Maxscript submission using Max 8 on Deadline 3.0

Deadline
1

We just upgraded to Deadline 3.0. Previosuly we were using 2.7 and I was submitting to Max8 and Max9 by maxscript. The submission through DeaDLINE 3.0 no longer works, looking for ‘deadlineStartupMax8.max’. Included is an error report.

Thank you in advance

2009-03-02 13:21:53: BEGIN - DC16\ken
2009-03-02 13:21:53: Start-up
2009-03-02 13:21:53: 2009-03-02 13:21:53
2009-03-02 13:21:53: Deadline Slave 3.0 [v3.0.33353 R]
2009-03-02 13:21:54: slave initialization beginning.
2009-03-02 13:21:54: Repository time: 03/02/2009 13:22:06
2009-03-02 13:21:55: Info Thread - Created.
2009-03-02 13:22:13:
2009-03-02 13:22:18: Scheduler Thread - Plugin loaded in 0.23 seconds.
2009-03-02 13:22:19: Constructor: 3dsmax
2009-03-02 13:22:23: 0: Task timeout is disabled.
2009-03-02 13:22:23: 0: Loaded job: KT2795G1_CDU@3000CDD_0 [MAXSCRIPT] (000_100_999_0ce496dc)
2009-03-02 13:22:23: 0: INFO: StartJob: initializing script plugin 3dsmax
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: About: 3dsmax Plugin for Deadline
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Start Job called - starting up 3dsmax plugin
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Rendering with 3dsmax version: 8
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Build of 3dsmax to force: none
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Rendering with executable: E:\3dsmax8\3dsmax.exe
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Fail on existing 3dsmax process: 0
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Load 3dsmax timeout: 1000 seconds
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Start job timeout: 1000 seconds
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Progress update timeout: 8000 seconds
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Slave mode enabled: 1
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Silent mode enabled: 0
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Local rendering enabled: 1
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Strict 3dsmax check enabled: 1
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Verifying installation of 3dsmax 8 at E:\3dsmax8
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Version of core.dll: 8.0.1.24
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Ensuring 3dsmax install is valid
2009-03-02 13:22:26: 0: INFO: Running 3dsmaxcmd workaround
2009-03-02 13:22:27: 0: INFO: 3dsmaxcmd.exe returned: 3/2/2009 13:22:26 PM; Error opening scene file: “E:\3dsmax8”
2009-03-02 13:22:28: Scheduler Thread - Render Thread 0 threw an error:
2009-03-02 13:22:28: Scheduler Thread - An error occurred in StartJob(): The 3dsmax start up file C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Frantic Films\Deadline\slave\plugins\deadlineStartupMax8.max does not exist (Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin+FailRenderException)
2009-03-02 13:22:28: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
2009-03-02 13:22:28:
Exception Details
RenderPluginException – An error occurred in StartJob(): The 3dsmax start up file C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Frantic Films\Deadline\slave\plugins\deadlineStartupMax8.max does not exist (Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin+FailRenderException)
RenderPluginException.Cause: JobError (2)
Exception.Data: ( )
Exception.TargetSite: Void StartJob(Deadline.Jobs.Job)
Exception.Source: deadline
Exception.StackTrace:
at Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin.StartJob(Job job)
at Deadline.Plugins.Plugin.StartJob(Job job)
at Deadline.Slaves.SlaveRenderThread.RenderCurrentTask()

2009-03-02 13:22:28: <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
2009-03-02 13:22:30:
2009-03-02 13:22:31: Constructor: 3dsmax
2009-03-02 13:22:31: 0: Task timeout is disabled.
2009-03-02 13:22:31: 0: Loaded job: KT2795G1_CDU@3000CDD_0 [MAXSCRIPT] (000_100_999_0ce496dc)
2009-03-02 13:22:31: 0: INFO: StartJob: initializing script plugin 3dsmax
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: About: 3dsmax Plugin for Deadline
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Start Job called - starting up 3dsmax plugin
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Rendering with 3dsmax version: 8
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Build of 3dsmax to force: none
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Rendering with executable: E:\3dsmax8\3dsmax.exe
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Fail on existing 3dsmax process: 0
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Load 3dsmax timeout: 1000 seconds
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Start job timeout: 1000 seconds
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Progress update timeout: 8000 seconds
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Slave mode enabled: 1
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Silent mode enabled: 0
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Local rendering enabled: 1
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Strict 3dsmax check enabled: 1
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Verifying installation of 3dsmax 8 at E:\3dsmax8
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Version of core.dll: 8.0.1.24
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Ensuring 3dsmax install is valid
2009-03-02 13:22:32: 0: INFO: Running 3dsmaxcmd workaround
2009-03-02 13:22:33: 0: INFO: 3dsmaxcmd.exe returned: 3/2/2009 13:22:32 PM; Error opening scene file: “E:\3dsmax8”
2009-03-02 13:22:34: Scheduler Thread - Render Thread 0 threw an error:
2009-03-02 13:22:34: Scheduler Thread - An error occurred in StartJob(): The 3dsmax start up file C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Frantic Films\Deadline\slave\plugins\deadlineStartupMax8.max does not exist (Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin+FailRenderException)
2009-03-02 13:22:34: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
2009-03-02 13:22:34:
Exception Details
RenderPluginException – An error occurred in StartJob(): The 3dsmax start up file C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Frantic Films\Deadline\slave\plugins\deadlineStartupMax8.max does not exist (Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin+FailRenderException)
RenderPluginException.Cause: JobError (2)
Exception.Data: ( )
Exception.TargetSite: Void StartJob(Deadline.Jobs.Job)
Exception.Source: deadline
Exception.StackTrace:
at Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin.StartJob(Job job)
at Deadline.Plugins.Plugin.StartJob(Job job)
at Deadline.Slaves.SlaveRenderThread.RenderCurrentTask()

2009-03-02 13:22:34: <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
2009-03-02 13:22:38:
2009-03-02 13:22:38: OnFormClosing
2009-03-02 13:22:39: Info Thread - requesting slave info thread quit.
2009-03-02 13:22:39: Listener Thread - OnConnect: Listener Socket has been closed.
2009-03-02 13:22:39: Info Thread - Cancelling task because task filename “\phatboy-ii\DeadlineRepository\jobs\000_100_999_0ce496dc\Queued\000_100_999_0ce496dc_00000_1-1.task” could not be found, it was likely requeued
2009-03-02 13:22:39: Info Thread - shutdown complete
2009-03-02 13:22:41: Scheduler Thread - shutdown complete
2009-03-02 13:22:41: OnFormClosing
2009-03-02 13:22:41: MainWindow_FormClosed
2009-03-02 13:22:41: Checked license back in

2

Hi Ken,

Deadline 3.0 no longer supports 3dsmax 8 with our main 3dsmax plugin. Unfortunately, our documentation hasn’t been updated to reflect this, so we apologize for the inconvenience. However, you can still use the 3dsCommand plugin to render 3dsmax 8 jobs using its command line renderer:
franticfilms.com/software/su … ommand.php

Cheers,

  • Ryan
3

Monitor config plugins still lists Max8 as useable asking for executable path. All my submissions are done through maxscript, which means all my Max8 files will have to be moved to Max9.

4

OK, we’ll make sure to remove Max8 from the executable Path options in the 3.1 release. Our 3dsCommand submission script is also written in maxscript, so you could refer to it if you want to modify your existing max 8 script. Again, we apologize for this inconvenience.

5

Only some of files are still in Max8, so I guess its time to upgrade them.

Thanks Ryan

6

Has ‘smtdfunctions.submitjob()’ changed in Deadline 3.0 since Deadline 2.7?

7

It’s very likely. This function calls other functions, and it’s a guarantee that some of those have changed as well. Is there a specific problem you’re having with this function?

8

Here’s a portion of my script for submitting. Everything is fine up till ‘my_result = smtdfunctions.submitjob()’ and it hangs. So I am guessing there has been changes since 2.7.

if smtdsettings != undefined then
(
renderscenedialog.close()
smtdsettings.jobName = (SUBSTRING (FILTERSTRING room_surface_ini “\”)[3] 1 ((FILTERSTRING room_surface_ini “\”)[3].COUNT-8))
smtdsettings.comment = “3ds Max Maxscript Scene Submission”
smtdsettings.priority = 100
smtdsettings.poolname = “247”
smtdsettings.poolexclusive = false
smtdsettings.submitassuspended = false
smtdsettings.submitasmxsjob = true
smtdsettings.maxscriptfile = “O:\Max Scripts\24-7-multiple INI\247_DEMAND_RENDER_VRAY.MS”
smtdsettings.singletaskjob = true
smtdsettings.ForceWorkstationMode = false
smtdsettings.RestartRenderer = false
smtdsettings.SubmitAsDependent = false
smtdsettings.DependencyJobItems = #{}
smtdsettings.SubmitVisibleObjectsOnly = false
my_result = #failed
while my_result != #success do
(
my_result = smtdfunctions.submitjob()
)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
)

9

My guess would be that for whatever reason, submission is failing. According to your code logic, the while loop will never exit until submission returns success, so if it never succeeds, you’re stuck in an infinite loop (which explains the hang).

10

So I guess I’ll have disect submitjob() to what has changed. My entire script has been running on Deadline 2.7 and earlier versions, both on Max8 and 9.

11

Keep in mind the location of the command line submitter has changed in 3.0, which might be related to what you are seeing (or not).
Prior to 3.0, the DeadlineCommandBG.exe was located in the C:\Deadline folder, now it is in the local user files. Thus, the function for getting info from Deadline and for submitting jobs to Deadline had to be changed to acquire the correct location of the executable.

12

I have come up with a solution for my submission script. I can submit Max 8 files to Deadline 2.7 and Max 9 files to Deadline 3.0. Everything is back to normal(for now).

Thanks for all the help.