Seeking Solution to Force File Search Paths for Material Links

[zdgreen]

Hello All,

I work at a small architecture firm, 10 people, and we are dealing with the aftermath of certain computers using a mapped address to our server and others using a network location. This resulted in the root of linked file paths as either "Z:/Z - Material library/..." vs. "//VDGFILESERVER/VDG Server/Z - Material Library/..." We have since switched all computers to accessing the server via mapping to a Z: drive. We have been able to mitigate most issue in old files, across different softwares, but forcing file search paths.

Our problem with Vray has been that multiple people work on any given Rhino model and we have material links that reference the Z: drive and some that reference the network location. Rhino has a function to force file search paths, but this only restores the preview of a material in Rhino so the link is still broken to Vray. See examples of search paths below:

//VDGFILESERVER/VDG Server/ Z-Material Library/Wood/walnut-03-d.jpg
Z:/Z-Material Library/Landscape - Rock/gravel-01-d.jpg

We have been able to fix this issue by changing the root of the file paths for each material link from "//VDGFILESERVER/VDG Server" to "Z:". Though this is a very tedious fix that often ends up freezing the material editor for minutes at a time. I am curious if anyone else has experienced this problem and if there is a way to force file search paths for Vray.


Thanks,

[Peter.Chaushev]

Hello,

You V-Ray to always search a specific location when looking for asset files. This is done by setting up the following environment variable:
VRAY_ASSETS_PATH
Multiple paths can be included, separated by semicolon ";"
https://docs.chaosgroup.com/display/...s-RenderAssets

For manual repathing of assets on a per-project basis, stick to using V-Ray > File Path Editor
https://docs.chaosgroup.com/display/...le+Path+Editor

Kind regards,
Peter

[zdgreen]

Hello,

You V-Ray to always search a specific location when looking for asset files. This is done by setting up the following environment variable:
VRAY_ASSETS_PATH
Multiple paths can be included, separated by semicolon ";"
https://docs.chaosgroup.com/display/...s-RenderAssets

For manual repathing of assets on a per-project basis, stick to using V-Ray > File Path Editor
https://docs.chaosgroup.com/display/...le+Path+Editor

Kind regards,
Peter

Hey Peter,

Thanks for getting back to me. I should clarify that I am running Vray 2.0 on Rhino 5 SR14.

Can you clarify how to input the environment variable? The article you sent looks like it is for a standalone version of vray - how does that differ from the vray for rhino plugin?


best,

[Peter.Chaushev]

On Windows 10, go to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > System > Advanced system settings > Advanced > Environment Variables.. or simply open the Windows start menu, type in "Edit Environment" and hit Enter.
If you are not comfortable editing your system, please ask your office admin or whoever maintains your office machines before proceeding.

Let me know if this solution is sufficient for your work.

Kind regards,
Peter