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# Copyright (c) PipelineFX L.L.C. All rights reserved.
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# Filename: RELEASE.txt
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# Description:
#  Release notes for the 3dsmax jobtype for Qube!
#
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IMPORTANT!!!

Please read the README.txt file for the latest important information
regarding the installation and use of this package.


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@RELEASE: 5.5-2

@SUMMARY:

This release is designed to work with Qube! version 5.5-x.  It
includes added support for 3dsMax 2011, V-Ray DR, and a number of
fixes since the last release.

@NEW: Add 3dsMax 2011 support.
	
@CHANGE: Modified invocation of the 3dsmaxcmd.exe from a simple
	system() call to a more complicated CreateProcess() method, for
	better tracking of processes.

@CHANGE: modified GUI submission dialog's "3dsmax version" pulldown to
	list version numbers that are easier to comprehend (like "v2011"
	instead of "13000"), while maintaining backward compatibility
	("13000" still works)

@NEW: added "3dsmaxcmd" GUI widget to enable users to explicitly specify
	the path to the executable. Also modified backend to use it.

@NEW: Added V-Ray Distributed Render (DR) support for 3dsmax
	
@FIX: "enableDBR" bug (see changelist 6825)
	
@CHANGE: the render VFB is displayed now.  It's closed after every frame.
	
@FIX: wrapped the entire script with try-catch, so runtime errors are
	caught and the script can exit
	
@CHANGE: changed default output directory to be the "renderoutput"
	folder parallel to the scene directory, instead of the result from
	"getdir #renderoutput", since that can ofgen return a folder on
	the local filesystem.
	BUGZID: 63308

@FIX: Updated README.txt with info on workaround for "Error
	initializing backburner path system".


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@RELEASE: 5.5-1

@SUMMARY:

This release is designed to work with Qube! version 5.5-x.
It includes a few fixes since the last release.

@FIX: issue with preempted subjobs going "complete" (ZD #625)
	
@FIX: removed call to qbAbortMax() which seems to cause "stalling"
	subjob issues under some environments (ZD #539)

@FIX: Added call to the gc() (garbage collection) routine, right after
	the call to render().
	BUGZID: 63250

@CHANGE: Updated windows qube.ico files for all jobtypes.
	
	The icon shows in the "add/remove program" panel on Windows, among
	possibly other places.
	
	This is a cleaner-looking transparent background icon, and was
	converted from the icon that's used on OSX (qube_icon.icns).

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@RELEASE: 5.5-0

@SUMMARY:

This release is designed to work with Qube! version 5.5-x.

@CHANGE: Built against Qube 5.5 libraries

@NEW: added support for Render Elements.
  Code was contributed by Ari Sachter-Zeltzer of Shadowplay Studio.  Thanks!

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@RELEASE: 5.4-2

@SUMMARY:

This release is designed to work with Qube! version 5.4-x.

@FEATURE: Added 3ds Max 2010 support.

@FIX: Backwards compatibility fix for Max 9 (substituteString added in Max 2008)
	Issue noted by customer.
	BUGZID: 61880

@FIX: now uses output file path specified in the scenefile, if it's not
	given in submission.
	BUGZID: 61951

@FIX: Added code to use a tmp copy of the scenefile on each subjob, in
	an attempt to workaround 3dsmax stalling issue.

@CHANGE: modified temp blank scene filename.
	
@CHANGE: Modified so that the copy of blank.max will have the hostname
	and process ID in its filename.

@FIX: added code to name the tmp logfile (pseudo-) uniquely, in an
	attempt to avoid 3dsmax deadlocks.

@FIX: modfied getAppVersion() code to guess 3dsmax version from the
	executable path, instead of from just the binary.


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@RELEASE: 5.4-1

@SUMMARY:

This release is designed to work with Qube! version 5.4-x.

@FIX: Improved reliability for launching the in-application 3dsmax
  submission dialog on Windows.


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@RELEASE: 5.4-0

@SUMMARY:

This release is designed to work with Qube! version 5.4-x.

@CHANGE: Built for Qube! version 5.4-x


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@RELEASE: 5.3-1

@SUMMARY:

This release is designed to work with Qube! version 5.3-x.


@FEATURE: Added 3ds Max 2009 support.

Added 3ds Max 2009 support on both 32- and 64-bit platforms.

@FEATURE: Added "timelimit" option.

Timelimit option will kill subjobs after specified amount of time.

@BUGFIX: Fixed linkage against Qube 5.3 library.

If "delayed request" errors were seen in the supelog, and/or if issues
where jobs were terminating prematurely (without completing the entire
frame ranges) were seen, those should be fixed now.


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@RELEASE: 5.3-0

@SUMMARY:

This release is designed to work with Qube! version 5.3-x.


@CHANGE: Built for Qube! version 5.3-x

Built against Qube! version 5.3-x.


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@RELEASE: 5.2-1

@SUMMARY:

This release is designed to work with Qube! version 5.2-x.

We have added support for 3dsmax 2008, on both 32- and 64-bit
platforms.


@FEATURE: Added 3dsmax 2008 support

The brand new 3dsmax 2008 is now supported, on both 32- and 64-bit
platforms.


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@RELEASE: 5.2-0

@SUMMARY:

This release is designed to work with Qube! version 5.2-x.

As of this release, 3dsmax 6.x and earlier are no longer supported.

This release is built against the new Qube! 5.2 libraries, and includes
a few feature enhancements and bug fixes.  Among the biggest feature
enhancements are the native support for 64-bit 3dsmax, and the support
for mental ray DBR (Distributed Bucket Rendering).

@FEATURE: mental ray DBR support

The mental ray Distributed Bucket Rendering, or DBR, is now supported.
Please refer to the README-DBR.txt file for details on setting it up
and using it.

@FEATURE: Added 64-bit support

The 64-bit version of 3dsmax is now supported.  You will need the
64-bit version of Qube! installed on our 64-bit platform for the
64-bit jobtype to work properly.


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@RELEASE: 5.1-0

@COMPATIBILITY:

This release should work with Qube! version 5.1-0 and above.

@SUMMARY:

This release is built against the new Qube! 5.1 libraries, and includes
a few minor bug fixes.



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@RELEASE: 5.0-0

@COMPATIBILITY:

This release should work with Qube! version 5.0-0 and above.

@SUMMARY:

The main highlight of this release is the additional support 
for 3ds Max version 9.  It also includes some added post-rendering
error checking, and some bug fixes.

@FEATURE: 3ds Max 9 support

The jobtype now supports 3ds max 9 (32-bit only)

@FEATURE: Post-render error check.

The jobtype back-end code now checks the output file for its
existence and file size after every frame's rendering has finished.

@BUGFIX: easier-to-read log

The stdout log has been modified to look easier on the human eye.

@BUGFIX: report correct status to supe.

The backend now reports the correct exit status to supe.

@CHANGE: subjobs bail when frames fail

Subjobs now fail when a frame they're working on fails.




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@RELEASE: 4.0-6 (2006-08-25)

@COMPATIBILITY:

This release should work with qube-core version 4.0-0 and above.

@SUMMARY:

This is a maintenance release, including better error-checking
on I/O directories, and a more robust mechanism to find the 
executable in the back-end.

@FEATURE: Better I/O error-checking

The back-end code now checks for read/write permissions on the
input scenefile and output directory.

@FEATURE: Better support for 3dsmax installed in non-default location

The back-end code now supports a more robust mechanism of searching 
for the 3dsmaxcmd.exe program.  It searches the $PATH first, then 
the paths specified in the windows registry, and then the default 
installation locations.

@CHANGE: Internal code cleanup 

Some internal cleanup of code has been done, for better maintainability.

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@RELEASE: 4.0-5 (2006-03-20)

@COMPATIBILITY:

This release should work with qube-core version 4.0-0 and above.

@SUMMARY:

The biggest feature of this release is the addition of 3dsmax v8
support.  Also, this release includes a number of bug-fixes and/or
small enhancements.  Upgrading from the previous version is strongly
recommended.

@BUGFIX: Submission dialog status feedback field scrolling

The submission dialog's stauts feedback area now properly displays the
latest submission result.

@BUGFIX: Permission issue when backend opening blank.max scenefile

Fixed bug where permission issues on the installation folder
(c:/program files/pfx/jobtypes/3dsmax/) prevented the back-end code
from launching properly on some installataions.

@FEATURE: 3dsmax v8 support

This release includes the much-demanded 3dsmax version 8 support!

@FEATURE: Automatic loading of plugin and scripts

The installer now installs a startup script to the proper folder, so
that 3ds max loads the Qube! plugin upon launching.

@FEATURE: Better logging

This version supports better logging of 3dsmax error and warning
messages, which are output to the job's stdout and stderr.

@CHANGE: Internal cleanup and reorganization of files and functions

Some internal cleanup of code and reorganization of files and
functions were done, for better maintainability.


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@RELEASE: 4.0-0 (2005-12-12)

@COMPATIBILITY:

This release should work with qube-core version 4.0-0 and above.

@SUMMARY:

This release is a new distribution package of the 3dsmax jobtype for
Qube! release 4.0-0.

@CHANGE: Updated for Qube! v4.0-0

Package rebuilt for the new Qube! version, 4.0-0.

@CHANGE: Installation location

Installation location is now C:/Program Files/pfx/jobtypes/3dsmax/