Possible bug with FP+VRay : Unhandled exceptions

[BB1610]

Hi,
As topic name suggest, we encountered issues when rendering FP objects with VRay ( both 1.5 SP2 & SP3 ). VRay post this error :

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Last marker is at .\src\vrenderlight.cpp, line 152: Exitting VRenderLightObj::init()
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The FP objects are using multi/sub material in which some of submaterials are VrayLightMtl, but none of that VRayLightMtl are assigned to the FP geometry objects.

This error from VRay occur only after:
a) merging FP objects from one scene to another
b) updating ForestPro to the newest beta version

The solution to this is to delete the `old` FP objects and recreate them from scratch again. Or assign plain VrayMtl to the override slot of Vray Global Switches ( for testing purpouses only ). Or disable/delete VrayLightMtl in that multi/sub material ( seems to work randomly )

Also, we wanted to create custom maxscript which will automatize this recreation process since the presets aren`t working flawlessly -  we don`t know how to create new FP correctly using maxscript ( mainly how to add geometry to geometry list ) and we would apreciate if you could post a simple examples for that.

Thanks in advance
-Radomir

PS : In attachement is log from VRay.

[iToo]

Hi,

I've attached a sample script that creates a Forest object with two items in the geometry list: a box as custom object and a billboard. The most important step to get a working object, is to add values to all parameters of type "xxxlist" (see the code). These parametes define the Geometry List.

We am aware of the Preset issues in latest versions. All these problems must be solved in 3.2.8b, if not please tell us.

About the VRay error, we will investigate it. What beta version have you used 3.2.7b or 3.2.8b ?

[BB1610]

Hi,
thanks for the script, and for the version - we use latest 3.2.8b.

-Radomir

[BB1610]

Hi,

I've have tried forest creation using maxcript, but there seems to be problem with "Custom Edit" mode+"Spacing along path". All parameters are set, but trees will not show. If I click Create button manually right after automatic creation, nothing happens. Solution is to manually switch to "Generate" mode and back again to "Custom Edit" and hit Create button again. After that forest will show as it should.
Secondly, maxcript will not create forest using parent-child structure with its spline. I don't know if it is ok, but maybe I'm doing something wrong, or it's not possible in maxscript.

I attached maxscript, that copies parameters we need from existing forest object to a new clean forest object created by script. Second attachment is displaying 3ds selector with "Display -> Display children" turned on

-Radomir

[iToo]

Hi,

A Forest object in Custom Edit mode works in a different way, because once the trees are created (using the Creation Tools or clicking by hand), all of them are stored in the Forest object and can be accessed using the interface 'trees':

showInterfaces $Forest01

Here there some samples using this interface (end of page): http://www.itoosoft.com/english/menu.php?id=forest_install

Really the parameters of Creation Tools (path and so), can be ignored. You don't need to copy them.

The parent-child relation is only a link between both objects (same as using 'Select and Link' from the toolbar). I don't know how to do it from Maxscript, but there must be some command for that.

[iToo]

I'm trying to reproduce this issue, but VRay doesn't crash. Using Max 2010 64 bit, VRay 1.5.SP3a, Forest 3.2.8b, i create a test scene with some Forest objects that use multi-sub with VRayLightMtl, save it and merge the objects in a new scene... but render works fine.

Have you some test scene that we would to use ?

[BB1610]

Hellou,
I would like to send you a scene we`re working on, but due to the NDA, we could not. Unfortunatelly, stripped scene isn`t possible either. The very best debug would be on site at us

-Radomir

[iToo]

Agreed. Well, then we will try other tests.

The scene used to merge was created with Forest 3.2.8b ? If not, do you get the same result saving it with 3.2.8b before merging ?

[BB1610]

Ah, the merging was done from lower versions to the 3.2.8b. Bassically this is done after new version of FP is out. So - it was mixed in between last 3 beta versions.

[BB1610]

After some additional test, I found that this unhandled exception is related to the animation. If I render in single frame mode, its ok, but if change to any of animation range the error will occur.

[iToo]

Thanks for the info. We continue making tests to reproduce this issue, but without results so far. In fact, in our tests we just found other bug, although not related with this:

- Fixed crash when merging Forest objects from an external scene while a Forest object was being editing

There is some difference saving old scenes with 3.2.8b before to merge ?

[BB1610]

There is some difference saving old scenes with 3.2.8b before to merge ?

I don`t quite understand,  - if the merged FP looks different from the `original` one ? If so, then imho it doesnt look different.

I also sent you a stripped scene of my project ( @ your email ), where the error occur. Just render it in animation mode.

[iToo]

There is some difference saving old scenes with 3.2.8b before to merge ?

I don`t quite understand,  - if the merged FP looks different from the `original` one ? If so, then imho it doesnt look different.

No, i mean if it also crashes saving all scenes with Forest 3.2.8b before merge them. We have introduced some changes in the Forest's data format. The plugin converts the data automatically when a scene of a previous version is loaded, but perhaps there is some problem merging scenes that uses different Forest versions.

Btw, i'm rendering your scene (animation range) but it doesn't crash. I'm missing the maps, i don't know if that would to affect on the result. I've also installed the Bercon map plugin and replaced the maps used in Forest by generic bitmaps. I'm using Max 2010-64 with latest patches, Forest 3.2.8b and VRay 1.5.SP3a.

[BB1610]

- there is something strange going on, the scene I sent you for testing, and also the full scene i`m working just suddenly started to render, and that annoys me, cause dont know the real reason to this behaviour. I`ll keep to watch an eye on that.

- the sample scene i sent you - didn`t needed any plugins/maps ( except FP obiously ) to produce the error on our machines, we also excluded any directories related to that project & and software setup is the same as yours, so really dunno what`s going on, i really wish to have much more detailed debug from vray, or possible memmory dump of whats going on ( but that`s not your concern, but chaosgroup )

-Anyway, thanks for your efforts so far,
Radomir