Why cmds.ogsRender() does not recognize the render layer?

[g2m.agent]

this code works fine:

cmds.ogsRender(cam="", h=512, w=512, cv=True, ems=True)

but when I specify a render layer, I got an error:

cmds.ogsRender(cam="", layer="render_layer", h=512, w=512, cv=True, ems=True)
# Error: RuntimeError: file <maya console> line 1: Cannot find specified layer. # 

that render layer actually exists.

[lucericr · Accepted solution]

it's because that parameter was for the legacy render layers in maya, a feature that is now hidden in the UI by default. The new system is called "renderSetup"
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/maya/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2020/ENU/Maya-Ren...

[g2m.agent]

This should be pointed out in the ogsRender manual! I spent hours trying to figure out what was wrong!

[lucericr]

I'll try to have that mentioned in the doc for the future, but we don't have a mecanism that i'm aware of to update documentation for older versions