SPARX alpha

Working with SPARX

Working with SPARX is very much similar to working with a file manager like 'Windows Explorer'. You browse to the file you want to work with and click on it. And just as a file manager would open the file with the associated application, depending on the file location and type you are taken to the next possible step. For example, clicking on a .mb or .ma file in the /scenes directory of a project takes you to the 'Job Submission' page Or Clicking on an image file inside the '/images' directory downloads the image file for viewing. Similarly, the option buttons available on a page also changes depending on the directory you are in.

You can get your username and password by sending a mail to - 'sparxsupport@duxsoft.net'. Please include details of your organization and exact rendering requirements in the mail.

Once you get your username and password browse to http://www.renderarm.com/sparx (Preferably use Internet Explorer 6.0 or Mozilla Firefox 2.x)

Steps

  1. The site will prompt you for your Username and Password; Enter your username and password in the pop-up window
  2. If this is the first time you are logging in, you will have to create a project. Type the project name in the 'Create a Maya Project named ' text box and click on the button. A new project will be created and the page will reload listing the new project.

    Note: '3DSMax' Projects are not supported currently.

  3. Next, you upload the required files and submit the scene file for rendering
    Taking the mouse / pointer over project name will give you the following options -
     a. Go to <Project Name> base dir
     b. Jump to <Project Name>/scenes dir
     c. Jump to <Project Name>/images dir
     d. Jump to <Project Name>/joblogs dir

    Next, go to the '<Project Name> base dir'option and upload the required files to the associated directories (/scenes, /sourceimages etc) and submit the scene for rendering.

    If the scene you want to render does not require any support file, you may directly jump to the <Project Name>/scenes dir, upload the file and submit it for rendering.

    Check 'Submitting a scene for rendering' for more details on how to submit.

    1. Managing the dirs / files used in a project -

       Depending on the dir you are in, you can Upload, Rename, Delete, Unzip, View (logs) or Download files in a project
      1. To upload files (Max 1024Mb) -
         a. Go to the directory you want to upload files to
        b. Click on the 'Upload' Button
        c. In the upload form, browse and select the file you want to upload
        d. Click on the 'Upload File' Button to start uploading

        Note: Depending on the size of the file being uploaded, the page may take time to respond

        Note: On a few ocassions, the files may get corrupted during transfer(Upload and Download) because of FIREWALL Please make necessary checks (file Size) after the transfer. Please contact us for any assistance.


      2. To unzip file(s) after upload -
         a. Select the WinZip or Compatible zip file(s) you want to unzip
        b. Click on the 'Unzip' button
        c. In the 'Unzip' form, confirm that you want to unzip the file(s) ('Confirm Unzip' Button)


      3. To rename file(s) -
         a. Select the file(s) you want to rename
        b. Click on the 'Rename' button
        c. In the 'Rename' form, provide the new name for each file that you want to rename and confirm that you want to rename the file ('Confirm Rename' Button)


      4. To delete file(s) -
         a. Select the file(s) you want to delete
        b. Click on the 'Delete' button
        c. In the 'Delete' form, confirm that you want to Delete the file(s) ('Confirm Deletion' Button)


      5. To view a log file -
         a. Browse to the particular job sub-directory inside 'joblogs' dir
        b. Click on the log file you want to view
        c. It will pop open the log file in a new pop-up window
        d. You may click open multiple log files this way for easy comparison


      6. To download job output files (from sub-directories inside '/images' and '/joblogs' directories) -
         a. Browse to the particular subdirectory inside an output directory (images / joblogs) and -
        b. To download an individual file (image files only), just click on the file
        (Note: Log files will be opened in a new pop-up window instead - check view a log file )
        c. To download all the files related to a job, check (tick) the sub-directory corresponding to the job name and click on the 'Download' Button
        Or
        d. If you want to download multiple files / directories, check (tick) the files / directories and click on the download button
        Note: Using the 'Download' button will always download the files / directories in a zipped archive format


    2. Submitting a scene for rendering -

      1. Upload a new scene file and / or click on the file you want to submit

      2. It will open a form where you can provide the rendering options

      3. Once you have provided the rendering options, click on the 'Submit_Job' button

      4. It will provide you with the job submission details. Check whether you have got a line giving the 'Job Array' details. If not please contact us.

      5. You may download the rendered output from in the '/images' directory of the project.

      6. Or You may view the job logs in the '/joblogs' directory of the project.


    3. Managing Jobs -

        To re-prioritize, to hold / release click on the 'list_jobs' link available on all the main pages. As such, the management options are very intutive and simple to understand.
      1. Changing Job Priorities: Under the 'Manage Priorities column, for a given job, there would be three option - Low, Normal and High. If the job is currently having its priority set as 'Normal', then it would be shown in plain text, while priorities 'low' and 'high' will be shown. So clicking on the 'low' or 'high' link will change the priority accordingly
  © Copyrights Reserved - www.duxsoft.net - 2007