Vray Lib Merged folders

[meanadam]

Vray Mat Lib merged some of our maps folders and created a huge mess on our server. Bad idea.
Unfortunately, it was bad timing for our backups and I didn't notice the change until it has been archived.

Can anyone explain a good way to undo this?

[^Lele^]

There is no code in the material library to take such actions.
Even using the script i prepared to dump a scene's matlib to the V-Ray library only *copies* the original files to the proper assets *subfolder*.

Would you like to expand on what you think happened?

[meanadam]

Hi Lele,
This is the Vray Lib folder contents on the server. All of these subfolders of the same name merged from previous folders on the drive. Eg "Stone", "Metal", "Ground", etc moved from the root to the Vray lib folder.




You can see some of the oldest maps in the new Vray Lib / Stone folder.


From the same folder - merged with the new Vray Lib assets installed on 6/19/2020

[^Lele^]

Phew, you gave me a heart attack!
I thought we overwrote your stuff.

It's going to be tedious, but you can likely create a new vray library somewhere else, and then delete the files it created in your directories if they have the same name as those in the v-ray library.
There may be tools for windows that can do this, or you may script something to do it for you.

Or, if you know the cutoff time and date, delete any of the newer files.
But this is risky, as any other new file in there would be wiped too, not just the V-Ray assets.

[meanadam]

Yes, unfortunately, I didn't notice sooner or we could have restored the backup. Trying to avoid the tedious... No interns here this year! Ok. Maybe delete all files from 6/19....
But how to avoid this if I want Vray Lib assets on the server? I have to install it in a subfolder? Or manually copy it over, I guess. Where are the Vray Lib "paths" set?
PS - the speed of the browser is great. I assume those are pre-rendered thumbnails from the asset folder? Will there be a tool to make our own libraries in this same way?

[^Lele^]

The library is indeed meant to sit in its own folder.
I don't know how your server is configured, but it should be easy enough to achieve.
The reasons are multiple, but the chief one is that we may need to perform updates to the library in the future, so it's safest to leave that part alone.

You can add to it, however: here is a tool i wrote to refresh the material samples, and optionally dump a scene's material library, with all the textures, into the V-Ray Library.
It will require some attention (a file needs to be copied somewhere specifically), but it should then be smooth sailing using it at its defaults.

So, to recap:
*) It Installs in its own folder.
*) There is a tool to update and add to the library, which will allow you to make changes to the payload, without touching the source material.

Let me know should you need further help.

[alexander.kazandzhiev]

Hi,

The library root path should be added in the Customize->Configure Project Paths...->External Files list. There is a script that comes with the V-Ray installation that normally takes care of this, but it may not trigger with an existing network installation as it needs the path set-up by the downloader.

Best regards,
Alexander