• HDA that have been manually deleted in SessionSync now re-instantiate themselves correctly when modifying them without the need for a manual rebuild.
• Filtered some unnecessary logs of "Invalid Argument" errors.
• NodeSyncComponent no longer needlessly update their parameters/inputs.
  This could cause them to force their previous state on the existing node after a session restart.
• Added new command: Houdini.CleanSession
  This can be used to manually clean/delete every node in the current Houdini Engine Session.
• Renamed the "Houdini.Clean" command to "Houdini.CleanTemp" to avoid confusion.
• Added support for multiparms in Unreal presets.
• Fixed a possible unreal crash caused by invalid bake folder names.
• Fixed Label parameters displaying column labels vertically instead of horizontally.
• Fixed the Reset Parameters button being cut out and missing its icon.
• Fixed unreal_bake_folder attribute not being applied correctly.
• Added baked instance actors to bake actor output.
• Added list of Instanced Foliage Actors to bake outputs.
• Fixed an issue where the number of multiparms could not be set in the details panel.
• Houdini Spline's control points now respect the viewport Local/World coordinate space system.
  When rotating or in local mode, the transform widget will be displayed in local space instead of always in world space.
• Internal source code fixes for some Linux distributions.
• Added a checkbox to the Houdini Asset Component to allow disabling of curve editing.
  This allows editable HDAs to output curves.
• Fixed Handles having an incorrect Transform upon being created.
• Fixed issues when moving handles due to recent changes in UE5.
• Added a new console var: HoudiniEngine.HandleTickTime that can be used to control the frequency at which handles trigger updates after being moved.
• Added support for "unreal_bake_actor_class" to curves.
• Fixed an issue where landscape heights could be scaled incorrectly.
• Fixed opacity mask on Houdini Materials being ignored.
  Materials created by the plugin now have the Masked blend if creating an opacity mask.

Version 2.2.0 - Houdini 20.5.278

First release of the Houdini Engine for Unreal plugin for Houdini 20.5.
The plugin is linked to Houdini 20.5.278 / HAPI 7.0.0

Source code and binaries are included for:
UE5.4, UE5.3 on Windows and Mac OS (Apple silicon).

Please note that the source code available in the 5.0 branch is compatible with UE 5.0 - 5.4.

Also, please remember that the plugin's binaries AND source code are always available with the launcher/installer for a given version of Houdini. If you install or want to use a daily build of Houdini, please use the version of the plugin binaries/source code included with it.

NEW FEATURES:

• Added support for animation assets:

  Animation sequences can now be imported as Motion clips in Houdini, and Motion clips can be exported as Animation Sequences in Unreal.
  Learn more about animation support...

• Skeletal Mesh and KineFX support and improvements:
  Skeletal mesh input/output is no longer considered beta.
  Skeletal Mesh now follows Apex’s packed character format.
  Baking, LODs, sockets, colliders, and multiple materials are now supported.
  Added support to skeleton assignment using the unreal_skeleton attribute.
  Learn more about skeletal mesh support...

• Node Sync is now fully featured:
  Every type of inputs and outputs are now supported.
  Added a Live Sync option that automatically updates data modified in either Houdini or Unreal.
  Improved UI, added send and fetch options.
  Added the option to update and replace the current selection.
  World actors can now be sent and fetched.
  Learn more about Node Sync

• Content examples contains showrooms demonstrating features within the plugin.
  Each showroom has a small example to help you quickly understand a topic either through educational information or a simple action walkthrough.

• Added support for Shared Memory Buffer sessions.

• Added support for multiple (threaded) Houdini engine sessions.

• Improved BGEO import compatibility:

  added support for Data Tables, Skeletal Meshes, Geometry Collections, and Animation Sequences.

  This also applies to the PDG Asset Link and Node Sync.

• Parameter now support Horizontal Join to Next and Label Visibility.

• Ramp parameters UI improvements, the ramp editor can now be opened in an external window.

• Button strip parameters now fully supported.

• Added support for better control of landscape edit/paint layers export.

• Added support for baking of data layers.

• Added the option to group baked components, this lets you control if baking should produce a single/multiple actor(s).

• Added support for listing Generic property attributes using the Houdini.DumpGenericAttribute command.

• Updates to the Public API.

• Various optimizations to increase the plugin’s reactivity and reduce cook times.

Version 2.1.5 - Houdini 20.0.751

Update 5 of the Houdini Engine for Unreal for Houdini 20.0.
The plugin is now linked to Houdini 20.0.751 / HAPI 6.2.0.

Source code and binaries are included for:
UE5.4, UE5.3 on Windows, Mac OS (Apple silicon).

Please note that the source code available in the 5.0 branch is compatible with UE 5.0 - 5.4.

Also, please remember that the plugin's binaries AND source code are always available with the launcher/installer for a given version of Houdini. If you install or want to use a daily build of Houdini, please use the version of the plugin binaries/source code included with it.

Changes:

• Fixed an issue where landscape heights would not be scaled correctly.
• Fixed transform issues when sending actors as references in a World Input.
• Improved logic for finding generic properties.
  Previously, some properties could be missed if found in "secondary" objects/components.
  This would mainly happen for properties stored on Actor's components.
• Fixed an issue where voxel size was incorrect for imported landscapes.
• Fixed several issues with joints and skinning being imported to Unreal incorrectly.
• Added support for material import for skeletal meshes.
• Added baking support for skeletal meshes.
• Added a timer to prevent updating session sync assets too frequently, as this can cause issues with very large HDAs that contain a lot of nodes.
• Added new console variable "HoudiniEngine.LiveSyncTickTime" that can be used to set the value of the above timer (default is 1s).

Version 2.1.4 - Houdini 20.0.724

Update 4 of the Houdini Engine for Unreal for Houdini 20.0.
The plugin is now linked to Houdini 20.0.724 / HAPI 6.2.0.

Source code and binaries are included for:
UE5.4, UE5.3, and UE5.2 on Windows, Mac OS (Apple silicon).

Please note that the source code available in the 5.0 branch is compatible with UE 5.0 - 5.4.

Also, please remember that the plugin's binaries AND source code are always available with the launcher/installer for a given version of Houdini. If you install or want to use a daily build of Houdini, please use the version of the plugin binaries/source code included with it.

Changes:

• Added support for Unreal 5.4.
  The plugin now compiles with UE5.4 - and all regressions caused by the 5.4 updates have been fixed.

• Fixed Skeletal Mesh output crashing with UE5.4.

• Fixed various build issues with UE5.4.

• Fixed Geometry Collections not updating properly in UE5.4

• Fixed Skeletal Mesh material assignment issue.

• Fixed build errors due to "expression result unused" likely caused by a backport issue.

• Fixed flipped scale values on landscapes.

• Fixed issues with landscapes, This stops World Partition loading and unloading from dirtying the HDA Actor.

• Fixed an issue where the scale of the landscape transform would not be set correctly.

Version 2.1.3 - Houdini 20.0.688

Update 3 of the Houdini Engine for Unreal for Houdini 20.0.
The plugin is now linked to Houdini 20.0.688 / HAPI 6.2.0.

Source and binaries are included for:
UE5.2, and UE5.3 on Windows, Mac OS (intel and Apple silicon).

Please note that the source code available in the 5.0 branch is compatible with UE 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4. Binaries for UE5.4 will be provided in the next release - as the plugin currently compiles but is untested with 5.4.

Also, please remember that the plugin's binaries AND source code are always available with the launcher/installer for a given version of Houdini. If you install or want to use a daily build of Houdini, please use the version of the plugin binaries/source code included with it.

New features / Changes:

• Added support for Unreal 5.4.
  As mentioned above - the 5.4 plugin compiles but is currently not fully tested.

• Added support for the plugin's content examples.
  The content examples are available as a content plugin that can be downloaded on their git repository:
  https://github.com/sideeffects/HoudiniEngineForUnreal-ContentExamples

• Added support for baking outputs to a single actor rather than multiple actors.
  This is controlled by a setting in the Houdini Asset Component next to the bake setting.

• Added support for baking of geometry collections.

• Added buttons for selecting the temporary cook folder and bake folder.

• Added a new Log Command: Houdini.DumpGenericAttribute
  This can be used to list all properties/generic attributes for a given class, listing the expected
  unreal_uproperty_XXX attribute names and types, and if the system supports it.
  Usage example: Houdini.DumpGenericAttribute StaticMesh

• Improved the logic used for finding uproperty attributes.

• Changed options for exporting layers from Unreal to Houdini to allow more control over which landscape layers are sent.

• Improvements and bug fixes for ramp parameter details UI.
  The ramp curve editor can now be opened in an external window for easier use.

• Fields in the parameter UI remain focused after an HDA is cooked, making it possible to edit and navigate the Unreal details UI using the keyboard only.

• Nanite FallbackTargets are now automatically set for given Nanite Fallback Values.

• Added support for setting the CenterAdjust property on a Spline Segment Mesh.

Bug Fixes:

• Button strip parameters now work correctly in the details UI.
• String parameters with the tag "unreal_ref" have an updated UI in the details view which matches the native UE5 object picker.
  They previously missed buttons to navigate to the currently selected object and it in the Content Browser.
• Fixed an issue where proxy meshes would not have Unreal's color-per-vertex gamma correction applied.

Version 2.1.2 - Houdini 20.0.653

Version 2.1.2 - Houdini 20.0.653

Update 2 of the Houdini Engine for Unreal for Houdini 20.0.
The plugin is now linked to Houdini 20.0.653 / HAPI 6.2.0.

Source and binaries are included for:
UE5.2, and UE5.3 on Windows.
UE5.1 and UE5.2 on Mac OS.
UE5.2 on Mac OS (Apple Silicon).

Please note that the source code available in the 5.0 branch is compatible with UE 5.0 , 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3.

Also, please remember that the plugin's binaries AND source code are always available with the launcher/installer for a given version of Houdini. If you install or want to use a daily build of Houdini, please use the version of the plugin binaries/source code included with it.

New features / Changes:

• UI: The focused parameter in the details panel is maintained after modifying a value/cooking.
  This makes manually entering values in the parameter easier.
• UI: Improved details panel refresh logic.
• Param: Added support for Horizontally Join to Next Parameter option to Details UI
• PDG: TOP nodes/networks are now lexicographically sorted in the PDG Assewt Link UI.
• Added missing lock/unlock icon for Float3 parameters

Bug Fixes:

• Fixed an issue where height fields that were not of the correct Unreal size would be offset when imported into Unreal.
• Fixed Button Strip parameters not behaving as expected
• Chaos/Geometry Collection: Values for the "unreal_gc_collisions_implicit_type" now follow the same order as their corresponding menu entries in Unreal: 0 = Box, 1 = Sphere, 2 = Capsule, 3 = Level Set, 4 = None, 5...
• Added a safeguard to prevent the renaming of HoudiniToolsPackage, as this silently disables them. Renaming them to anything but "HoudiniToolsPackage" is now not supported.
• Prevent the plugin from looking for HDA's ToolsPackage when cooking as this would generate a lot of unnecessary load warnings in the cook logs.
• Fixed reimport failing for .bgeo.sc files.