Yes. As long as the basic command or fundamental parameters (like the scene name) don't change, Smedge should work with no problem. We will be continually updating Smedge with new products and new versions as needed.

By default, Smedge uses the version of a product that it finds in the client's PATH environment variable. If you have multiple versions, the first path it comes across is the version it will use. If you point Smedge to a specific executable, it will use that one only.

If you need to use both old and new versions, you may want to pick one (e.g., the latest) for the product's executable and use the "Generic Script" product for the other (you must type the full path to the other version in your command line).

Currently, no. Make sure that every client is running the same version of Smedge. Unpredictable behavior will result from mixing versions.

A simple way to make sure everyone is running the same version of Smedge is to install Smedge onto your file server in a shared directory, then just add a shortcut for each user to start Smedge. Smedge will automatically register itself when it starts up, and there is no need to use the installer on every client computer. See the Installing Smedge section of the manual for more information.

Maya has totally changed thier commandline structure to a new, unified system. While this is a great improvement, giving you control over every integrated renderer, it comes at a price. The new commandline format breaks the old way Smedge handled Maya. The good news is that the new system is a big improvement. The bad news is that it's very confusing to set them both up correctly.

To render with MentalRay for Maya 6.0 or later:

You must use the new MentalRay for Maya (6.0+) product. This product must be configured and enabled for every client that you want to use for MentalRay for Maya rendering.

To configure the client:

Use the Smedge Options dialog box to set the path to the Render.exe program file that comes with Maya 6.0.

In the Client Settings dialog box, make sure that the MentalRay for Maya (6.0+) product is selected in the list of Supported Applications.

To submit a job, make sure to select the MentalRay for Maya (6.0+) product from the list at the top of the Submit Job dialog box.

To render with MentalRay for Maya 5.0 or earlier:

You must use the old MentalRay for Maya (5.0 or earlier) product. This product must be configured and enabled for every client that you want to use MentalRay for Maya rendering.

Use the Smedge Options dialog box to set the MEL command that starts the MentalRay for Maya renderer. See the MentalRay for Maya (5.0 or earlier) product manual page for more information about which MEL command to use.

Use the Smedge Options dialog box to set the path to the Render.exe program file that comes with Maya 5.0. This step is required for MentalRay for Maya (5.0 or earlier) to work, even if you don't want to use Maya (5.0 or earlier) itself for Maya software rendering.

In the Client Settings dialog box, make sure that the MentalRay for Maya (5.0 or earlier) product is selected in the list of Supported Applicatons.

To submit a job, make sure to select the MentalRay for Maya (5.0 or earlier) product from the list at the top of the Submit Job dialog box.