ID 606543 - Batch render fails when merging a RenderSettings node with another node

Problem summary
Batch render fails when merging a RenderSettings node with another node
 
Customer reported version
Katana 7.5v4
 
Customer reported platform
Rocky 9
 
Steps to reproduce
 
1) Under the Help>Example Projects tab, open the Hello Pony Katana scene. Downstream from the GafferThree node, create a RenderSettings node followed by a Render node. Save this scene to a new file.

2) Create a batch script to render the scene similar to the following:
katanaBin.exe --batch --render-node Render --katana-file {User_filepath}\testPony.katana -t 1 --threads2d 1 --threads3d 4 and ensure the batch render succeeds.

3) Going back to the Katana scene, add a Merge node between the RenderSettings node and Render node. Attempt the batch render again and observe the error. 
 
Expected behaviour
Batch render initaites without any errors.
 
Actual behaviour
The render settings are not properly merged and can't be found at batch render time, reporting the following error:
 

[ERROR python.Uncaught Exception]: Traceback (most recent call last): File "python/Main/Main.py", line 514, in <module> File "python/Main/Main.py", line 458, in main File "MainBatch.py", line 119, in Main File "MainBatch.py", line 1027, in __preprocessRender File "MainBatch.py", line 1016, in __processRender File "MainBatch.py", line 1209, in GetPassInfo File "MainBatch.py", line 1158, in __getPassInfo File "MainBatch.py", line 1119, in __getNodeOutputFiles File "RenderNodeUtil.py", line 1138, in PreCreateAllProductsAndLocations File "RenderNodeUtil.py", line 1456, in GetRenderNodeInfo File "RenderNodeUtil.py", line 1487, in __init File "RenderNodeUtil.py", line 1493, in __getProducerData File "RenderNodeUtil.py", line 787, in GetRenderSettings Nodes3DAPI.RenderNodeUtil.RenderSettingsError: Render settings not found in scene.

 
Workaround
You can use an AttributeCopy directly above the Render node to copy the render settings from before any merges occur.
 
Reproduced by support
 
This bug has been reproduced in:
Katana 7.5v4 - Windows 11 / Rocky 9
Katana 7.5v3 - Windows 11 / Rocky 9
Katana 7.5v2 - Windows 11 / Rocky 9
Katana 7.5v1 - Windows 11 / Rocky 9
 
 
Unable to reproduce bug in:
Katana 7.0v5 - Windows 11 / Rocky 9 - This issue doesn't appear in this version and has regressed