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Manual

Manual

3.1.9.3.3.6. PARTrenderManager with Maxwell Renderer

The PARTrenderManager enables to create images on a central server, so that different workstations can access.

3.1.9.3.3.6.1. Installation
  • Server and Client application are combined in one program. The first transfer parameter ("-server" or "-client") defines the program's functionality.

  • For the server a directory is needed, where the temporary files are stored. This directory has to be declared by a global variable with the name "PRM_TEMP"!

  • The client needs some data from the configuration file prendermanager.cfg, which should be inside the directory "$CADENAS_USER". If this file is not existing at the first start there, the program will create a configuration file with default values.

  • The program used for the image calculation (here the Maxwell Renderer), has to be already installed!

3.1.9.3.3.6.2. Usage
3.1.9.3.3.6.2.1. User interface

The user interface main component is a list, where all jobs of the currently connected server are displayed.

This list is automatically updated in a certain interval. Below the list you see some buttons to create or delete jobs for example. In addition you can call these functions via the job menu.

Furthermore beside the buttons information concerning the connected server or the file transfer are displayed.

The single orders from clients to the server are called "Jobs". These jobs contain the following data:

  • Index number:

    Already finished jobs (information on this transferred by the server) are displayed at the first positions. Then the currently processed job is displayed, and finally the waiting jobs, which not have been calculated images yet. The index numbers the complete list serially and is only important for the waiting jobs, because the sequence can be changed by it. The index number can be changed by double-click and in this way a job can be moved upwards in the list, so that the job is earlier processed by the server.

    [Important] Important

    A job can maximally moved up to the position below the job currently processed by the server. Furthermore it is not possible to move an own job over another's job or to change the index number of another user's job.

    Example:

    Index Job User
    7 job1 finished job of C
    8 job2 finished job of C
    9 job3 this job is currently processed by the server
    10 job4 A
    11 job5 A
    12 job6 B
    13 job7 A
    14 job8 A
    15 job9 A
    16 job10 B

    In this example user A can move job9 maximally to index number 13, because job6 belongs to another user. Job5 can be moved maximally to the index number 10, because otherwise it would be higher than the currently processed job.

  • Job id:

    This number serves for the job identification and is assigned by the server to each new job, which is delivered by a client. The ID has no relation to the index or the sequence and cannot be changed when a job is created.

  • Description:

    The description helps to understand the content of jobs and to recognize jobs. Via double-click on a description it can be changed subsequently. However it is only possible as long as the job has not yet been processed and belongs to the respective user.

  • Sampling rate:

    The sampling rate determines the number of runs the renderer can perform to calculate the images of a job. The higher the value the more exact the calculation and so the image quality. A high value results in a long calculation period for each image. After the creation of a job this value can be adjusted by a double-click. As with the description there is the restriction that it concerns the user's job itself and the job is still in the waiting line.

  • Host name:

    The computer name

  • User:

    The Windows user name

  • Status:

    The status signalizes whether there is still a job in the waiting line or is currently processed by the server or is already finished. At finished jobs the number of images is displayed in addition. At the currently processed job the number of already finished images and the total number is displayed.

3.1.9.3.3.6.2.2. Add a new server

In the menu Server all available servers, which are loaded from the configuration file, are displayed. The server connected to the client is marked. Via click on another server it is tried to change the connection to that server. When you want to add a new server to the list, click on then menu item Add server... A dialog box opens. In this dialog the needed information (IP address, port and name) has to be entered. Thereby it is automatically checked whether the server name is unique and differs from the already existing server. A click on the button Test checks, whether a connection to the server is possible. This test is automatically processed before the adding of a server, if the connection has not been checked before. Only a successful test results in adding the server to the list. Furthermore you can define, whether the client shall immediately connect to the new added server. After a successful creation of the server its data is saved in the configuration file.

3.1.9.3.3.6.2.3. Call up PARTrenderManager (Client user interface)

You can call up the PARTrenderManager in different ways:

  • via program file %CADENAS%/bin/x86/32/prendermgr.exe

  • via PARTdataManager -> menu Export -> Export in file -> Image formats -> Maxwell Render -> Maxwell Renderer tabbed page-> Render menu item -> selection Transfer to server

  • via PARTdataManager -> context menu of a directory/project in the index tree -> Generate image data/preview images -> Maxwell Render -> Maxwell Renderer tabbed page -> Render menu item -> selection Transfer to server

    More information is found under Section 3.1.9.3.3.6.2.4.3, “Create job in PARTdataManager via Generate image data/preview images ”.

3.1.9.3.3.6.2.4. Create jobs

3.1.9.3.3.6.2.4.1. Create job directly via PARTrenderManager

The creation of jobs in the PARTrenderManager (Client) happens in the Create a job dialog box.

[Note] Note

You can select several files at once and the result quality can be tested in a preview.

  1. Call up the Create a job dialog box via Add button.

  2. Files:

    Add files with the + button.

  3. Description:

    The Description input field may not remain empty.

  4. Sampling rate:

    Select the desired sampling rate in the list field.

    Preview images showing the different qualities will help to choose an adequate sampling rate.

    At this value choose an adequate compromise between quality and needed creation time.

  5. When all settings are done, click on the button Create a job. The data is sent to the server now.

3.1.9.3.3.6.2.4.1.1. Folder structure of added and loaded files

If the files are located in different folders they have to be added to the file list separately! When the finished images are resaved PARTrenderManager keeps the folder structure.

Example:

The job contains the following files:

C:/FolderA/File1.mxs
C:/FolderA/FolderA1/File2.mxs
C:/FolderB/File3.mxs
C:/FolderB/File4.mxs

If as target directory that path which all files have common (here in the example this would only be „C:/“) is set for the resaving, then the images are saved to their respective .mxs files.

C:/FolderA/File1.mxs
C:/FolderA/File1.bmp

C:/FolderA/FolderA1/File2.mxs
C:/FolderA/FolderA1/File2.bmp

C:/FolderB/File3.mxs
C:/FolderB/File3.bmp

C:/FolderB/File4.mxs
C:/FolderB/File4.bmp

If another target directory is set, then the folder structure is also kept (only the common path changes).

Example:

Target directory shall be: D:/Images/

C:/Images/FolderA/File1.mxs
D:/Images/FolderA/File1.bmp

C:/Images/FolderA/FolderA1/File2.mxs
D:/Images/FolderA/FolderA1/File2.bmp

C:/Images/FolderB/File3.mxs
D:/Images/FolderB/File3.bmp

C:/Images/FolderB/File4.mxs
D:/Images/FolderB/File4.bmp

The mxs files are still under "C:/" (thus exactly in the origin paths), only the images are saved under "D:"!

3.1.9.3.3.6.2.4.2. Create job in PARTdataManager via export format

Via Export in file (a single file) a job can be created directly from PARTdataManager and transferred to the server.

After a part has been loaded in the Part view, start the export via Export menu -> Export in file -> Image formats -> Maxwell Renderer.

-> The Export using Maxwell Render format dialog box opens.

Settings in the Export using Maxwell Render format dialog box:

  • Precondition for the data forwarding to the server is, that in this dialog under Render in the list field the option Transfer to server is selected.

  • Furthermore below at the Samples item you can determine the sample rate. If no sampling rate or 0 is set, then the value is automatically set to 10.

A description on all other settings is found under Section 3.1.9.3.3, “Maxwell Render 3D ”.

-> After confirmation with OK the job is sent to the PARTrenderManager Client and the PARTrenderManager dialog box opens. The job appears in the dialog box. The Create a job dialog is not called. The description is automatically created. The sampling rate can optionally be changed as long as the job is in the waiting line, meaning the job status is "Waiting". The list of jobs cannot be changed anymore.

3.1.9.3.3.6.2.4.3. Create job in PARTdataManager via Generate image data/preview images

  1. In the index tree, on a directory or a project call up the context menu command Generate image data/preview images.

    -> The Export files dialog box opens.

  2. In the section Export Mode select the option Export files.

  3. Under Format, in the list field select the option Maxwell Render.

  4. Confirm with OK.

    -> The Export using Maxwell Render format dialog box opens.

  5. Under Render in the list field select the option Transfer to server.

    -> The PARTrenderManager opens.

"Export files" dialog box

"Export files" dialog box

"Export using Maxwell Render format" dialog box - Transfer to server

"Export using Maxwell Render format" dialog box - Transfer to server

The *.mxs files are created and a job with paths to all project files is generated and sent to PARTrenderManager.

[Note] Note

During the generation there are no previews available (neither the old ones, nor the new ones).

[78]

If you had selected Start renderer, then the new preview images are available as soon as the renderer has finished.

If you had selected Transfer to server, then the new preview images are available when these have been downloaded from the server and been resaved.

In the dialog box of PARTrenderManager you can see under description, for which directory the preview images have been created. Resave these in the respective directory (directories), when the job has finished.

3.1.9.3.3.6.2.5. Delete jobs

When you want to delete one or more jobs, then select the respective jobs from the list and click on the button Delete.

Jobs from other users, which are also selected, will not be deleted.

When deleting the current job the following has to be regarded:

The renderer can not be stopped by the server, meaning that the renderer will finish the calculation of the current image in any case. When the job is deleted during the calculation no calculation of a new image will be started by the renderer and the next job in the waiting line is processed. So it can happen, that the list of the client contains no job, which is currently processed by the server.

3.1.9.3.3.6.2.6. Preview images

It is possible to request the current status of the image as preview during the calculation:

For calling the preview image there are several ways:

  • In the dialog box at the bottom the button Preview

  • In the job menu the menu item Preview

  • In the context menu of the selected line the command Preview

The preview image is displayed on the client and can be closed with a click on the image.

3.1.9.3.3.6.2.7. Save images of finished jobs

As soon as the renderer has calculated all images of a job, the job is marked as finished and the images can be downloaded to the client computer. Thereto you only have to select a job and click in the job menu on Save images. Alternatively you can click on the button Save or use the respective context menu command of the respective job line.

When the files from which the images have been calculated are from different folders, then the folder structure is regarded at saving.

3.1.9.3.3.6.2.8. User rights

Basically each user has only the authority to change or delete jobs of his own. When resorting his waiting jobs he cannot place them before other users jobs. However there is the possibility to extend the user rights. In the configuration file $CADENAS_USER/prendermanager.cfg in the section "global" you can find a key "role". If you set the value to "Admin" and restart the client you can change, delete or resort all jobs without restrictions.



[78] The reason is, that the mxs data is not saved in an own „*.mxs“ file, but in the same-named .bmp file. Preview images are stored under $CADENAS_DATA/23d-libs in the respective directory. To that place you save them after the creation.