AWS Thinkbox Discussion Forums

AfterEffects Error - AfterEffects tried to change output file formats

Hi,

I’ve noticed a new error for us when rendering with deadline for After Effects.

The job itself is completing correctly, but some of our servers are spitting out an error:
“After Effects tried to change output file formats. Cancelling task to avoid unusable output.”

These same machines are completing other chunks, and it seems to just randomly drop.

Any suggestions, or has anyone came across this before?

Below is a log file from on of the machines that errored.

=======================================================
Error

After Effects tried to change output file formats. Cancelling task to avoid unusable output.
at Deadline.Plugins.PluginWrapper.RenderTasks(String taskId, Int32 startFrame, Int32 endFrame, String& outMessage, AbortLevel& abortLevel)

=======================================================
Type

RenderPluginException

=======================================================
Stack Trace

at Deadline.Plugins.SandboxedPlugin.d(DeadlineMessage akb)
at Deadline.Plugins.SandboxedPlugin.RenderTask(String taskId, Int32 startFrame, Int32 endFrame)
at Deadline.Slaves.SlaveRenderThread.c(TaskLogWriter aai)

=======================================================
Log

2019-01-09 14:14:05: 0: Loading Job’s Plugin timeout is Disabled
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: Executing plugin command of type ‘Sync Files for Job’
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: All job files are already synchronized
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: Plugin AfterEffects was already synchronized.
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: Done executing plugin command of type ‘Sync Files for Job’
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: Executing plugin command of type ‘Initialize Plugin’
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: INFO: Executing plugin script ‘C:\USER\AppData\Local\Thinkbox\Deadline10\slave\SERVER\plugins\5c3600c15844d6a794279fe6\AfterEffects.py’
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: INFO: Fail Without Finished Message set to: False
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: INFO: Fail on Existing After Effects process: False (from plugin info override)
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: INFO: About: After Effects Plugin for Deadline
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: INFO: Render Job As User disabled, running as current user ‘Render’
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: INFO: The job’s environment will be merged with the current environment before rendering
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: Done executing plugin command of type ‘Initialize Plugin’
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: Start Job timeout is disabled.
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: Task timeout is disabled.
2019-01-09 14:14:08: 0: Loaded job: FILE.aep - 01 - Sustainable Transport (5c3600c15844d6a794279fe6)
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: Executing plugin command of type ‘Start Job’
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Executing global asset transfer preload script ‘C:\USER\AppData\Local\Thinkbox\Deadline10\slave\SERVER\plugins\5c3600c15844d6a794279fe6\GlobalAssetTransferPreLoad.py’
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Looking for AWS Portal File Transfer…
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Looking for File Transfer controller in C:/Program Files/Thinkbox/S3BackedCache/bin/task.py…
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Could not find AWS Portal File Transfer.
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: AWS Portal File Transfer is not installed on the system.
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: Done executing plugin command of type ‘Start Job’
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: Plugin rendering frame(s): 630-644
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: Executing plugin command of type ‘Render Task’
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: CheckPathMapping: Swapped “P:\PATH\TO\FILE.aep” with “\hera\projects\PATH\TO\FILE.aep”
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Attempting to create “C:\USER\Documents\ae_force_english.txt” to force After Effects to run in English
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Attempting to create “C:\USER\Documents\ae_render_only_node.txt” to force After Effects to run in Render Engine mode
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Stdout Redirection Enabled: True
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Stdout Handling Enabled: True
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Popup Handling Enabled: True
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: QT Popup Handling Enabled: False
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: WindowsForms10.Window.8.app.* Popup Handling Enabled: False
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Using Process Tree: True
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Hiding DOS Window: True
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Creating New Console: False
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Running as user: Render
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Executable: “C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects CC 2018\Support Files\aerender.exe”
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: CheckPathMapping: Swapped “P:\1683_Countryside_Ebbsfleet-PreProduction\Renders\AE\190109\01 Sustainable Transport 02\01 - Sustainable Transport_[#####].png” with “\hera\projects\1683_Countryside_Ebbsfleet-PreProduction\Renders\AE\190109\01 Sustainable Transport 02\01 - Sustainable Transport_[#####].png”
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Rendering to network drive
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Validating the path: ‘\hera\projects\1683_Countryside_Ebbsfleet-PreProduction\Renders\AE\190109\01 Sustainable Transport 02’
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Ignoring missing effect reference errors
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Ignoring missing layer dependency errors
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Argument: -project “\hera\projects\PATH\TO\FILE.aep” -comp “01 - Sustainable Transport” -s 630 -e 644 -output “\hera\projects\1683_Countryside_Ebbsfleet-PreProduction\Renders\AE\190109\01 Sustainable Transport 02\01 - Sustainable Transport_[#####].png” -mp -v ERRORS_AND_PROGRESS -close DO_NOT_SAVE_CHANGES -sound OFF
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Full Command: “C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects CC 2018\Support Files\aerender.exe” -project “\hera\projects\PATH\TO\FILE.aep” -comp “01 - Sustainable Transport” -s 630 -e 644 -output “\hera\projects\1683_Countryside_Ebbsfleet-PreProduction\Renders\AE\190109\01 Sustainable Transport 02\01 - Sustainable Transport_[#####].png” -mp -v ERRORS_AND_PROGRESS -close DO_NOT_SAVE_CHANGES -sound OFF
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Startup Directory: “C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects CC 2018\Support Files”
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Process Priority: BelowNormal
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Process Affinity: default
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Process is now running
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: INFO: Submitted from After Effects version: 15.1.2x69
2019-01-09 14:14:09: 0: STDOUT: aerender version 15.1.2x69
2019-01-09 14:14:10: 0: STDOUT: Using DXGI: Device: “Microsoft Basic Render Driver” has dedicated video RAM (MB): 0
2019-01-09 14:14:10: 0: STDOUT: has video RAM(MB): 0
2019-01-09 14:14:11: 0: STDOUT: Unable to read VR Path Registry from C:\USER\AppData\Local\openvr\openvrpaths.vrpath
2019-01-09 14:14:34: 0: STDOUT: WARNING:After Effects warning: Grouped_Message_{This project contains references to missing effects. Please install the following effects to restore these references.|||This project contains a reference to a missing effect. Please install the following effect to restore this reference.###@0 missing effects.}Element
2019-01-09 14:14:34: 0: STDOUT: WARNING:After Effects warning: Grouped_Message_{This project contains references to missing effects. Please install the following effects to restore these references.|||This project contains a reference to a missing effect. Please install the following effect to restore this reference.###@0 missing effects.}Particular
2019-01-09 14:14:34: 0: STDOUT: WARNING:After Effects warning: Grouped_Message_{This project contains references to missing effects. Please install the following effects to restore these references.|||This project contains a reference to a missing effect. Please install the following effect to restore this reference.###@0 missing effects.}RSMB
2019-01-09 14:14:34: 0: STDOUT: WARNING:After Effects warning: Grouped_Message_{This project contains references to missing effects. Please install the following effects to restore these references.|||This project contains a reference to a missing effect. Please install the following effect to restore this reference.###@0 missing effects.}VC Reflect
2019-01-09 14:14:46: 0: INFO: Checking for file “C:\USER\Documents\ae_render_only_node.txt”
2019-01-09 14:14:46: 0: INFO: Attempting to delete “C:\USER\Documents\ae_render_only_node.txt” to allow After Effects to run in the workstation environment
2019-01-09 14:14:46: 0: STDOUT: PROGRESS: Adding specified comp to Render Queue
2019-01-09 14:14:47: 0: Done executing plugin command of type ‘Render Task’

=======================================================
Details

Date: 01/09/2019 14:24:30
Frames: 630-644
Elapsed Time: 00:00:01:12
Job Submit Date: 01/09/2019 14:13:26
Job User: USER
Average RAM Usage: 5470910464 (8%)
Peak RAM Usage: 9278578688 (14%)
Average CPU Usage: 8%
Peak CPU Usage: 49%
Used CPU Clocks (x10^6 cycles): 199521
Total CPU Clocks (x10^6 cycles): 2494003

=======================================================
Slave Information

Slave Name: SERVER
Version: v10.0.23.4 Release (e0d42871d)
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
Running As Service: No
Machine User: USER
IP Address: 192.168.1.30
MAC Address: 00:15:17:CF:0A:E3
CPU Architecture: x64
CPUs: 32
CPU Usage: 3%
Memory Usage: 8.6 GB / 64.0 GB (13%)
Free Disk Space: 141.444 GB
Video Card: Microsoft Basic Display Adapter

I can shed some light on this one. There was a time back around May 2015 where AE would just randomly forget what file format it was supposed to use to write its output frames and start dumping out single frame AVI files instead. We noticed this happened when we saw “Adding specified comp to Render Queue” and so added a check to fail the task when we saw that text.

I have no idea if that’s still happening these days, but if you want to experiment, backup “[repo]/plugins/AfterEffects/AfterEffects.py” and look for this line:

self.AddStdoutHandlerCallback( ".*Adding specified comp to Render Queue.*" ).HandleCallback += self.HandleStdoutFormat

And just put a “#” in front of it so it looks like this:

# self.AddStdoutHandlerCallback( ".*Adding specified comp to Render Queue.*" ).HandleCallback += self.HandleStdoutFormat

That’ll disable the check and you can see if random AVIs pop into your output…

1 Like

Thanks for the advice, really appreciated!
I’ll try this out when we have some down time. Thanks again.

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