Simon Andrews wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
>         I'm having a problem trying to render large autamatically generated pov
> files.  These are representations of a surface built up from thousands
> of individual triangles.  A sample entry would be....
> 
> colored_smooth_triangle (
> <-10.304373,-12.849998,-6.025000>, <-0.526939,0.609252,-0.592577>, rgbt
> <0.470588,0.470588,1.000000,0.000000>,
> <-9.650002,-12.315180,-6.025000>, <-0.583489,0.698051,-0.415048>, rgbt
> <0.760784,0.760784,1.000000,0.000000>,
> <-9.858542,-12.849998,-6.775000>, <-0.732888,0.622233,-0.275139>, rgbt
> <0.760784,0.760784,1.000000,0.000000>
> )
> 
>         Unfortunately, POV doesn't seem to like this size of file (about 6Mb
> upwards!), and will crash whilst parsing the file with an error saying
> it is unable to allocate sufficient memory when creating bounding slabs.
> 
>         Is there anything I can do to increase my chances of getting these to
> parse without errors??  I already have 128Mb RAM and that won't parse a
> 6Mb .pov file - some of my files are >100Mb!!, so I suspect that just
> adding more RAM won't completely cure it.  I have plenty of HDD space so
> I can give it all the virtual memory it could need, if that is any use.
> Is this just the sort of file that POV hates and I should find another
> way to get these pictures??
> 
>         Any and all advice is welcome
>         Many thanks
> 
>         Simon

I can only guess by the "colored_smooth_triangle" that you are using
the include file by Chris Colefax. If that is the case it is not the
size of the file that is causing the problem. It is the proceedural
macros that calculate the colors and position of the triangles that
is consuming all of your memory. You should definately allocate swap
file space if you are going to be running files of this type. If you
are running windows just let it handle the virtual memory requirements
for your system and you should have no more problems.

Even if I am wrong about you using the tricolor.inc file by Chris
you can imagine how many memory pointers the program must allocate
to store the color information for each corner of each triangle in
a large triangle bearing file. Installing more system ram will make
the program run more efficiently and will require less parsing and
rendering times but there is no reason for you not to at least try
using a swap file first to see if you can eliminate your current
problem.

-- 
Wishing you Seasons Greetings, A Merry Christmas, and A Happy New Year !
Ken Tyler -  1200+ Povray, Graphics, 3D Rendering, and Raytracing Links:
http://home.pacbell.net/tylereng/index.html http://www.povray.org/links/

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