Microsoft Knowledge Base

• Softimage 3D for Windows NT, version 3.51

SYMPTOMS

When using mental ray, you are not able to render pre-frame and post-frame render scripts.

CAUSE

On NT machines, the mental ray translator outputs backslashes ( \ ) instead of forward (/) slashes for pre-frame and post-frame render script paths. This prevents the scripts from being properly called.

RESOLUTION

Complete the following procedure to correct this problem:

1. Set the environment variable SI_ASCII_VECTORS to any value. To do this, edit the SETENV.BAT file and add the following line:

         set SI_ASCII_VECTORS = yes
   

2. When you are ready to render your scene, click Options in the Render dialog box. From the dialog box that appears, select Output to File and enter the name you want the .mi file to be saved with (always add the .mi extension).

3. Click Accept and then click Render Sequence.

4. Edit the .mi file with a text editor such as Write. At the end of each frame description (after end frame key words) there is a line similar to the following: (the following should appear on ONE line)

         system "C:\Soft3d\scripts\mrscript.bat
         C:\users\soft\SOFTDB\RENDER_PICTURES\mypic 1 0 1"
   

   On these lines, replace all of the backslashes ( \ ) with forward slashes ( / ), and then save the file.

5. Your file is now ready to render.

STATUS

Softimage has confirmed this to be a problem and will post new information in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

REFERENCES

Query the Microsoft Knowledge Base for articles with the Keywords: si3dren and si3dmr.

If you have any questions concerning the information contained in this article, contact support@softimage.com by e-mail.