Problems with batch rendering.

[monokromat]

Hi,

I've had recurring issues with batch rendering in Maya. Both when launching from within Maya and through command line.

The biggest annoyance is that I don't get any error messages at all. So I can never figure out why this happens. The only way I'm able to fix it is to re-install maya completely, but since it keeps coming back (and once its back it's always there untill I reinstall) I'd like to figure out why it happens in the first pace.

So, some more info:

• I'm on Windows 10, Maya 2020.2, this issue has been present since Maya 2019 on my two home machines, but never on my work computers.
• I've been very thorough when testing and made sure there's no common user errors(Project and Render settings, missing references, using default preferences, no plugins, using very basics scenes etc.). So it shouldn't be any common novice mistakes causing it.
• Regardless of renderer used this is the message in the script editor:
  • // Result: Rendering with Maya Software... //
    // Result: Rendering Completed. See mayaRenderLog.txt for information. /
• Whenever the batch render stops working the mayaRenderLog.txt always gives me the date, then empty logs:

  • 8/9/2020

    8/9/2020

    8/9/2020

• I do have plugins installed, this time it was: Vray, Vray Scatter and PresenZ. These  have never caused issues on my work machines(The work computers usually have more stuff installed than my home machines), and the batch render was working after I've installed them. Then weeks after reinstall the batch render stops working. So while it can be any of those plugins, it doesn't feel like it.
• Resetting the prefs have never solved this issue.
• I've tried adding firewall exceptions to the Render.exe.

I'd really appreciate some help on this. I would just like to be able to find the underlying issue, feels to me like it could be some system level thing (Env variables, firewall/internet settings, registry problems) but I have no idea what to look for.

I also find the Maya reinstall process to be super tedious, I can't remove it from the windows "Add or Remove Programs" control panel. I just get an error message saying "This file does not have an app associated with it for performing this action" so I have to go through this every time: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/customer-service/download-install/remove-products/clean-uninstall

(This is a separate issue but if there's a fix for my uninstall problem, let me know. Is there an .exe I can run instead of going through the "Add or Remove Program" panel?)

Let me know if you have an idea, id be happy to send more info/logs if needed.

Thanks.

[halfstone]

I had the same issue a couple of years ago, only it was the opposite of yours.  My problem was on my work computer, but my home computer was fine.  Here are a couple of suggestions:

In the Render Settings window, you can set the level of error reporting - for what you're doing now I'd set it to "Diagnostic", but remember that that can increase your render time, so make sure you switch it back.  On the command line, this would be a flag like this:  "-v 4", which would set the verbosity to the fourth choice on the list in the Render Settings window.  (I'm away from my workstation right now, so I'm guessing at the actual list/numbers.  I think the Maya software renderer is different from Arnold; I don't know about the others). 

Also in the Render Settings window, you can re-direct the output of the diagnostics to a text file of your choice; I usually put this in one of the subdirectories of my project file and create a new text file for each test.  If I remember correctly, you need to create the text file first if you're launching from within Maya, but the command line will create it for you.  The command line flag comes at the end of everything (after specifying the *.ma or *.mb file you're rendering, and would be thus:

Render [flags] ./myscene.ma > ../data/errors.txt

(This option will create the text file, but overwrite it each time)

Render [flags] ./myscene.ma >> ../data/errors.txt

(This option will append to the existing text file).

As to the actual problem - well, because this was a work computer, it was fixed by our IT/tech guys - but if memory serves the solution was in the "maya.env" file; in my case it was pointing to an incorrect MAYA_PLUG_IN_PATH.  That made sense, as my issues were with Arnold and Renderman; but the Maya Software Renderer is not a plug-in, so your entry may be different.  I don't use the sw renderer, not even for diagnostics, so I can't speak to that. 

I can't say that this is your issue, but it's a good place to look.  I might suggest checking your work computer to see how the maya.env file is configured, and comparing it to your home machine. 

Good luck.  Post again with any results; I'd love to know the answer to this. 

[monokromat]

Hi halfstone, thanks for taking the time to answer.

When switching to Arniold and setting the error reporting to the highest level I still get the exact same result. Doesn't seem like the rendering process starts at all.

Feel like Maya is lacking any error messages regarding starting the Batch renderer, since it just say it starts then imminently say it is done. It must fail in some way as it tries to start the Batch renderer..

As for the maya.env I tried resetting it to just be blank, the only variable I had added was "MAYA_USE_ALTERNATE_UNFOLD_SHIM = 1".
I checked what the plugin path using the mel command: getenv("MAYA_PLUG_IN_PATH") and everything seems to be set up correctly.

On my work computer there are bunch of extra plugin paths, but the default ones are similar to what I have on my home machine. Don't think that is my problem.

I have no problems with rendering using the render view in any of my available renderers, it's just the Batch render that wont work.

There are a few forum threads about this issue going back as far as 2006, and some users report uninstalling Norton antivirus solved the issue. I don't have any 3rd party anitivirus installed and can't think of anything similar.

I have a hunch that there is something outside of Maya blocking it though, but I have no idea of how to test for that.