AWS Thinkbox Discussion Forums

Deadline not seeing 3ds Max 8 install?

Hi folks.  Using Deadline 2.5 with 3ds Max 8, 7, and a few other things.  All programs are installed in default locations on render nodes.  When users submit jobs for 3ds Max 8, we're seeing the following errors about it not being installed.  What I don't understand is why it's not even looking for the full path?

My 3ds Max 8 command line is:  c:\Program Files\Autodesk\3dsMax8\3dsmaxcmd.exe  (this is the default location, as well).  Just for the sake of trying, I even enclosed that path in quotation marks, without any success.

Any ideas?

 

Error Message
3ds max 8 does not appear to be installed at c:\Program Files\Autodesk

Slave Log
stem.String[])
Exception.Source: DeadlinePluginLoader
Exception.StackTrace:
at Deadline.Plugins.PluginLoader.StartJob(String[] auxiliaryFilenames)
at Deadline.Plugins.Plugin.StartJob(String jobUniqueName, String[] auxiliaryFileNames)
at Deadline.Slaves.SlaveRenderThread.RenderCurrentTask()

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
---- September 06 2006 -- 03:25 AM ----
Scheduler Thread - Plugin loaded in 0.45 seconds.
0: Loaded job: Untitled 3ds Max Job (00a_050_o_0f154f38)
0: INFO: job file: c:\deadline\slave\jobsData\00a_050_o_0f154f38.job
0: INFO: Autodetecting location of 3ds max 8
0: INFO: Verifying installation of 3ds max 8 at "c:\Program Files\Autodesk"
Scheduler Thread - Render Thread 0 threw an error:
Scheduler Thread - 3ds max 8 does not appear to be installed at c:\Program Files\Autodesk
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Exception Details
RenderPluginException -- 3ds max 8 does not appear to be installed at c:\Program Files\Autodesk
RenderPluginException.Cause: JobError (2)
Exception.TargetSite: Void StartJob(System.String[])
Exception.Source: DeadlinePluginLoader
Exception.StackTrace:
at Deadline.Plugins.PluginLoader.StartJob(String[] auxiliaryFilenames)
at Deadline.Plugins.Plugin.StartJob(String jobUniqueName, String[] auxiliaryFileNames)
at Deadline.Slaves.SlaveRenderThread.RenderCurrentTask()

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
---- September 06 2006 -- 09:38 AM ----
Scheduler Thread - Plugin loaded in 0.03 seconds.
0: Loaded job: 3d model v2 (00a_050_o_43ecd9aa)
0: INFO: job file: c:\deadline\slave\jobsData\00a_050_o_43ecd9aa.job
0: INFO: Autodetecting location of 3ds max 8
0: INFO: Verifying installation of 3ds max 8 at "c:\Program Files\Autodesk"
Scheduler Thread - Render Thread 0 threw an error:
Scheduler Thread - 3ds max 8 does not appear to be installed at c:\Program Files\Autodesk

Error Type
RenderPluginException

Error Stack Trace
at Deadline.Plugins.PluginLoader.StartJob(String[] auxiliaryFilenames)
at Deadline.Plugins.Plugin.StartJob(String jobUniqueName, String[] auxiliaryFileNames)
at Deadline.Slaves.SlaveRenderThread.RenderCurrentTask()

Hi Ed,



There is a bug that is preventing the autodetection for 3dsmax from working properly. In the meantime, you can just specify the render executable yourself in the plugin configuration. In the monitor, select Tools -> Configure plugins and select the 3dsmax plugin on the left that you wish to modify. You should notice that the render executable path for 3dsmax is blank. Just enter the correct path here and it should work.



Cheers,



Ryan Russell

Frantic Films Software

http://software.franticfilms.com/

(204)949-0070

Hi Ryan!  Thanks very much, as always, for your response.  Out of curiosity, does this affect all supported versions of 3ds Max, or just version 8?

No problem! I know it affects versions 7 and 8 for sure, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it affects all versions. We will get this issue fixed for the next release



Cheers,

  • Ryan

Hi Ryan.  I did as you suggested, and added a RenderExecutable line for both max 7 and 8, basically just copy-pasting what was listed elsewhere.  Again, I installed them in the default locations.  Now, when sending a max 8 job, I get the following new error.  Did I miss something else, such as some variable on the command line?  Error:

Error Message
3dsmax startup: Max exited unexpectedly. Check that 1) max starts up with no dialog messages and in the case of 3dsmax 6, 2) 3dsmaxcmd.exe produces the message 'Error opening scene file: ""' when run with no command line arguments
Error retrieving 3dsmax log messages from "c:\Program Files\Autodesk\3dsMax8\network\max.log"

Slave Log
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
---- September 06 2006 -- 11:45 AM ----
0: Loaded job: 3d model v2 (00a_050_o_43ecd9aa)
0: INFO: job file: c:\deadline\slave\jobsData\00a_050_o_43ecd9aa.job
0: INFO: Verifying installation of 3ds max 8 at "c:\Program Files\Autodesk\3dsMax8"
0: INFO: Ignoring popup windows matching ".*Brazil Console.*"
0: INFO: Ignoring popup windows matching ".*MSP Acceleration.*"
0: INFO: Handling popup windows matching ".*VRay authorization.*" by hitting the "Cancel" button
0: INFO: Handling popup windows matching ".*File Load: Units Mismatch.*" by hitting the "Adopt the File's Unit Scale?;OK" button
0: INFO: Handling popup windows matching ".*Frame Rate Change.*" by hitting the "OK" button
0: INFO: Handling popup windows matching ".*MAXScript Auto-load Script Error.*" by hitting the "OK" button
0: INFO: 3ds max plugin for Deadline 2.5.22191, built Aug 17 2006 10:30:39 R
0: INFO: Using "c:\Program Files\Autodesk\3dsMax8\3dsmaxcmd.exe" to render.
0: INFO: LoadMaxTimeout is 1000 seconds
0: INFO: StartJobTimeout is 1000 seconds
0: INFO: ProgressUpdateTimeout is 8000 seconds
0: INFO: FailOnExistingMaxProcess is 0
0: INFO: AlternatePluginIni is ""
0: INFO: Rendering using plugin.ini: c:\Program Files\Autodesk\3dsMax8\plugin.ini
0: INFO: Starting 3ds max in slave mode
0: INFO: Silent mode is disabled
0: INFO: Strict 3ds max installation check is enabled
0: INFO: 3dsmax command line parameters: " -deadlineSlave -p "C:\DOCUME~1\RENDER~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\deadlineplugin_1053371671.ini" -q -s "c:\deadline\slave\plugins\deadlineStartupMax8.max""
Scheduler Thread - Render Thread 0 threw an error:
Scheduler Thread - 3dsmax startup: Max exited unexpectedly. Check that 1) max starts up with no dialog messages and in the case of 3dsmax 6, 2) 3dsmaxcmd.exe produces the message 'Error opening scene file: ""' when run with no command line arguments
Error retrieving 3dsmax log messages from "c:\Program Files\Autodesk\3dsMax8\network\max.log"

Error Type
RenderPluginException

Error Stack Trace
at Deadline.Plugins.PluginLoader.StartJob(String[] auxiliaryFilenames)
at Deadline.Plugins.Plugin.StartJob(String jobUniqueName, String[] auxiliaryFileNames)
at Deadline.Slaves.SlaveRenderThread.RenderCurrentTask()

Hi Ed,



Use 3dsmax.exe as the executable instead of 3dsmaxcmd.exe. That should fix the problem.



Cheers,

  • Ryan

Hi Ryan.  One more time. smile

I think what you suggested is causing Deadline to launch the app itself, rather than command-line rendering.  I'm getting the error below, now.  My render nodes do not use a license-enabled version of max, so they're throwing a 30-day demo window (or so it seems).

Error Message
3dsmax startup: Error getting connection from 3dsmax: Dialog popup detected: Title "Success!", Message "Demo set to 30 days from today"

Slave Log
MSP Acceleration.*"
0: INFO: Handling popup windows matching ".*VRay authorization.*" by hitting the "Cancel" button
0: INFO: Handling popup windows matching ".*File Load: Units Mismatch.*" by hitting the "Adopt the File's Unit Scale?;OK" button
0: INFO: Handling popup windows matching ".*Frame Rate Change.*" by hitting the "OK" button
0: INFO: Handling popup windows matching ".*MAXScript Auto-load Script Error.*" by hitting the "OK" button
0: INFO: 3ds max plugin for Deadline 2.5.22191, built Aug 17 2006 10:30:39 R
0: INFO: Using "c:\Program Files\Autodesk\3dsMax8\3dsmax.exe" to render.
0: INFO: LoadMaxTimeout is 1000 seconds
0: INFO: StartJobTimeout is 1000 seconds
0: INFO: ProgressUpdateTimeout is 8000 seconds
0: INFO: FailOnExistingMaxProcess is 0
0: INFO: AlternatePluginIni is ""
0: INFO: Rendering using plugin.ini: c:\Program Files\Autodesk\3dsMax8\plugin.ini
0: INFO: Starting 3ds max in slave mode
0: INFO: Silent mode is disabled
0: INFO: Strict 3ds max installation check is enabled
0: INFO: 3dsmax command line parameters: " -deadlineSlave -p "C:\DOCUME~1\RENDER~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\deadlineplugin_1054888734.ini" -q -s "c:\deadline\slave\plugins\deadlineStartupMax8.max""
---- September 06 2006 -- 12:11 PM ----
0: WARNING: Detected popup dialog "Success!".
0: WARNING: ---- dump of dialog ----
0: WARNING: Button: OK
0: WARNING: Static: Demo set to 30 days from today
0: WARNING: ---- end dump of dialog ----

Exception Details
RenderPluginException -- simple_socket: send called while not connected.
RenderPluginException.Cause: JobError (2)
Exception.TargetSite: Void EndJob()
Exception.Source: DeadlinePluginLoader
Exception.StackTrace:
at Deadline.Plugins.PluginLoader.EndJob()
at Deadline.Plugins.Plugin.Dispose()

Scheduler Thread - Render Thread 0 threw an error:
Scheduler Thread - 3dsmax startup: Error getting connection from 3dsmax: Dialog popup detected: Title "Success!", Message "Demo set to 30 days from today"

Error Type
RenderPluginException

Error Stack Trace
at Deadline.Plugins.PluginLoader.StartJob(String[] auxiliaryFilenames)
at Deadline.Plugins.Plugin.StartJob(String jobUniqueName, String[] auxiliaryFileNames)
at Deadline.Slaves.SlaveRenderThread.RenderCurrentTask()

Hi Ed,



Our 3dsmax plugin is supposed to launch the actual application, but it does so in slave mode, which shouldn’t require a license. I guess the demo window still pops up despite this. What you can likely do in this case is configure the 3dsmax8 plugin to handle that specific dialog that pops up.



Open \your\repository\plugins\3dsmax8\3dsmax8.dlinit and add the following code to the bottom:



HandlePopup4=.Success!.

HandlePopupResponse4=OK



Note that I’m assuming that HandlePopup0 to HandlePopup3 have already been defined. Now whenever that demo window appears, Deadline should hit the OK button and continue on as normal.



Let me know if that helps.

  • Ryan

Hey Ed,



Just checking, but are you perhaps using a demo version of a plugin within 3dsmax? Perhaps it’s popping up that message instead of 3dsmax itself. Just curious…


  • Ryan

Hi Ed,



I just noticed that while slave mode was enabled, silent mode was actually disabled. If silent mode is enabled, it should suppress messages like this. If you’re using the updated max submission dialog, this should be checked automatically. Also, you won’t be able to change the setting unless you choose to render in workstation mode.



If you haven’t updated to the new submission dialog for max, details on how to do so can be found here:

http://software.franticfilms.com/index.aspx?page=deadline/3dsmax/scriptsetup



When you launch the new submission dialog, you should see that Silent mode is enabled.



Let us know if this helps.



Cheers,

  • Ryan
Privacy | Site terms | Cookie preferences