I have a scene for which I want a number of different renderings (different
camera and light locations). I run a .ini file to render the variations, which
get numbered 0 to 49. In my .pov file I have the following code:

  #declare Rnd1 = seed(frame_number); // camera
  #declare Rnd2 = seed(frame_number); // light

From these 50 I select a number to render at high resolution, and I run a
different .ini file for these. In my .pov file I write the following code, which
maps the sequence numbers to my own:

  #declare frames = array[5] {2, 3, 5, 8, 13} // selected for high-res rendering
  #declare frame_nr = frames[frame_number];
  #declare Rnd1 = seed(frame_nr); // camera
  #declare Rnd2 = seed(frame_nr); // light

The result is a series of output files with filename numbers in sequence
(defined by the .ini file)

  outfile_00
  outfile_01
  outfile_02
  outfile_03
  outfile_04

Is there a way to have custom numbering for the output files? Like

  outfile_02
  outfile_03
  outfile_05
  outfile_08
  outfile_13

numbers I would get from the array in my .pov file, which would mean that the
output filename should be defined in the .pov file.

Post a reply to this message

hi,

"stevenvh" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> I have a scene for which I want a number of different renderings (different
> camera and light locations). I run a .ini file to render the variations, which
> get numbered 0 to 49. In my .pov file I have the following code:
> ...
> The result is a series of output files with filename numbers in sequence
> (defined by the .ini file)
> ...
> Is there a way to have custom numbering for the output files? Like
>   outfile_02
>   outfile_03
>   outfile_05
>   outfile_08
>   outfile_13

> numbers I would get from the array in my .pov file, which would mean that the
> output filename should be defined in the .pov file.

not directly, afaik.  if you could use that "map" of frame->file# from a script,
the 'Post_Scene_Command' option will help.

<wiki.povray.org/content/Reference:Shell_Command_Options>


regards, jr.

Post a reply to this message

"jr" <cre### [at] gmailcom> wrote:
> ...
> 'Post_Scene_Command' option will help.

sorry, 'Post_Frame_Command' is what I meant.


regards, jr.

Post a reply to this message

On 11/14/25 11:16, stevenvh wrote:
> Is there a way to have custom numbering for the output files? Like
> 
>    outfile_02
>    outfile_03
>    outfile_05
>    outfile_08
>    outfile_13

Not exactly what you asked for, but you can render single frames with 
the animation frame subset capability via flags or ini options:

subset_start_frame, subset_end_frame, frame_step, +sf, +ef and +stp

   povray myAnimation.pov +sf7, +ef7 +kff10

would render just frame 7 of a 10 frame animation for example - with the 
same frame animation output file name. You'd be running povray multiple 
times change the subset options rather than using an SDL array, but if 
not many high res frames perhaps not a bad approach.

---

Alternately.

Though I'm not a big fan of the capability due possible confusion, It is 
also possible to set the 'frame_number' inside the SDL for your scene.

   #declare frame_number = 2;  // Or make '2' Ary[0] etc.

or set it - and the complete output file name - on the command line with:

   povray myAnimation.pov declare=frame_number=9 +omyAnimation09

Bill P.

Post a reply to this message

"jr" <cre### [at] gmailcom> wrote:
> "jr" <cre### [at] gmailcom> wrote:
> > ...
> > 'Post_Scene_Command' option will help.
>
> sorry, 'Post_Frame_Command' is what I meant.
>
>
> regards, jr.

Ultimately I wrote a quick-and-dirty program in Delphi to do the renumbering. I
run it after the scene (i.e. all frames) are rendered. The program looks for the
line with the definition of "frameList" (var name editable by the user),

    #declare framesList = array[12] {26, 29, 31, 34, 38, 50, 79, 81, 127, 129,
173, 185}

and builds a list of the elements in the array. Then renumbers the output files
as explained in my OP.
So since I run it after the scene your original "Post_Scene_Command" was indeed
what I needed.

Current issue:
when I add the line

    Post_Scene_Command = c:RenumberPOVrayFiles.exe %s

nothing happens, my program doesn't run. Is my understanding of
"Post_Scene_Command" wrong?
Also, the"%s" in the command is just the filename without the path. I need that
path in my program (I have a select folder command there), which I hoped to
automate.

Thanks for the replies.

Post a reply to this message

"stevenvh" <nomail@nomail> wrote:

> Current issue:
> when I add the line
>
>     Post_Scene_Command = c:RenumberPOVrayFiles.exe %s
>
> nothing happens, my program doesn't run. Is my understanding of
> "Post_Scene_Command" wrong?
> Also, the"%s" in the command is just the filename without the path. I need that
> path in my program (I have a select folder command there), which I hoped to
> automate.
>
> Thanks for the replies.

The "c:RenumberPOVrayFiles.exe" is actually "c:\RenumberPOVrayFiles.exe" with
the "\" included. The path + program name is correct.

Post a reply to this message

"stevenvh" <nomail@nomail> wrote:

> Current issue:
> when I add the line
>
>     Post_Scene_Command = c:RenumberPOVrayFiles.exe %s
>
> nothing happens, my program doesn't run. Is my understanding of
> "Post_Scene_Command" wrong?

I don't really use the shell commands, so I have no idea.
Maybe use some program that would be super obvious, and just run a test scene.

> Also, the"%s" in the command is just the filename without the path. I need that
> path in my program (I have a select folder command there), which I hoped to
> automate.

Yeah - I had a question about that too in some other thread that I can't find
(because Google doesn't fully index our site, in spite of Chris Cason's many
attempts to ensure they do)

I'm guessing you're going to have to find some workaround.

I also have no idea if exposing the full filename path to the user has been
implemented in Willaim Pokorny's yuqk fork...

- BE

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On 17.11.2025 22:05, stevenvh wrote:
> "stevenvh" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> 
> The "c:RenumberPOVrayFiles.exe" is actually "c:\RenumberPOVrayFiles.exe" with
> the "\" included. The path + program name is correct.
> 

Any chances it may expect "/" rather than "\"? Just a wild guess, in 
theory, in "" everything must work (are "" really a part of command 
line? I mean, are they passed to the system? Any chances you have to 
double them, like '""'?)

-- 
Ilyich the Toad
https://dnyarri.github.io/

Post a reply to this message

hi,

"stevenvh" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> "jr" <cre### [at] gmailcom> wrote:
> > "jr" <cre### [at] gmailcom> wrote:
> > > ...
> > > 'Post_Scene_Command' option will help.
> >
> > sorry, 'Post_Frame_Command' is what I meant.
> > ...
> Current issue:
> when I add the line
>
>     Post_Scene_Command = c:RenumberPOVrayFiles.exe %s
>
> nothing happens, my program doesn't run. Is my understanding of
> "Post_Scene_Command" wrong?

by default "we" are not allowed to run shell commands, to avoid a potential
security issue.  in your global 'povray.conf' file, the "[Shellout Security]"
must be enabled / "allowed"; it is a good idea, generally, to tune the global
..conf and .ini files as part of "post installation".


> Also, the"%s" in the command is just the filename without the path. I need that
> path in my program (I have a select folder command there), which I hoped to
> automate.

I've not tried, but can you not write:  post_frame_command = sh myscript
path/to/%s

?

regards, jr.

Post a reply to this message

"jr" <cre### [at] gmailcom> wrote:
> ...
> > Also, the"%s" in the command is just the filename without the path. I need that
> > path in my program (I have a select folder command there), which I hoped to
> > automate.
>
> I've not tried, but can you not write:  post_frame_command = sh myscript
> path/to/%s

given you have a "target" directory, the 'output_file_name' can (should ?) be a
complete pathname, eg "output_file_name = C:/path/to/selectfolder/myscene". also
use the 'all_file = on' option and POV-Ray's screen output will be (largely)
duplicated in a 'alltext.out' "log" file.  and re your Delphi code, what if it
takes two arguments, that is path and %s separately ?

<wiki.povray.org/content/Reference:File_Output_Options#Output_File_Name>


regards, jr.

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