Bifrost stopped working

[techvd]

I keep running into this issue of Bifrost stop working with a new scene. I create a sphere (default, 1 unit radius) and create Bifrost Liquid using that. Then, when I hit play, the slider simple runs through the timeline and the bifrost background processing does not kick off. Here's the output I see in the script editor repeatedly:

//
----------------------------------------------------------
Time: 2015/7/13 10:10:13
----------------------------------------------------------
Bifrost Container: |bifrostLiquid1|bifrostLiquidContainer1
Frames Submitted: 0
Frames Succeeded: 0

If I open one of the example scenes, that works fine and the simulation kicks off correctly. The plugins are loaded fine and I don't see any errors in the script editor.

I remember similar behavior with Maya 2015 last year. Some how after a lot of trial and error I think I got it to work again but I'd like to figure out what exactly is the problem and how to fix it correctly.

[3dMastermind]

Are you sure your "end frame" on timeline is not set to Zero?

More specifically the "frame range" value.

[techvd]

No, its not set to zero. I tried with both the default setting (0-100) as well as custom timeline (0-250). As I mentioned, the timeline marker (?) does zip through entire timeline instantly and nothing happens.

In fact here's my simple test:

1. Start a new screen (units are centimeters).

2. Create a sphere (default 1 unit).

3. With the sphere still selected, choose Bifrost - Liquid from the main menu.

4. Hit play

No bifrost simulation. Here's the full script editor output if it might be useful.

Thanks for looking into this!

====================================================

Loading GoZ support...done!
file -f -new;
optionVar -sv colorManagementColorPickerColorSpaceSelection "Rendering Space";
optionVar -iv colorManagementColorPickerColorMgtEnabled 1;
// Warning: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2016/scripts/startup/rememberViewportSettings.mel line 43: Active stereo does not work with Aero enabled. Active stereo has been disabled. //
optionVar -sv colorManagementColorPickerColorSpaceSelection "Rendering Space";
optionVar -iv colorManagementColorPickerColorMgtEnabled 1;
// untitled //
commandPort -securityWarning -name commandportDefault;
C:/Users/User/Documents/maya/2016/scripts/
C:/Users/User/Documents/maya/2016/prefs/
C:/Users/User/Documents/maya/2016/scripts/mayaTools.txt
optionVar -sv colorManagementColorPickerColorSpaceSelection "Rendering Space";
optionVar -iv colorManagementColorPickerColorMgtEnabled 1;
// AbcExport v1.0 using Alembic 1.5.4 (built May 8 2014 13:47:10)
// AbcImport v1.0 using Alembic 1.5.4 (built May 8 2014 13:47:10)
// BifrostMain plug-in loaded (built Jun 10 2015 17:50:45)
updateRendererUI;
// Warning: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2016/scripts/others/supportRenderers.mel line 78: The renderer "vray" used by this scene, is not currently available. The Maya Software renderer will be used instead. //
CreatePolygonSphere;
polySphere -r 1 -sx 20 -sy 20 -ax 0 1 0 -cuv 2 -ch 1;
// pSphere1 polySphere1 //
//
----------------------------------------------------------
Time: 2015/7/14 20:21:56
----------------------------------------------------------
Bifrost Container: |bifrostLiquid1|bifrostLiquidContainer1
Frames Submitted: 0
Frames Succeeded: 0

----------------------------------------------------------

//
----------------------------------------------------------
Time: 2015/7/14 20:21:59
----------------------------------------------------------
Bifrost Container: |bifrostLiquid1|bifrostLiquidContainer1
Frames Submitted: 0
Frames Succeeded: 0

----------------------------------------------------------

// Press the ESC key to stop playback.
//
----------------------------------------------------------
Time: 2015/7/14 20:22:00
----------------------------------------------------------
Bifrost Container: |bifrostLiquid1|bifrostLiquidContainer1
Frames Submitted: 0
Frames Succeeded: 0

----------------------------------------------------------

//
----------------------------------------------------------
Time: 2015/7/14 20:22:00
----------------------------------------------------------
Bifrost Container: |bifrostLiquid1|bifrostLiquidContainer1
Frames Submitted: 0
Frames Succeeded: 0

----------------------------------------------------------

//
----------------------------------------------------------
Time: 2015/7/14 20:22:00
----------------------------------------------------------
Bifrost Container: |bifrostLiquid1|bifrostLiquidContainer1
Frames Submitted: 0
Frames Succeeded: 0

----------------------------------------------------------

//
----------------------------------------------------------
Time: 2015/7/14 20:22:01
----------------------------------------------------------
Bifrost Container: |bifrostLiquid1|bifrostLiquidContainer1
Frames Submitted: 0
Frames Succeeded: 0

----------------------------------------------------------

//
----------------------------------------------------------
Time: 2015/7/14 20:22:01
----------------------------------------------------------
Bifrost Container: |bifrostLiquid1|bifrostLiquidContainer1
Frames Submitted: 0
Frames Succeeded: 0

----------------------------------------------------------

[pshwayka]

Right-click on your timeline and check what the playback speed is set to.  Real-time won't work...choose one of the others.

[techvd]

Yes, the playback speed is set to "Play Every Frame - Free."

[3dMastermind]

Hmm.

reset user prefs and try again:

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/maya/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Reset-Maya...

If that doesn't work.

That cache is storred on the gpu...

Look into updating the video card driver.

[techvd]

I did try resetting preferences and that didn't make any difference either. It seems like somehow the problem is attached to the scene file. I'm attaching my simple test scene here. Also, as I mentioned earlier, the example scenes work just fine so it's most likely not a GPU/video driver problem.

[pshwayka]

It looks like the size of your sphere is causing the problem. Try creating the scene again, and make sure the sphere has a radius of .5 or greater before you create your liquid. Also, for the cube that's supposed to catch the water, make sure the conversion mode is set to 'shell' in the Bifrost section of the shape node.

Note:  Don't try to fix the existing scene...as I mentioned, make sure you start a new one.

[syracoj]

1. Either change your frame range from 1 - end time

or 

2. set the bifrost attribute for sim start time (on the container) to 0. Right now its at 1 and your scene files start frame is 0. These need to either match or you need a greater time range to 'kick off' the SC. Try setting the bifrost containers sim start to 10. Still a bug none the less, 0-1 should still be adequate to trigger SC. (SC = Scratch Cache).

additionally, refine your MVS. Its at .5

with a sphere that small your not going to see any parts on the object at that MVS

set it to .05

Also, delete history on your collision object and model in some actual thickness.

cheerio.

[syracoj]

I also got it back to a good state by just reEntering 1 in the container start frame attribute and setting the MVS to .05

Try that with your scene. You shouldnt have to restart the scene completely over from scratch.

I tested on 2016 gold.

[pshwayka]

Well that solves a mystery. I couldn't figure out why I couldn't fix his scene without creating a new one. It's because my default preferences have the timeline starting at 1, instead of starting at 0 like his scene does.  

Also, he should still change the collider conversion mode to shell. I was able to get it to not leak by increasing the conversion thickness to 2 without modeling actual thickness into the cube, but my impression is that this was just a test scene, so he probably wasn't worried about the actual appearance of the collider.

[techvd]

Thanks for all the suggestions and responses. I learned a ton of new options in the process.

Ironically none of these options worked for me. After banging my head against the wall quite a bit a tried a lot of things. What got this to finally work is selecting the "Flush Scratch Cache" command from the Bifrost menu. After that bifrost start the simulation (with my file as is - even without changing the start frame or any other settings). This is very strange because this seems to be the solution for every new scene I create. I don't know what Bifrost doesn't like before I issue the flush scratch cache but that seems to be the trick in my case.

[Anonymous]

I had the same problem.  I had to flush the cache.

[canalot3jk]

Why does it not work in real time playback