Xlights taking very long time to render (v2017.14 64 bit)

[danj]

Normally when saving/rendering a sequence file, xlights only takes 4-5 seconds to finish the save/render.   For a sequence I am currently working on, xlights seems to "stop" rendering/saving after the Northpole-14 model has been rendered (I am seeing "Done rendering Northpole-14" at the bottom left of my screen for several minutes....)   I have never really paid attention before, but in case this matters--the CPU is at 94% utilization when xlights is trying to finish the save/render.    The only method I know of to close xlights when it is in this mode is to "end task" in windows task manager.   That works in closing xlights.   I have tried several times with the same result on this sequence.   I let it go for about five minutes; that did not work.   I then opened and saved/rendered another sequence I recently finished; no problems there--saved in less than 5 seconds; all is well with the sequence--also the max CPU utilization was about 50%.  Any recommendations?   Thanks!

I posted the xml files.

Edit--I opened up the first backup from when I started tonight but before I changed anything tonight.   That file saved/rendered fine; did not get "stuck" when saving/rendering.   I checked all my backups from tonight (the ones after I started sequencing tonight...) and all act the same--the save/render does not complete.

[keithsw1111]

Do your logs report any errors or warnings

[sean]

i tried your sequence, it did get stuck for me also. cpu load went to 100%. it was rendering arches 7 through 11

check sequence shows i am missing some image files

Effect problems
    ERR: Picture effect cant find image file 'D:\1Nutcracker-Xlights\Sequences\Prairieville\GIFs-Pics\Be_Our_Guest 160hx60v.jpg'. Model 'MegaTree', Start 0:37.700
    ERR: Picture effect cant find image file 'D:\1Nutcracker-Xlights\Sequences\Prairieville\GIFs-Pics\Lumiere3 16x80.jpg'. Model 'MegaTree', Start 0:41.650
    ERR: Picture effect cant find image file 'D:\1Nutcracker-Xlights\Sequences\Prairieville\GIFs-Pics\Lumiere1 16x80.jpg'. Model 'MegaTree', Start 0:43.200
    ERR: Picture effect cant find image file 'D:\1Nutcracker-Xlights\Sequences\Prairieville\GIFs-Pics\Lumiere3 16x80.jpg'. Model 'MegaTree', Start 0:44.750
    ERR: Picture effect cant find image file 'D:\1Nutcracker-Xlights\Sequences\Prairieville\GIFs-Pics\Admit One 2 115x70.jpg'. Model 'MegaTree', Start 2:01.050

Check sequence done.
Errors: 5. Warnings: 66

[keithsw1111]

No fixed yet ... but this is a more cut down version that still seems to hang ... need to keep cutting until we have as few effects as possible but still seeing the problem.

[dkulp]

Keith,

No fixed yet ... but this is a more cut down version that still seems to hang ... need to keep cutting until we have as few effects as possible but still seeing the problem.

The problem is in PixelBufferClass::LayerInfo::createBlendMask (PixelBuffer.cpp, line 1985).  For some reason, the i-- is always being hit and that loop is never exiting.   

[keithsw1112]

Thanks Dan ... I will take a look tonight if you dont get to it first.

[danj]

Thanks to all of you for looking into this one for me!    To answer Keith's question--I was not getting any error messages.   I looked at the check sequence tool after it got stuck the second time and didn't see anything xlights was unhappy about.   Can't tell you how much I appreciate your time.

[keithsw1111]

This will be fixed in .15

[sean]

2017.15 release, so this problem should be fixed

Release 2017.15
New support for uploading to 6804 controller, 64bit vamp plugin now 5x faster, bug fixes

Latest releases are found at www.xlights.org
Videos tutorials are found at videos.xlights.org
Forums are located at nutcracker123.com/forum
Issue Tracker is found here: www.github.com/smeighan/xLights/issues

XLIGHTS/NUTCRACKER RELEASE NOTES:
---------------------------------
2017.15  May 31, 2017
   -- bug (dkulp)   Fix crash if submodel is part of a preview
   -- enh (keith)   Add E6804 controller configuration support
   -- bug (keith)   Fix errors with FPP config
   -- bug (keith)   Fix xyzzy on matrixs on start channels other than 1
   -- bug (keith)   Fix triangle wave effect crash
   -- enh (keith)   Enhance wiring view and add light background option
   -- bug (keith)   Fix hang in blend transition
   -- enh (keith)   Add documentation of xSchedule variables into the UI
   -- bug (keith)   Fix some issues with layer counts in preset window
   -- bug (keith)   Fix end channel display if multiple universes are grouped under one output
   -- bug (keith)   Fix 64 bit vamp performance on windows

[danj]

Downloaded 2017.15, re-saved/re-rendered most recent version of sequence that was acting up.   All good now.   I specifically checked the very last things I did before it started acting up on me; they are there.   Thanks so much!!!!

[g8rfn2]

Dug this up from a long time ago... But, I seem to be having a very similiar problem. Sequence I am working on all the sudden takes 120-145 seconds to render every time? Can you guys tell me what I need to upload to have it checked? I know the xml file, but what else do u need?

Thanks!
-Matt

[g8rfn2]

Sorry, I should have mentioned... I am on 2018.29

[g8rfn2]

AND, I fixed my own issue with the help of the "check sequence" feature!

Should've done that first! :-)

For anyone looking for a solution to a similar problem though... For me, I had inadvertently turned on Canvas Mode during a pinwheel effect. And, to make matters worse, i then copied that effect 2 more times in the show. The message in the check sequence file is:

WARN: Canvas mode enabled on an effect it is not normally used on. This will slow down rendering. Effect: Pinwheel, Model: Tree, Start 2:38.150
ERR: Effect contains very old value curve. Click on this effect and then save the sequence to convert it. Effect: Ripple, Model: Tree, Start 3:21.100

Program is definitely smarter than me! LOL You guys do a great job!!!!!