Sending lots of scene files to render....

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

I am looking for the fastest way to open about 60 scenes, and render the active camera. I would rather not open each file individually, but instead use an automated process.

 

So I started hunting around, and I found a directory inside the Backburner network directory called "drop box." Does anyone know what this does? ....?? maybe this is a solution...

 

Or does anyone have another idea?

Edited July 2, 2009 by Crazy Homeless Guy

[luckymutt]

That "dropbox" folder bugs me...thanks for the docs, AD.

Meantime, setting up a *.bat file would prolly be quickest/easiest.

If you move all the max files into the same directory then you'll have less line-by-line editing to do and more copy/paste to set each one up.

 

Backburner's docs does say something about the ability to render all scenes from one directory. What it actually says is:

you could create a script that submits all jobs contained in a network folder to be rendered automatically at night.

Not terribly helpful, is it? One*could* write a script to do a lot of stuff, now couldn't one? An example would sure help though.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

Thanks. Working through it now. I hope.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

Hmmm.... I am a bit lost on this. I keep trying parameters, hoping to stumble on what I need.

 

I have been playing with the string below. So far I have been able to send the job to the Backburner Manager, and have it assign the job to the server. But... all the server does is launch Max because I don't know how to send a job, or even if what I am typing below is close.

 

Anyone want to play too?

 

...the PDF contains the pages from the Backburner manual that describe the command line options. It would be nice if Autodesk would include a few example scripts that could be studied in their documentation, but instead it is a list of the commands.

 

 

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\BackBurner\cmdjob.exe" -manager:SF-D500 -jobName:TestJobName2 "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2009\3dsmax.exe" -attach:"\\SF-05SVR\2004jobs\04-04006-00\E-cad\A1000\3D\Millwork\Scenes\Final Models\M.01 _ Information Desk Circular - Wireframe.max"

 

Edited July 3, 2009 by Crazy Homeless Guy

[demo38]

Sounds like fun, cool concept. I wish I could look further into it from my phone here, but I did find an example of sorts...

 

http://www.cornucopia3d.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=56983&sid=753f7aaa91446b018e1f7c80f7a8fbfe

 

it may help a bit, particularly about not using UNC paths, constructing the options and leaving the variables in place? In the docs attatched it mentions an option for establishing workpath so that it only needs added once rather than per file.

 

I hope this helps! Looking forward to seeing your working solution.

 

J

[gschleusner]

I can get you started:

 

Although I don't know what it is looking for: A Max file and will it use the most current render settings?

 

IN XP -Start Menu- Run

 

1. In the run menu type "cmd"

 

2. In the Command Line you first want to change the current directory to the backburner directory:

 

3. In XP 64, that would be.

 

"chdir C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\Backburner"

 

 

 

4. That is set the active directory to the backburner

 

5. Now you can type cmdjob - It will list all of the options and syntax for you.....

 

 

I have attached a document that gets you as far as I can go from home.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

Thanks for the help guys, I have made some good advances on this since yesterday. Mainly, ....there is a better way than cmdjob.exe in the Backburner folder. In the 3dsmax directory, there is a 3dsmaxcmd.exe executable.

 

Using this I can submit a basic render to the farm fairly easily via command line. I haven't tried it extensively yet because I am not in the office, but the documentation in the Max files are thorough, and looks as though you can acess and change many of the parameters.

 

Here is the very basic for anyone who wants to try. Just copy the lines to notepad, and name the file job.bat.

 

 

cd "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2009\"

3dsmaxcmd -workPath:"Put path the path to the directory containing your max file here" -submit:localhost "Put path to .max file here"

 

 

- If you are using 64 bit, you will need to modify the path to 3dsmax.

- Replace localhost with the name of your Backburner Manager.

- Put the path to your Max file directory, and Max file in the appropriate places.

 

Although I don't know what it is looking for: A Max file and will it use the most current render settings?

 

Greg,

 

More or less. We have sent a series of casework renderings to Backburner about 4 times now. It takes about an hour and a half to 2 hours to open and send the files to render. I am hoping I can just script this out, so they can be sent to render with one click.