Searcher

Currently only fully working on Windows and Linux. If there is interest in a working Mac version, let me know.

Installation | Compatability Details

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Thanks for checking out Searcher. Below are the instructions to get you up and running.

Help Docs

https://help.instance.id/searcher/

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Change Log:

v0.1.5

Fixed build script and repackaged release with proper Searcher compiled runtime files for py3.10

v0.1.4

Added Houdini v20 compatibility

v0.1.3

Added Houdini v19.5 compatibility

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Note for Houdini 18.5-20 (Windows)

SideFX has only included SQLite v 3.31.0 with H18.5+ and their support has told me they have no plans to upgrade it to 3.33.0 (which has FTS5 enabled (Full-Text Search), which is needed by Searcher). Because of this, an extra step is required to install/use Searcher with Houdini 18.5+ until/unless they decide to include SQLite 3.33.0 instead of 3.31.0.

Download:
Windows x64: SQLite v3.33.0

• Extract the downloaded sqlite-dll-win64-x64-3330000.zip file, then in another window browse to your Houdini installation directory: aka $HFS/bin.
  By default this is located at: C:\Program Files\SideFX\Houdini20.0.xxx\bin
• In the Houdini $HFS/bin folder, locate the sqlite3.dll file and either make a backup copy to save elsewhere (just in case), or simply rename it to sqlite3.dll.bak
• From the extracted sqlite-dll-win64-x64-3330000.zip, locate the new sqlite3.dll then copy and paste it into the $HFS/bin folder.

From my testing, that was all that needed to be done, as Searcher worked for me at that point, but Houdini support mentioned that the sqlite3.dll located in the $HFS/python27/dlls or $HFS/python37/dlls folder should be replaced as well. Just make sure to back it up/rename it as well. Always better to be safe than sorry!

The process is the same for Unix OS's, you just have to go to the $HFS/bin folder that cooresponds to your particular OS and instead of looking for sqlite3.dll, the file will just be sqlite3. I would love to test it, but Houdini 18.5 on Linux crashes when I try to open it on both my laptop and VM on my desktop.

Linux: SQLite v3.33.0
MacOS: SQLite v3.33.0

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Install

1. Extract/unzip 'Searcher_<version>.zip'. (ex. Searcher_{#version}.zip) Inside will be a packages and Searcher folder as well as a README.md and a url link to this page.

   Searcher_{#version}.zip /
           Searcher_{#version}/__ /packages/
                           |_ /Searcher/
                           |__ README.md
                           |__ Searcher_install_instructions.url
   

2. Move the Searcher folder somewhere permanent. It can be placed where ever you would like. Make note of the folder path, as it will be needed in a later step. Examples below:

   OS	Path (replace <user> with your actual username)
   Windows:	C:\Users\<user>\houdini_addons\Searcher
   Linux:	/home/<user>/houdini_addons/Searcher
   MacOS:	/Users/<user>/Library/h_addons/Searcher

3. Move the 'packages' folder into your Houdini $HOME directory. The locations are seen below:

   OS	Path (replace <user> with your actual username)
   Windows:	C:\Users\<user>\Documents\houdini18.0\packages\Searcher.json
   Linux:	/home/<user>/houdini18.0/packages/Searcher.json
   MacOS:	/Users/<user>/Library/Preferences/houdini/18.0/packages/Searcher.json

4. Within the 'packages' folder is the Searcher.json file. Open this file in your editor of choice and edit line #27. Within the second set of quotation marks input the path to the Searcher folder from step #2. On Windows, replace the backslashes (\) in the path with a forwardslashs (/) Ex. If using Windows and following the example listed above, line 27 would look like this:

           "SEARCHERLOCATION": "C:/Users/<user>/houdini_addons/Searcher",
   

5. Save the file and start Houdini. On the main shelf toolbar add the Searcher shelf by clicking on the plus(+) button, then the Shelves tab, followed by selecting "Searcher Shelf" seen in the images below:
   

6. You should now be able to hit the hotkey below to open the Searcher window:
   Open Searcher Window: Ctrl+`

Notes

Compatability:

Houdini	Versions Tested
Houdini:	Version: 18.0.348 and up

Tested versions

OS	Versions Tested
⊞ Windows:	Windows 10 Pro v10.0.19041.264 (v2004)
🐧 Linux:	Pop_OS! (Ubuntu) 19.04/19.10/20.04
🍎 MacOS:	Possibly coming soon, if requested

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