I have upgraded to deadline 3.1 because I thought that it might solve my batch render problem, but it didn’t. When I submit a batch render job, it executes the batch master on the machine, submits first batch job and then slave logs tell me that it FAILS to load the second scene state, and the second batch job is submitted with only frame 0.
My specs are win xp x64, max 2009 x64, deadline 3.1 on all machines.
help please
thanks in advance
P.S. Why did the RDC setting files change in 3.1 from 3.0? Before it was handy, you create a whole bunch of rdc setting files, put them in a folder, target the folder in repository options and that is it. Now you can only target one setting file. Is there a way to have different setting files for different computers, so I don’t have to type a username and password for each machine?
Can you post the log that contains the error message? Also, if you could post a simple test scene that reproduces the problem, that would really help as well. Was this the problem you were experiencing prior to upgrading to 3.1, or is this a new problem? This is the first we’ve heard of this, so I’m just curious.
The RDC setting change was implemented because we received multiple requests to do so - it seemed like people preferred the option to point directly to a individual file, so that’s what we went with. We’'re doing a service pack release soon (likely around the end of may), so if we have time, perhaps we can look at supporting both options.
I have the slave log for the job, and it looks like this:
---- May 10 2009 – 03:02 PM ----
0: INFO: Connected to 3dsmax plugin version Lightning 3.1.0.35348 Mar 27 2009 09:44:47 R
0: INFO: Scene file to render: C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Frantic Films\Deadline\slave\jobsData\batch_test.max
0: INFO: Camera: no camera specified, rendering active viewport
0: INFO: This is a MAXScript Job
0: INFO: MAXScript to be executed: C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Frantic Films\Deadline\slave\jobsData\maxBatchSubmitter.ms
0: INFO: Restarting 3dsmax after each frame: 0
0: INFO: Showing frame buffer: 0
0: INFO: Overriding render output: Z:\WORK\KL_BBDO_Cairo\PR_Mirinda_2009_03\Work\render\Green_apple\K02_skejteri01\k02_skejteri01_specular_back0103.png
0: INFO: Frame number base: 0
0: INFO: Remove padding from output filename: 0
0: INFO: Ignore missing external file errors: 1
0: INFO: Ignore missing UVW errors: 1
0: INFO: Ignore missing XREF errors: 1
0: INFO: Ignore missing DLL errors: 0
0: INFO: Disabling Multipass: 0
0: INFO: Loading 3dsmax scene file
0: INFO: [filename]
[format]
[size] 640x480
[aspect] 1
0: INFO: Executing script: C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Frantic Films\Deadline\slave\plugins\customize.ms
0: INFO: Applying customizations to max file…
0: INFO: >General Renderer Settings:
0: INFO: +Render Width set to 720
0: INFO: +Render Height set to 576
0: INFO: +Pixel Aspect set to 1.06667
0: INFO: +Atmospherics set to true
0: INFO: +Effects set to true
0: INFO: +Displacements set to true
0: INFO: +Area Lights/Shadows As Points set to false
0: INFO: +Force 2-Sided set to false
0: INFO: +Render Hidden Geometry set to false
0: INFO: +Video Color Check set to false
0: INFO: +Super Black set to false
0: INFO: +Render To Fields set to false
0: INFO: +Skip Existing Frames set to false
0: INFO: >Render Environment Settings:
0: INFO: +Background Color set to (color 0 0 0)
0: INFO: +Use Environment Map set to false
0: INFO: +Ambient Color set to (color 0 0 0)
0: INFO: +Global Light Tint Color set to (color 255 255 255)
0: INFO: +Global Light Level set to 1.0
0: INFO: >mental ray detected as current renderer.
0: INFO: +Box Filter Width set to 1.0
0: INFO: +Box Filter Height set to 1.0
0: INFO: +Gauss Filter Width set to 3.0
0: INFO: +Gauss Filter Height set to 3.0
0: INFO: +Triangle Filter Width set to 2.0
0: INFO: +Triangle Filter Height set to 2.0
0: INFO: +Mitchell Filter Width set to 4.0
0: INFO: +Mitchell Filter Height set to 4.0
0: INFO: +Lanczos Filter Width set to 4.0
0: INFO: +Lanczos Filter Height set to 4.0
0: INFO: +Red Spatial Contrast set to 0.0196078
0: INFO: +Green Spatial Contrast set to 0.0196078
0: INFO: +Blue Spatial Contrast set to 0.0196078
0: INFO: +Alpha Spatial Contrast set to 0.021
0: INFO: +Lock Samples set to true
0: INFO: +Task Size set to 48
0: INFO: +Jitter set to true
0: INFO: +Frame Buffer Type set to 0
0: INFO: +Scanline Enable set to true
0: INFO: +Scanline Method set to 0
0: INFO: +Autovolume set to false
0: INFO: +Rapid Motion Resample set to 1
0: INFO: +Rapid Shading Samples set to 2.0
0: INFO: +Raytrace Enable set to true
0: INFO: +Maximum Trace Depth set to 6
0: INFO: +Maximum Reflections set to 4
0: INFO: +Maximum Refractions set to 6
0: INFO: +Raytrace Method set to 0
0: INFO: +BSP Size set to 10
0: INFO: +BSP Depth set to 40
0: INFO: +Shadows Enable set to true
0: INFO: +Enable Shadow Maps set to true
0: INFO: +Enable ShadowMaps MotionBlur set to true
0: INFO: +Rebuild ShadowMap set to true
0: INFO: +Shadow Method set to 0
0: INFO: +Use Shadow Map File set to false
0: INFO: +Displacement: Edge Length set to 2.0
0: INFO: +Displacement: Max Level set to 6
0: INFO: +Displacement: Max Displace set to 20.0
0: INFO: +Displacement: Smooth set to true
0: INFO: +Motion Blur: Enable set to false
0: INFO: +Motion Blur: Shutter set to 0.5
0: INFO: +MotionBlur: Offset set to -0.25
0: INFO: +Motion Blur: Segments set to 1
0: INFO: +MotionBlur: All Objects set to true
0: INFO: +DepthOfField: Enable set to false
0: INFO: +DepthOfField: FocusPlane set to 100.0
0: INFO: +DepthOfField: Mode set to 0
0: INFO: +DepthOfField: fStop set to 1.0
0: INFO: +DepthOfField: NearFocus set to 90.0
0: INFO: +DepthOfField: FarFocus set to 110.0
0: INFO: +Caustics Enable set to false
0: INFO: +Caustics Multiplier Scalar set to 1.0
0: INFO: +Caustics Enable set to (color 255 255 255)
0: INFO: +Caustic Accuracy set to 100
0: INFO: +Use Caustic Radius set to false
0: INFO: +Caustic Radius set to 1.0
0: INFO: +Caustics Filter set to 0
0: INFO: +Caustic Kernel set to 1.1
0: INFO: +Caustic Opaque Shadows set to true
0: INFO: +Global Illum Enable set to false
0: INFO: +Global Illum Accuracy set to 500
0: INFO: +Use Global Illum Radius set to false
0: INFO: +Global Illum Radius set to 1.0
0: INFO: +Global Illum Multiplier Scalar set to 1.0
0: INFO: +Global Illum Multiplier Color set to (color 255 255 255)
0: INFO: +Global Illum Photon Merge Distance set to 0.0
0: INFO: +Volume Accuracy set to 100
0: INFO: +Use Volume Radius set to false
0: INFO: +Volume Radius set to 1.0
0: INFO: +Photon Map Use File set to false
0: INFO: +GI Maximum Reflections set to 10
0: INFO: +GI Maximum Refractions set to 10
0: INFO: +GI Maximum Trace Depth set to 10
0: INFO: +Override Obj Props set to false
0: INFO: +Global Light Decay set to 2.0
0: INFO: +Global Light Caustic Photons set to 20000
0: INFO: +Global Light GI Photons set to 20000
0: INFO: +Final Gather Enable set to false
0: INFO: +Final Gather View set to true
0: INFO: +Final Gather Accuracy set to 30
0: INFO: +Final Gather Filter set to 1
0: INFO: +Use Final Gather Radius set to false
0: INFO: +Final Gather Radius set to 1.0
0: INFO: +Final Gather Radius View set to 5.0
0: INFO: +Use Final Gather Min. Radius set to false
0: INFO: +Final Gather Min. Radius set to 0.1
0: INFO: +Final Gather Min. Radius View set to 0.5
0: INFO: +Use Final Gather File set to false
0: INFO: +Final Gather Preview set to false
0: INFO: +Final Gather Falloff set to false
0: INFO: +Final Gather Falloff Start set to 0.0
0: INFO: +Final Gather Falloff Stop set to 0.0
0: INFO: +Final Gather Trace Depth set to 5
0: INFO: +Final Gather Bounces set to 0
0: INFO: +Final Gather Reflection Depth set to 2
0: INFO: +Final Gather Refraction Depth set to 5
0: INFO: +Final Gather Use Radius Interpolation set to false
0: INFO: +Final Gather Multiplier set to 1.0
0: INFO: +Final Gather Multiplier Color set to (color 255 255 255)
0: INFO: +Final Gather Density set to 0.1
0: INFO: +Final Gather Interpolation Samples set to 50
0: INFO: +Local Bitmaps set to false
0: INFO: +Slaves Only set to false
0: INFO: +Diagnostics Enabled set to false
0: INFO: +Diagnostic Mode set to 0
0: INFO: +Diagnostic Grid Method set to 0
0: INFO: +Diagnostic Grid Size set to 1.0
0: INFO: +Diagnostic Photon Method set to 0
0: INFO: +Diagnostic BSP Method set to 0
0: INFO: +Use Placeholders set to false
0: INFO: +Memory Limit set to 650
0: INFO: +Conserve Memory set to false
0: INFO: +mental ray Manages Maps set to false
0: INFO: +Skip Texture Maps set to false
0: INFO: +Enable Contours set to false
0: INFO: +Enable Material Override set to false
0: INFO: +Minimum Samples set to 1
0: INFO: +Maximum Samples set to 4
0: INFO: +Filter Type set to Mitchell
0: INFO: +Bucket Order set to Right to left
0: INFO: +RapidCollectRate (Fast Rasterizer : Samples per Pixel) set to 16
0: INFO: >Performing XREF workaround…
0: Plugin rendering frame(s): 1
0: INFO: Render Tasks called
0: INFO: Executing script: C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Frantic Films\Deadline\slave\jobsData\maxBatchSubmitter.ms
0: INFO: Loading [SubmitMaxToDeadline_Functions.ms] File from Deadline Repository…
0: INFO: Loading File [SubmitterSettingsStruct.ms]…
0: INFO: Begin Spawning Batch Jobs…
0: INFO: >Processing View Definition [Reflection] …
0: INFO: >Restoring Scene State [P_Reflection]
0: INFO: +Scene State Manager Successfully Restored the Scene State.
0: INFO: --No Render Preset Defined For This View
0: INFO: Spawning Job batch_test (BATCH 1 of 5)
0: INFO: >Reloading original scene…
0: INFO: >Processing View Definition [Refraction] …
0: INFO: >Restoring Scene State [P_Refraction]
0: INFO: --Scene State Manager FAILED to Restore the Scene State
0: INFO: --No Render Preset Defined For This View
0: INFO: Spawning Job batch_test (BATCH 2 of 5)
Scheduler Thread - Render Thread 0 threw an error:
Scheduler Thread - Exception during render: An error occurred in RenderTasks(): RenderTask: Unexpected exception (SEH exception: SEH Exception trapped in 3ds max: Access Violation
2009/05/10 15:02:04 INF: Loaded C:/Documents and Settings/User/Local Settings/Application Data/Frantic Films/Deadline/slave/jobsData/batch_test.max
2009/05/10 15:02:04 INF: Job: C:/Documents and Settings/User/Local Settings/Application Data/Frantic Films/Deadline/slave/jobsData/batch_test.max
2009/05/10 15:02:15 INF: Loaded C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Frantic Films\Deadline\slave\plugins\deadlineStartupMax2009.max
2009/05/10 15:02:16 INF: Job: C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Frantic Films\Deadline\slave\plugins\deadlineStartupMax2009.max
) (Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin+FailRenderException) (Deadline.Plugins.RenderPluginException)
at Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin.RenderTasks(Int32 startFrame, Int32 endFrame, String& outMessage)
Exception Details
RenderPluginException – Exception during render: An error occurred in RenderTasks(): RenderTask: Unexpected exception (SEH exception: SEH Exception trapped in 3ds max: Access Violation
2009/05/10 15:02:04 INF: Loaded C:/Documents and Settings/User/Local Settings/Application Data/Frantic Films/Deadline/slave/jobsData/batch_test.max
2009/05/10 15:02:04 INF: Job: C:/Documents and Settings/User/Local Settings/Application Data/Frantic Films/Deadline/slave/jobsData/batch_test.max
2009/05/10 15:02:15 INF: Loaded C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Frantic Films\Deadline\slave\plugins\deadlineStartupMax2009.max
2009/05/10 15:02:16 INF: Job: C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Frantic Films\Deadline\slave\plugins\deadlineStartupMax2009.max
) (Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin+FailRenderException) (Deadline.Plugins.RenderPluginException)
at Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin.RenderTasks(Int32 startFrame, Int32 endFrame, String& outMessage)
RenderPluginException.Cause: JobError (2)
Exception.Data: ( )
Exception.TargetSite: Void RenderTask(Int32, Int32)
Exception.Source: deadline
Exception.StackTrace:
at Deadline.Plugins.Plugin.RenderTask(Int32 startFrame, Int32 endFrame)
at Deadline.Slaves.SlaveRenderThread.RenderCurrentTask()
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clearly the error is occurring because it’s failing to load the second scene state for whatever reason. My original scene had a whole bunch of RFMeshLoader objects, so I though it might be a memory issue with trying to reload a huge scene, but this scene only has a editable poly object and a environment sphere, so I know it’s not because of memory. I think that it’s because it’s reloading the scene between submissions, which is caused by def_camera being undefined I think. I will try to test if this is the issue by removing the setting of the reload flag and see if that does the trick.
I have found a temporary fix. I commented out all the lines that set the needmaxreload from submitbatchjob function, and now everything works fine. I was just wondering what are the consequences of doing this (what is the purpose of reloading the file for every submission).
The Batch Render dialog in Max allows for both Scene States and Render Presets to be loaded per batch entry. This means that if you have created 3 views and the first loads a Scene State but no render preset, the second loads no Scene State but a Render Preset and the third loads no Scene State or Render Preset, you would get wrong results. The first view would render with the correct Scene State and whatever render settings were there in the original file. The second would render the Scene State loaded by the first view instead of the state of the scene when it was loaded and will use the right render settings. The third view would render with the wrong scene state loaded by the first view instead of the initial scene content, and with the render settings of the second view instead of the settings of the original Max file.
If you don’t use Scene States and Render Presets, your changes will not affect your results. If you use either, you would have to keep in mind that the changes applied by each Batch Render entry will “stack” and later views will “see” the Scene States or Render Presets applied before them because the scene would not be reloaded. Now I know that nobody uses Scene States, but we had to support all cases…
I think we found a solution to this problem though, will let Ryan chime in.
thanks for the quick reply bobo, you really are a life saver.
For my specific purpose, this solution works fine, because I only use scene states (simulating passes form XSI), one per Batch View. If I need anything else, until a fix is up, I will just define a scene state and a render preset for each view, so all is loaded correctly. I would create a default scene state and a default render preset and plug those where I would not use that item. A little extra work, but should solve the problem for now.
Glad to hear you found a workaround for now. As Bobo mentioned, we believe we have found a solution for this problem. We now get a reference to all the scene states ahead of time, instead of loading them one at a time after each scene reload (which seemed to be responsible for the crash). This fix will be included upcoming maintenance release.
We’'re doing a service pack release soon (likely around the end of may), so if we have time, perhaps we can look at supporting both options.