Managing projects

terrypin wrote on 9/8/2011, 3:20 AM

I'm curious to know how other MEP users manage their projects. Do you keep ALL files related to that project in one single folder? Photos, movie clips, music files, audio narrative, MVP, MVD, etc, etc?

There seems to be an implication in MEP that this the way it expects you to manage projects. For example (unless you switch it off) when you import a file into a project you get a message reminding you that this is not within the project folder and so you won't be able to archive/backup the project later.

So far I've not adopted that approach. For instance, I keep all MVP project files in one folder
C:\Docs\My Videos\MAGIX Projects
but all my photos (and movie clips) are in a very large folder
C:\Docs\My Pictures\PHOTOS and subfolders like
\Walks UK\2011

I find that makes more sense, as I use those files, particularly the photos, for a variety of purposes, not just making a DVD with MEP.

The same goes for various other files that make up my project.

But the price I pay is that when a project is finally completed and I have a DVD disc and a higher quality MP4 on my HD (with backup), I then have the chore of deleting stuff from various places to free up space. And that has to be tempered with the thought that I might later want to edit the project or use parts of it.

So once again I'm considering a change of work style. Any feedback would be much appreciated please.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 9/8/2011, 4:58 AM

Hi Terry

I use the following structure (on second HDD)

Everything for the project is kept in the Project as shown. Resources from the Resources folder are also copied in as necessary.

This way everything is together and synced up to 3 ext hard drives regularly.

Finished projects are removed from my W drive once finally backed up - in triplicate.

John

terrypin wrote on 9/8/2011, 8:21 AM

Thanks John. A couple of follow-up questions please:

1. Do you therefore change your MEP Folder settings for each project?

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/MEP-Folderpaths.jpg

2. Presumably Project1 > Images includes all the relevant photos for that project. But ae they copies? IOW, when you transfer photos from your camera to PC, do you have a separate folder for those, like me, and then later copy them to Project1 (say 2001 Holiday) when you decide to make a DVD?

3. So do you keep a backup of every project and all its content? Not just the rendered result(s)?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

johnebaker wrote on 9/8/2011, 4:44 PM

Hi Terry

1. I keep the MEP paths pointing to the DVD projects folder as shown in this image

2. All the images for a given project are in that projects image folder. No duplication of any images except for those in the Resources folder which may be used in a project.

3. Most definitely yes and in triplicate on three external HDD. When I had an SD camera I kept all the backs filed on DVD's (up to six in a set) but with HD this is impractical. I can then go back and create modified versions as I need eg language changes.

terrypin wrote on 9/10/2011, 9:57 AM

Thanks John.

--------------------

No one else interested in this?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

yeahwow wrote on 9/11/2011, 5:15 PM

Hi Terry,

I AM interested, but since I just started out with MEP and am in the process of creating my first DVD's (only a few minor problems left, see the forum) I am first seeing if MEP integrates nicely with my usual procedures for storing my resources and making backups.

So this subject will become interesting to me in a few weeks. And.. it is good to know I can get back to this thread to see how more experienced users handle this. Thanks for bringing this up.

Lesley