2016 and MAX don’t really have a viable solution. I mean, if you have your own SMTP server, but who does? I know I can log in using Remote Desktop, but that would mean that I would need to be conscious. A simple TXT, to wake my up at night, would be awesome. I usually run renders back-to-back, all night long, so I would prefer to be notified instead of estimating. Tonight, like last night and the night before, I will be waking up every 2 1/2 hours to start the next render. It’s 2016, I should be able to have my alarm clock go off and by bedroom light turned on at renders end. Who can make this happen? 
A Go-fund-Me might fund the endeavor. I would contribute.
why dont you queue your render up in backburner?
That is what it is designed for!
I have never had luck with BB and missed too many deadlines over the years with it. Typically, I have to move the sun, change cameras, and other things per shot. This one, the architect wants me to raise the front chimneys, for the back shot, so you can see them. I usually have too many moving parts.
You should look at RPManager then.
It is a render pass manager and it works with backburner.
You can set up different scene setups within the same max file and send all your renders off in 1 click.
Saves a ton of time.
I use backburner all day long and it works exceptionally well. I can’t imagine waiting for a render to finish to start another one.
When I have time I’ll have to get reacquainted with BB and look into PRManager. For now, a simple email or txt would be nice.
There is also “scene states” in max.
Have you used them before?
Do you use gmail for your email?
If you do you can set up email notifications in max.
This link will give you the SMTP details - Send email from a printer, scanner, or app | Gmail | Google Workspace Help
Wow. Use Backburner or some other equivalent if you don’t trust it! This is crazy.
waking up every 2hrs is MAD!
you can automate a lot of things you are talking about
Yes, I have GMAIL, doesn’t everyone? It doesn’t work with MAX, I have tried. As far as waking up every few hours. The harder I feel I work the more I feel I can charge :). No, really, the thought of trusting a final render to automation scares the heck out of me.
no idea if this works… Send Gmail from maxscript... | ScriptSpot
I’ll try it, but I tried almost everything a year or so ago; nothing worked. Still, it seems like there is a need that needs to be met.
automation works… without it there would be no animations. Set up BB correctly and you’ll never have worrie about it again. I used the email notifications years ago then I disabled them.. they got annoying after a while.
Edit: I haven’t tested BB with Windows 10, runs well on Windows 7.
You can also setup Deadline for free in a single machine… I mean… even BB has worked for years… Waking up to launch renders is just non-sense…
Wow…
I use bb with dr all the time. As for changes in your scene I also often have multiple scenarios and use a combination of layers and light to sort it in one file. For example your chimney option. I would place the original in a layer called chimney cam 1 and make a copy to layer chimney cam 2 and just turn them on or off depending on which view you are rendering. Same for lighting. Current project has 8 cams with 8 hdris so I can just turn on/off as needed. These get sent to bb and the next morning they are done. I do always plan a couple of days margin between final renders and sending them off so if it goes wrong you can fix it.
Here you go Bobby:
http://mornestudio.com/get-skype-call-render-done/
Have fun!
Hey! Awesome. I will try that. Very 21st century
I was looking at this again, and you don’t need the bat file. All you need is the maxscript file. Just modify the maxscript to call the dos command directly, instead of calling a bat file which then call the dos command.
So delete the bat file and change the maxscript contents to this:
DOSCommand "skype /callto:add_your_2nd_skype_username_here"
Obviously just change the bit “add_your_2nd_skype_username_here”, to whatever username you want to call
I’ve also updated my blog post to reflect this change
Deadline free version is your choice. Free for 2 nodes, it has app for mobile, it has all the kind of reminders / notifications. And tons of great stuff inside. I use it for all the projects i am working on, especially exterior with different lighting set ups for different cameras. Works perfectly. If you are using Vray DR - it has option to use that also. Highly recommend it.