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.

[mjcg91]

In your maya.env file, are you including the config files names and extension in the path ?

Have you tried using a windows environment variable instead ?

[Anonymous]

My full maya.env is:

BIFROST_LIB_CONFIG_FILES=C:\full\path\to\config\ConfigFileName.json

When I launch Maya, the getenv returns:

// C:/full/path/to/config/ConfigFileName.json;C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Bifrost/Maya2020/2.1.0.0/bifrost/resources/plugin_config.json // 

 I haven't tried doing it through a windows environment variable yet, but even if that works its suboptimal. I can't be guaranteed that I will be able to set that on every machine I distribute to. I will try it regardless and see though.

[Grahame_Fuller]

Hi,

The JSON syntax looks fine to me.

One thing to double-check is that the JSON compound definitions are in the right path relative to the location of the library configuration file. That is, if your configuration file is in parentfolder and contains "path": "constraints/jsonLibs", then your compounds should be in parentfolder/constraints/jsonLibs (i.e. the config file should not be in constraints).

Cheers,

gray

[Anonymous]

Yep, that's how I have it set up:

ParentFolder
|_Constraints
|____jsonLibs
|_ConfigFile.json

 ConfigFile.json and Constraints are both in ParentFolder, then jsonLibs is within Constraints, and the config has:

"path": "Constraints/jsonLibs"

At this points I'm wondering if it's a bug. If I move the exact files and folders into the User Bifrost directory directly, they load fine. If it's with this config file, they don't show up at all. If I unload then reload all the Bifrost plugins nothing happens. If I set the variable through windows instead of the Maya.env nothing happens. 

[syracoj]

What happens if you keep the ParentFolder as JSONS then have your subdirectories with their corresponding libraries of json's under them?

So the _config.json file Path would be:

"path": "JSONS"

see attached image

[syracoj]

I forgot to add to keep the actual _config.json file parallel/sideBySide to the JSONS dir.

[Anonymous]

Just as one last test, I created a new graph, kept all the default settings, and saved it into this new JSON folder. Still no dice. 

[syracoj]

k, I didn't try with a graph (that would show up in the Browser) on my end so let me try that. But, after setting that config file in the Bifrost Graph Editor are you able to press tab and find any of the associated compounds that you saved to that JSON dir?

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately that didn't work either. As a stopgap I'm going to just install this stuff to the User directory but that's not really a solution.

[syracoj]

after setting the envVar are you able to publish a graph to that location (or is this what you have been doing)? I would test publishing a graph (not compound) to the custom location and then see if you can import it in from the same location through the Bifrost Browser. I'll try and get a video out to you showing what I am able to do. Perhaps this will give clues as to why you are hitting issues. This of course does not rule out a legitimate defect.

[Anonymous]

No luck with that either. I can export it to the desired location (just by browsing to it and settings the export path), but not import it. 

[syracoj]

please see attached video. Are you doing something similar to the workflow in the video?

[anthony.dreaming]

If you're attempting to install more than one pre-built compound packs/folders, then do not put them in the folder .../Autodesk/Bifrost/Compounds. To get multiple packs to work, follow Maxime's instructions here. The only thing that may not be explicit in his instructions, is that you should place your pack folders in a custom folder or your making or choosing, not in the .../Autodesk/Bifrost/Compounds folder – leave that folder for own compounds that you publish from inside Maya.

After dragging your compound folders into a folder of your making or choosing, go inside the bifrost.mod file and point to the bifrost_lib_config.json files at the root of each of your compound folders. Below is how I did it for a Mac. I put my pre-built compounds in a custom folder "Bifrost_Compounds_Others" at the same hierarchy level as .../Autodesk/Bifrost/.   You may be able to put them inside the Bifrost folder, just don't put them inside /Bifrost/Compounds as pointing to them in there will throw an error.

BIFROST_LIB_CONFIG_FILES+=/Users/ac/Autodesk/Bifrost_Compounds_Others/rebel_pack_0.4.0/bifrost_lib_config.json
BIFROST_LIB_CONFIG_FILES+=/Users/ac/Autodesk/Bifrost_Compounds_Others/MJCG_compounds/bifrost_lib_config.json

[Anonymous]

I am having the same issue, tried al sorts of things to get the Rebel Pack graphs, which I imported to the folder stated in the instructions website, to load into my graph editor. However nothing shows up under the users tab, except for my own published compounds. If anyone has a solution to this issue please let us know.

[Anonymous]

So where is it where I can find the "Bifrost.mod" file? I am quite new to this program and am getting rather lost between the files.

[syracoj]

be advised that there will not be a namespace under the Tab menu that identifies the Rebel Pack nodes in a collected menu entry. One way to tell that the rebel pack is successfully found is to create a node that is a rebel pack type node. Try creating a create_particle_trails node. If it comes in then you have the Rebel Pack. When it comes in it should also have an R icon on the node (perhaps with an icon of a chemist's Erlenmeyer flask to indicate that it is experimental).

[yeungy]

Hello JelteHoogterp,

You can find your bifrost.mod file here -

• C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\Modules\Maya (Windows)
• /usr/autodesk/modules (Linux)
• /Users/Shared/Autodesk/modules (macOS)

In addition, anthony.dreaming also linked to Maxime's instructions, which describe how to modify the .mod file.

Hope this helps a little.

Yvonne

[Anonymous]

Thank you, Syracoj. I overlooked the fact that all the nodes from the pack do seem to appear when I search for them, so thanks for the insight!

[Anonymous]

So, I finally got back around to this issue and I figured out a solution. 

When you add a BIFROST_LIB_CONFIG_FILES path in Maya.env, it puts it at the beginning of that list. Apparently this is what messes it up. If I remove that line from the Maya.env, start up Maya, unload the BifrostGraph.mll plugin, then add the path back to the BIFROST_LIB_CONFIG_FILES env path via putenv, thus putting my custom path at the end of that list, it works. 
So I guess my question would be, when is the appropriate time to add my path? It seems like it needs to be before the BifrostGraph.mll plugin loads, but after Maya first initializes. 

[maverickssierra]

I tired to follow the direction but there is no folder Compound in my system. I looked up everywhere it just does not exist. What should I do?