[Jun In Gi]

if I just use the render button, it doesn't. In fact it hasn't crashed once

Mihai, what you saying is this button? if yes, i don't know why MS didnt act anything

[Becco_UK]

Jun In Gi: Thats the culprit. I wish I could even get a crash at least I would know something happens when you press it!

[DELETED]

DELETED

[Jun In Gi]

ah...thanks Kevin Sutherland,
i'll try

Becco, i really envy you

[Mihai]

Becco and Jun In Gi, if nothing happens when you press that render button, your Path variable is not setup correctly. There are two separate ones you need:

1. Name: MAXWELL_ROOT Value: C:\Program Files\Next Limit\Maxwell\
2. Name: Path Value:C:\Program Files\Next Limit\Maxwell\mxcl\

To be sure, add these both to the user variables and system variables.

[Jun In Gi]

thanks Mihai,

but still nothing work when i hit render button in MS

i wonder should i also put path in Plug-in and extenal files in Max app.

[Mihai]

Explain please step by step what you're doing. You're exporting an mxs from Max, then you're loading that mxs into MS? Is the scene loading?

[Becco_UK]

Mihai Iliuta: Thank you for your patience - mine is in decline.

Since your post about the variables this is what I have done.

Uninstalled Maxwell and manually removed any remnants of Maxwell.

Reinstalled.

Checked/set variables to these:

MAXWELL ROOT = C:\Program Files\Next Limit\Maxwell\

and the path one= C:\Program Files\Next Limit\RealFlow3\;C:\Program Files\Next Limit\Maxwell\mxcll\

Got all hopeful again.

Opened up Maxwell Studio ok.

Loaded Mvertas test scene.

Preview in viewport worked.

Got even more hopeful.

Hit render button and ..... nothing. Well a quick flash of the hard drive light which means nothing to me. Waited a few moments incase maxwell was tired... still nothing.

Went all old fashioned and tried double clicking the saved mxs. This opened my image editing software quite nicely! At least now I can hand paint a picture using this method.

Ran an automated check of my registration values etc and all was fine there.

So in line with my diminishing patience, my hope is also fading being replaced with a sense of dissolusionment (can't spell that!)

[Jun In Gi]

yes, first of all

i made sure environment variable as mensioned on forum
and i made simple scene consist of one box and sphere as emitter.

then i export *.mxs from max as hit render button. (it's don't matter with either check or uncheck launce render saving mxs?)

and i loaded *.mxs i made from max in MS, i applied material then preview dropdown in viewport. so far it's ok. but next.....still be here.

i also have tested mverta's MikesTest.mxs. but same didn't act anything in render but in preview it's ok.

Edit
in my case
maxwell_root is same
path : C:\Program Files\Next Limit\Maxwell\;C:\Program Files\Next Limit\Maxwell\mxcl\

[Becco_UK]

Hey: just noticed I put 2 ll's in mxcl. I've looked at that damn thing loads in windows and only noticed when posted here. My hope is going upward now!

[Becco_UK]

Success after a night and day. With the extra l in the path variable now deleted the render engine fires up. Again, thanks to all above for all suggestions. So as the title of the post says... 'all is not lost'.... (yet!).

[Mihai]

IMO a LOT of features have simply been deactivated in this version.....no spectracl color picker either for example.

Jun In Gi, if the mxcl still doesn't start for you when you press the render button, it HAS to be the environment variables. Could you post a screen shot of them?

[Jun In Gi]

Mihai, you mean about this?

i set like this, that's all
MAXWELL ROOT = C:\Program Files\Next Limit\Maxwell\

path : C:\Program Files\Next Limit\Maxwell\;C:\Program Files\Next Limit\Maxwell\mxcl\

i copy and paste in my my computer/property/.....
EDIT
Becco Congratu!
but...me oTL

[Becco_UK]

Jun In Gi: What happened is that Mvertas' test scene is now at sample level 14!

The problem was with the environment variable. Until I pasted a copy of mine (above) I hadn't noticed that I had put an extra letter 'l' in mxcl so it was incorrectly entered as mxcll.

I deleted the unwanted 'l' letter, rebooted my system and the render engine fired up ok from Maxwell Studio.

Recheck your variables, correct if necessary and reboot your system.

[Becco_UK]

Jun In Gi: Are you rendering yet. Persavere because when you see the render start all the dissapointment will melt away leaving room for more to develop!