Using Public Folders

Use public folders to replace local file paths with public file paths. The Public Folders area on the Global Settings panel includes two fields for setting these alternate paths.

When you use a local path (such as C:\Footage\ Car.png), only your computer can use this path to find the file. Instead, if you share the folder and use a UNC public path (such as \\Pc73264\Footage\ Car.png), all other workstations with access can use the path.

There are two types of path that you need to consider for network rendering: input and output. Input paths include the file paths for every piece of footage in a workspace (in the Footage operators). Output paths include the file paths for the render outputs you set up in the Render Queue (in the Output Settings panel).

Paths for Network Rendering

If you want to render over multiple workstations, the workstations need access to the footage folders and the folders where the rendered image files are sent.

You set up this access in one of two ways:

• Use local (private) paths when you import footage into a workspace and when you set up filenames for the render outputs. Then, before you network render the workspace, make sure the input and output folders are shared so other workstations can access them. Finally, set the Input Folder and Output Folder so public paths are used instead of local paths.
• Use public paths (in UNC format) when you import footage into a workspace and when you set up filenames for the render outputs. By doing this, you already know that the input and output folders are shared.

If you use the first method, you should consider the tips in Planning for Network Rendering.

To set a public folder:

1. Click the Input Folder or Output Folder button.
2. In the dialog that appears, navigate up to Network Neighborhood, then down to the computer with the shared folder. Find and open this folder, then click Open again to select it.
3. The path appears in the appropriate field.

Note: If you use the file browser to select the folder, the path uses the UNC format automatically.

Universal Naming Convention (UNC)

Use the Universal Naming Convention (UNC) to identify directories and files for a public path. For example, the rendered frames can be written to a folder on the local hard drive, but you need to share the folder and set the path using UNC format.

For Windows, UNC names begin with a double backslash and do not include a drive letter. The following is the convention for Windows paths:

\\computer_name\directory\subdirectory\filename

Some networks require drive letters instead of UNC names. These directories can be mounted as drive letters and shared over the network.

Planning for Network Rendering

Network rendering is easier with a bit of planning when you start the workspace. If you put all local footage for a workspace into one folder, you can use the Input Folder feature to point to that folder later. This feature allows other workstations to find the footage so they can render frames during the network render.

As you bring footage into the workspace, you can simply use local file paths. In the previous example:

D:\Source_Footage\Bluescreen\Car[##].jpg

Otherwise, if all the footage is not in the same folder structure, you need to use UNC paths for the footage.

At least, you need to use UNC paths for all the footage that is not in the shared folder that you will use for the Input Folder feature. In the previous example:

\\Pc73264\Source_3\Bluescreen\Car[##].jpg