Houdini demo errors / won't run on Houdini Indie 15.5

[bododge]

My system:
Platform: macosx10.11-x86_64-clang7.3
Operating System: Mac OS X Version 10.10.5 (Build 14F27)
Number of Cores: 24
Physical Memory: 40.00 GB
Number of Screens: 3
Screen 0: 2560 x 1600 at 0,0
Work Area 0: 2560 x 1573 at 0,4
Screen 1: 1680 x 1050 at -1680,550
Work Area 1: 1680 x 1050 at -1680,550
Screen 2: 1920 x 1080 at 2560,557
Work Area 2: 1920 x 1080 at 2560,557

OpenGL Vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
OpenGL Renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 OpenGL Engine
OpenGL Version: 4.1 NVIDIA-10.5.2 346.02.03f01
OpenGL Shading Language: 4.10
Detected: NVidia Consumer (Mac version)
Unknown VRAM
Unknown driver version

Screen Shot 2016-09-18 at 2.11.25 PM.png (24.2 KiB) Viewed 3235 times

More info about my Cuda and Web Driver:

Demo Plugin folder from Otoy is installed here:
/Applications/Octane_3.03.3.0_Houdini_15.5.523_OSX

Houdini.env file is appended with these two lines

HOUDINI_PATH = /Applications/Octane_3.03.3.0_Houdini_15.5.523_OSX;&
HOUDINI_DSO_ERROR = 2

When I launch houdini I see the octane shelf and the top menus, however nothing will launch, and I get errors like these below:

I actually started to write a far more complex post, but I just have to say I have tried so many other things that it would make your head spin, things like installing the plugin pieces manually into my $HOME folder, and editing my .bash_profile to match what is in the .env file. I've tried making those directories end with a forward slash..Nothing worked. I eventually deleted those additional files and .bash_profile entries for fear I had messed something up. I know the installation at the top is the recommended one, and just like all of my other attempts it does not work. Can you please make any suggestions? I would love to try and most likely buy this plugin but it won't launch. Octane is working just fine on my system with C4D, so its probably not a Cuda or driver problem. I really appreciate any help with this. Thanks!

[juanjgon]

Hi,

Are you trying to install the demo version? The latest demo version available is the 3.00.20.0, so if you are installing the 3.03.3.0 version, you are working with a commercial build, not a demo build.

Anyway, even the commercial build without licenses should not have this kind of errors. These errors mean that the plugin folder can be found by Houdini (so the HOUDINI_PATH variable is right), but the plugin .dylib can't be loaded or it is not found.

If the Standalone or other plugin work fine in your system, the problem doesn't seem related to your GPU or CUDA installation. The problem can be your Houdini version ... You are trying to install the 15.5.523 plugin in Houdini 15.5.565. The plugin and Houdini version should match to avoid problems.

Anyway I'll release an updated demo build, with versions for the latest H15.5 production builds, for the next plugin release.

Thanks,
-Juanjo

[bododge]

juanjgon

I see your point about which version, demo or production, but let me assure I tried the correct build before and even again after writing the original post. I only tried the commercial build after more than 90 minutes of frustration fiddling with variables. I get the same error messages when I use this build and variable path:

Octane_3.00.20.0_Houdini_15.5.480_OSX

It must be the version number as you suggested. I would really appreciate a workable demo as soon as makes sense for you! Learning mantra is too hard once you love Octane

Thanks

[juanjgon]

Yes, sure. I'll update all the demo versions with the next plugin build. I think that your problem is related to don't match the Houdini and plugin versions ... sometimes a plugin compiled for an earlier Houdini version can work in a new one, but not always.

-Juanjo

[bododge]

That new demo version came far sooner than expected. I'm super excited to try it out later tonight!

Many Thanks

[bododge]

The demo works fine now, thanks.

[juanjgon]

Great! Thanks.

-Juanjo