How do I install pre-built compounds and graphs?

[JocelynM]

As we anticipate this will be a frequently asked question we have provided both the question and answer in this thread.

[JocelynM · Accepted solution]

To install pre-built compounds and graphs, follow these steps:

1. Download the .json file for the compound, or the folder corresponding to the graph
2. Copy the .json file or the folder to the following path:
1. On Windows: C:\Users\<your_user_name>\Autodesk\Bifrost\Compounds
2. On Mac OSX: /Users/<your_user_name>/Autodesk/Bifrost/Compounds
3. On Linux: $HOME/Autodesk/Bifrost/Compounds
3. Restart Maya
4. The new compound(s) should show up in the TAB-create menu, and any new graphs will show up in the Bifrost Browser

For example, if your username on your computer is marcusn, and you are using Windows, your destination folder will be: C:\Users\marcusn\Autodesk\Bifrost\Compounds

[marcus.nordenstam]

One thing to note.  For graphs, you don't have to restart Maya.  The graph browser will see the new graph folders without needing a restart.

[Anonymous]

One question about importing compounds :

This workflow works great, I can load my compounds and everything is created. However, none of all the compounds I tried gave me a result : I always have at least 1 node red, erroring, usually a low level one (i.e. I have to dive into sub-sub compounds to find it). Any idea why, out of all the compounds posted, not even one worked on my machine ? Could it be because of some incompatibility with the current and the previous bifrost versions ? Or am I missing some dependencies ?

[Christoph_Schaedl]

You have to deinstall the old Bifrost version first.

[marcus.nordenstam]

Where are you getting the compounds from?  If they are old compounds on the beta forum, posted by users (or us) before the Gold build of Bifrost, then they may be out-of-date.  

To be on the safe side, I would only use compounds from the official rebel pack, the one posted for Bifrost 2.0.1.0 (gold) version.  Delete all other compounds you have downloaded, as they are old and out of date.

[Anonymous]

Hi Marcus, 

Indeed, that's from the previous forum, from the compound bazaar ! I'll try to update my bifrost version and get the latest compounds. Thanks =]

[DanielEriksson4773]

HI,

I'm trying to install the Rebel compounds following this guide, but I´m getting this error in Maya:

// Error: Error: 'file:///bifrost_lib_config.json' is not a valid Amino JSON file: Missing the header's 'file format version' metadata. //

As a side note I had to create the Bifrost and compounds folders, as they didnt exist under my user name....correct?

Thank for any help.

[Christoph_Schaedl]

This Thread should be pinned.

[WindXu]

Hi Daniel,

As for // Error: Error: 'file:///bifrost_lib_config.json' is not a valid Amino JSON file: Missing the header's 'file format version' metadata. //, I don't know whether you have found your answer or not.

This issue is actually known on our side and has been logged as BIFROST-3272.

The reason why it happens is because bifrost_lib_config.json is not a compound/graph json file. It is a config file used to specify custom Bifrost lib location. 

About how to add a custom lib location please refer to this page: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/maya/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/ENU/Bifrost-...

Put in short, environment variable BIFROST_LIB_CONFIG_FILES needs to be set to the full path of bifrost_lib_config.json inside which it specifies the compounds/graphs sub folders that are relative to the location of the configuration file itself. 

After restarting Maya, the sub folders specified in bifrost_lib_config.json will become Bifrost lib search path. If the parent folder of bifrost_lib_config.json becomes a search path (by adding it in the config file), Bifrost will treat the config file as a compound, then it will error out.

Please let me know if you have more questions. Thanks

[rmon61]

there is no such as location

[Anonymous]

I found the paths to compounds (at least on Mac) are not there by default.  I found if I made a simple "test" compound in Bifrost graph then "published' it, the directory structure gets built.  

My problem, I can see any compounds I built but downloading prebuilt compounds and copying into same folder , I cannot see the other compounds, even after re-starting Maya...any ideas?

[WindXu]

Hi Ken,

Did you put the compounds/graphs you downloaded in folder $HOME/Autodesk/Bifrost/Compounds? You can put json files or sub folders inside this folder and then restart Maya.

You can also set BIFROST_LIB_CONFIG_FILES to add a custom Bifrost lib location. If you downloaded RPOA, there should be a lib config file inside it. What you need to do is set environment variable BIFROST_LIB_CONFIG_FILES to the full path of the config file and then start Maya.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Yes, I did that and only my user compounds show up when I tab in Graph window

[Anonymous]

@JocelynM 
Can the path for pre-built compounds be customized, e.g. via environment variable like with MAYA_PLUG_IN_PATH and MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH to a network location? 

Many thanks!

Robert

[Anonymous]

Nevermind, found it in the docs. Should've looked there first, I guess. 😉 

In case anyone else is looking for that:

To install compounds and graphs that are shared with a team, first set up additional locations for compounds and graphs as described in Set up additional compound and graph locations. In particular, each member of the team needs to set the BIFROST_LIB_CONFIG_FILES environment variable to include the path of the configuration files.

Once the additional locations have been set up, you can install compounds and graphs by copying the files to any of the directories specified by the configuration files.

Source:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/BIFROST/ENU/?guid=Bifrost_Common_install_compounds_and_graphs_html

[Anonymous]

Hey all, I'm having an issue with getting external config files to actual load in compounds.

My config file looks like this: 

{
  "bifrost_config": [
    {
      "libraryName": "testLib",
      "libraryVersion": "0.0.1",
      "jsonLibs": [
        {
          "path": "constraints/jsonLibs",
          "files": [ ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

 And I am adding this file's absolute path to the BIFROST_LIB_CONFIG_FILES variable via maya.env. When I open Maya I can confirm that the path is added to the variable (to the start of the list, if that makes any difference). 

Alongside the config is constraints/jsonLibs/MyCompount.json. MyCompound was published from the Graph Editor into the User directory and then moved to this new location. However, now Maya doesn't even seem to be reading this new config file. Nothing within its relative jsonLibs path is being found, even if I pull over a pre-existing compound from the Maya root directory. I'm not sure what else to do at this point, honestly.

I'm on 2020.3, by the way.

[Grahame_Fuller]

Hi,

EDIT: Never mind -- I just noticed that you are using Maya.env. In that case, I'm not sure what the issue is. Have you tried backing up and then resetting your Maya preferences?

Are you setting the environment variable in Maya's Script Editor? In that case, you'll need to unload and reload bifrostGraph using the Plug-in Manager.

Normally Bifrost loads when Maya starts, so to  avoid reloading the plug-in the variable should be set before that. For example, you can use the Maya.env file or set it with your system or user variables. I like to set in manually on the command line before using that shell to launch Maya so that I have complete control over which compound libraries load each time.

Cheers,

gray

[rmon61]

I'm stopped using Bifrost.

[Anonymous]

I reset my prefs and it still didn't work. If I move the same json files into the User Bifrost directory, they load fine. If they are in the external path, they won't. Does the config file snippet I posted about look correct?