FAQ

FAQ

General questions

Users

Developers

General Questions

What is food4Rhino?

food4Rhino is the Plug-in Community Service by McNeel.  Users can find the newest Rhino Plug-ins, Grasshopper Add-ons, Materials, Textures and Backgrounds, Scripts and much more, get in contact with the developers of these applications, and also share their applications.

Getting started

Are you ready? Just log in with Rhino Accounts or register (accepting the Terms & Conditions and our Privacy policy), log-in, and download any plug-in, add-on, material, textures, scripts and additional resources.
Use the new search tool to filter your selection.

Is food4Rhino free to use?

Yes! The use of food4Rhino is free.

How can I register or login on Food4Rhino?

Click on the "Log in or Register" link on the top right.

After that, you will be redirected to the Rhino Accounts site, where you will be asked for authorization by using an existing account or creating a new one if you don’t have one. If you need more information about how Rhino Accounts work, feel free to visit the Rhino Accounts help site.

After this, you will be redirected to food4Rhino. If this is your first time logging in to food4Rhino, you will be prompted to review and accept the Terms and Conditions of Use.

Questions, suggestions and support

food4Rhino is in constant development, so we’ll be glad to hear your questions and feedback at 4FQ.RYY3Q4@F3GULnPFFO@.

Users

How can I find content on food4Rhino?

In the Search bar, type in what you are looking for: app name, category, etc. and click on Search button.

Choose the order used to show the results : Last updated, Downloads, Rating, Relevance or Alphabetical or Last created.

Narrow your search by content, platform, category, license type, etc. to find exactly what you need.

On the main page, you can click on +filters to get directly to the search page with all the options.

How can I download content?

Once you found the app or resource you want, just click on the green Download button.

How can I install a Grasshopper Plugin?

In Grasshopper, click File/Special Folders/Components Folder. This opens the Library folder in the Explorer (on Windows) or the Finder (on Mac). Place the files into the Libraries folder. Restart Rhino

In Windows, the downloaded files should be unblocked in order to be correctly loaded in Grasshopper. Please see the following video for more details.

Can I add a comment on an app, resource, or service?

You can add a review on contents hosted on food4Rhino. Scroll to the end of an app or resource page and click on +Add new review.

This feature is here so you can leave a comment. If you need any support, please contact directly with the developer by clicking on Support Email or Support Forum.

Can I add a rating on an app, resource, or service?

Users can rate an app, resource, or service by going to the content page and selecting from 1 to 5 stars. Once you cast a vote, your vote cannot be changed. After voting, it might take some time before the change takes effect.

Votes are computed using a bayesian average algorithm that compares the number of votes and vote value of each app, resource, or service to that of all of the other apps, resources, and services on food4rhino.

What should I do if I find a bug in a plug-in or if I have questions on a content?

Please contact directly with the author of the content. You will find all the details on the content page. Use the Support Email or Support Forum links. 

Developers

As a developer of Rhino plug-ins, Grasshopper add-ons, Scripts, Materials and Textures or other resources, you can now take advantage of the site's infrastructure and exposure to improve how you share and market your applications, get valuable feedback from users and manage your updates and new builds easily.

Getting Started

You need to have a Rhino Account in order to add and manage your content on food4Rhino. Log in using the Log in with Rhino Accounts button and click on your name on the top menu to reach the My Content tab:

  • Apps: Rhino plug-ins and Grasshopper add-ons
  • Resources: Rhino scripts, Grasshopper definitions, Companion Software, Toolbars, Tutorials, Materials, Environments, Textures, 3D model libraries, Books, VisualARQ Styles…

How to upload a Rhino plug-in or a Grasshopper add-on?

  • In My Content tab, choose Add App
     
  • Complete all mandatory fields (Title, Short Description, Body, Category, License Agreement, Support Email, Project Icon)

     
  • Media
This section lets you add some media files.
Allowed media links: youtube, vimeo, p3d.in, mcneel.github.io,www.shapediver.com. Videos URL format must be "embed".
Click on Share then copy the Embed link, paste only the link in between quotation marks.
For Vimeo, link should look like https://player.vimeo.com/video/58212839.
For youtube, link should look like https://www.youtube.com/embed/hfPfvqC5fj0
If you need any other media format, please contact us at 4FQ.RYY3Q4@F3GULnPFFO@
  • Files

The Files section refers to your releases (installers). Fill the Title and Description then choose if you want to upload a File or enter a Link.

Choose the Platform (Rhino for Mac, Rhino for Windows or Grasshopper) where your plug-in can be used.

  • Supported and suggested formats
     
    • Rhino Installer Engine .rhi file (suggested): This allows Rhino to keep track of updates while, at the same time, deliver a simple-to-use release packaging method.
      See our guides for creating .rhi (Windows) or .macrhi (Mac) installers.
       
    • Windows Installer package .msi file (suggested): This has the broader installation abilities, both at machine-level and at local user-level. See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc185688 for more information.
       
    • Supported: A simple .zip file as delivery method for both Rhinoceros and Grasshopper plug-ins; a single .rhp file; a single .gha or .ghuser file for Grasshopper components; several picture formats for textures and backgrounds. These will be unpacked as necessary and put in a suitable user-level folder on the target machine.
       
    • Supported: Specially crafted .exe installers. must register themselves in the Windows Uninstall registry hive during install.
       
  • Deprecated formats:
     
    • Deprecated. .exe files that do not execute the operation described above.
       
    • Any other file with other extensions is deprecated.
       
  • Can I change the order of the files? 

    You can choose the order in which your files will be shown.
    Just drag and drop each file using the anchor on the left.

The Rhino Package Manager (a.k.a. Yak)

What is the Rhino Package Manager?

The Rhino Package Manager is a package manager for the Rhino ecosystem, also refered to as Yak. The Package Manager assists in the discovery, installation, and management of Rhino and Grasshopper resources within Rhino. Examples include plug-ins, components, scripts, and material definitions. If you want to learn more about the Package Manager, make sure to visit the Package Manager documentation.
 

Can I upload my food4Rhino plugins to the Package Manager? 

Yes! food4Rhino makes it easy to upload plugins to the Package Manager through a user friendly user interface. 

As of now, it is possible to upload .rhp, .gha, .ghpy plug-in files to the Package Manager. You can also upload ZIP files. In order to upload your plugin from the food4Rhino site, the plug-in and its content must adhere to a package specification, which you can see in the Package Manger website

The user interface provided by food4Rhino makes it easy to upload your plugins to the Package Manager and fill in the requirements so that your food4Rhino plugin can become a package easily:

  1. In order to upload your plug-in to the Package Manager, you must first login to food4Rhino using a Rhino Account. If you don't know how to log-in using a Rhino Account, please see Rhino Accounts
    .  
  2. Head to your My Content tab by clicking on your user name. For each plug-in that you have already uploaded to food4Rhino, you will see a new option to Push in a column named YAK, if the first file is a rhp, .gha, .ghpy or ZIP file.


     
  3. After clicking on Push, you will be presented with a user interface to upload your plug-in to the Package Manager:

  • Please note that food4Rhino automatically selects the last file uploaded to your plug-in in order to be submitted to the Package Manager.
     
  • Package Name refers to the unique name that the plug-in will receive in the Package Manager. See the Package Manager reference about naming.
     
  • Version refers to the version that the package will have in the Package Manager. See the Package Manager reference about versioning.
     
  • Authors refers to the authors of the plug-in in the Package Manager. (Not to be confused with the owner of the package, which is associated with the Rhino Account who uploads it). See the the Package Manager reference about authors.

Can I synchronise a package published via the Package Manager with food4rhino?

Yes! You can create a new App in food4Rhino with a link to your the Package Manager package.

  1. Login to food4Rhino using a Rhino Account. If you don't know how to log-in using a Rhino Account, please see Rhino Accounts
  2. Head to your 'My Content' by clicking in your user name.
  3. Click on Create App from Yak
  4. Enter the Package Name and click on Submit
  5. Edit the newly created App page to complete the description and other details.

Here you can find the instructions on how to push a package to the server.

Can I delete my food4Rhino plug-in from the Package Manager? 

Once a package has been uploaded to the Package Manager, it's currently not possible to delete it. However, it is possible to remove it from the index with the Yank command. See the the Package Manager reference for the Yank command.

In order to Yank a plug-in from the the Package Manager index from the food4Rhino site, there is an option in the plug-in row under the YAK column:

Once a package has been yanked from the Package Manager, the next immediate version is available. For instance, if you have just yanked version 5.0.0 of a package, then version 4.0.0 will be the next one available in the the Package Manager server. In order to yank all versions, you must do so one by one until the Yank button is no longer available. 

Can I upload other type of content?

You can also add 3D Model libraries, Books, Scripts, Materials, Textures, Tutorials, Grasshopper definitions, VisualARQ Styles, Companion softwares, Environments, Services, Models, Toolbars, Frameworks, Hatch patterns and Hardwares.

  • In “My Content” tab, click on “Add Resource”
     
  • Choose the Resource type
     

  • Complete all other fields (Title, Short Description, License Agreement) and upload a thumbnail image

For more information about different resource types, please refer to this page.

Can I tell the users I offer services around Rhino?

You can share a link to your webpage and tell Rhino users you are offering different kind of services.  Services are classified as Consultancy, Development,  Manufacturing and Training.

  • In “My Content” tab, click on “Add Service”
     
  • Choose the service Type
     

  • Complete all other fields (Title, Short Description, Body, Service URL, etc.) and upload a thumbnail image

Can I tell the users I sell my content?

  • If you sell your content, mark Trial/Commercial checkbox, define the Price and currency, and add the Sales link where users can buy.
    If you don’t have your own system to sell, we suggest to take a look at Fast Spring (https://www.fastspring.com/), Digital River (http://www.digitalriver.com/), or other similar online software resellers.

Which license should I choose?

If not specified otherwise, the software apps and resources hosted in food4Rhino enjoy copyright protection as any creative work:
http://choosealicense.com/no-license/

food4Rhino is based in the Europe Union, so the EU directive 2009/24/EC applies:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32009L0024&from=EN

The author of each app may choose a different and maybe less restrictive software license scheme, that you can view by clicking the “License” link in the app page. Some of these license types are:

Even if the source code is given with the app, the code is copyrighted by default. People can read the code, but they have no legal right to use it. To use the code, you must contact the author directly and ask permission.

Does my app or resource have the right license?

Here are three reasons why you might want to update your license:

  • No License - When you created your app or resource you did not specify a license or the link to the license page you provided does not contain an appropriate license. Additionally, some licenses, such as MIT, require you to distribute a copy of the license with your plugin.
  • GPL License - Since Rhino is proprietary software, the GPL is not compatible for Rhino plugins, script, or GH definitions. If you wish to apply a copyleft license to your code, you can choose the LGPL which covers the use case of executing code within an application that does not have a GPL license.
  • Creative Commons License - While licenses such as Creative Commons are great for resources such as textures, documentation, and tutorials, they are not recommended for plugins, scripts, and Grasshopper definitions. See this article for why it isn’t recommended to apply a CC license to software. Note: The CC0 license (public domain) is appropriate for all types of content.

Important: Please ensure your plugin, script, or gh definition does not depend on any libraries with a license that is not compatible with Rhino.

If you wish to update your content licensing, simply log into Food4Rhino, go to My Content, edit the app or resource, and select the license which best fits how you want others to use what you’ve made.

When will my content be published?

  • Once your Content is all defined, click on the Publish button on the creation page.
  • We will then review the content and make it public. This is done by a human from Europe, it usually takes 1 or 2 days.   

Suggestions for a successful project

 

When you choose the icon and the text for your project and release, keep in mind that a nice looking icon and comprehensive explanation will greatly improve the final user experience.

We encourage every developer to have a custom drawn icon, and not a screenshot, to explain their project and make it memorable. The color choice is yours, and you can use tones that will remind users of your corporate look or something specific for your project. Do not use a blank icon.

Also, write a short introductory phrase at the beginning of the overview. Start with the name of your plug-in, then use a verb, then expand on the usage of your plug-in and explain what it means. You could write something like this: “The Ufo plug-in detects and monitors paranormal activity that is happening immediately around you while you are using Rhino's 3D modeling abilities”.
Images and Videos are very important for users to quickly grab what your plugin does, feel free to add as many as you want!

I would like to translate my plug-in, do you have a service for this?


McNeel Europe provides a translation and localization service for third-party developers. We offer a complete localization service, including software applications, web sites, marketing material, documentation, and more. Contact us for a free quote.