How to Install an HDA in Houdini (Step by Step)

A Houdini Digital Asset (HDA) packages a node network into a single reusable node. Installing one is quick once you know where Houdini looks for them.

Method 1 — the otls folder (recommended)

Houdini automatically scans an otls/ folder for assets:

1. Find your Houdini user preferences directory (e.g. Documents/houdiniXX.X).
2. Create an otls/ folder inside it if it doesn't exist.
3. Drop the .hda / .hdalc file in there.
4. Restart Houdini — the asset is available in the Tab menu in every project.

This keeps the asset available everywhere without re-installing per scene.

Method 2 — install for one project

If you only need it in the current scene: File → Import → Houdini Digital Asset (or Assets → Install Digital Asset Library), pick the file, and the node appears in the Tab menu.

.hda vs .hdalc

.hdalc is the Indie/Apprentice (limited-commercial) format. It works the same way — just make sure your Houdini licence tier matches the file you were given.

Keep them organised

• Use one otls/ folder and version your assets.
• For studio work, point the HOUDINI_OTLSCAN_PATH environment variable at a shared library.
• After installing, right-click the node → Type Properties to see parameters and version.

Every HDA we ship — like the Procedural Greebles HDA and the free Velocity Trail Visualiser — installs exactly this way, and most come with a free usage tutorial so you can see it working on a real setup.