Unable to open an Old Project - should I be doing something different?

Xenofex2 wrote on 11/13/2021, 4:35 PM

It is probably just as easy for me to start again from scratch, so am really more interested in any comments as to what I have done wrong in the past, and what I should be doing to avoid a similar situation in future.

Way back in 2013 I put together a 13 minute video of our grandchildren, having horse riding lessons. I had, I thought, saved my Project Folder and after completion moved the complete Folder to a portable Hard Drive in case needed in the future. Looking at the video again now years later, 13 minutes is too long and I am sure I can improve it.

Accessing this old Project File, I find that MEP now cannot find the relevant files. I have no idea if relevant, I note that within my saved Movie Image Folder I have 30 videos, whereas the ‘file not found’ message seems to show that ‘0 out of a total of 65’ files have been loaded although, of course, these 30 were probably split.

George

NB - Double checked and cannot open another old Project so am I doing something wrong?

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 11/14/2021, 5:00 AM

Hi George

Looking at the file path MEP is looking for and the file path you are showing in Windows File Explorer - they are not the same - the one it is looking for is in a subfolder, 01 Movie Images, of the path MEP thinks where it should be - use the Folder button on the dialog to point MEP to the subfolder.

Looks like you may have moved the files around at some point.

John EB

Xenofex2 wrote on 11/14/2021, 10:25 AM

Sorry John, I must either be looking in the wrong places or interpreting the message wrongly. In the MEP Image, the ‘File not Found’ message, to me, shows it is looking at “F\30-Movies etc etc” but then looking at the screenshot of the folder on my portable hard drive, is it not looking in the same folder?

I keep trying but still not any success.

Yes I had moved the actual Project, but as far as I am aware, the whole Project Folder, from my main PC to a portable Hard Drive.

George

johnebaker wrote on 11/14/2021, 12:51 PM

@Xenofex2

Hi George

Looking at the file path images shown in the 2 images you posted

MEP thinks the file is called

30-Final Walk P1160945 - Day Three.Mov

and is in -

F:\30 - Movies - Original Working Folders\001 - Video Folder Files - 01 - 10\01 Horse Riding Mar 2013\

The File Explorer image shows the video file is in:

F:\30 - Movies - Original Working Folders\001 - Video Folder Files - 01 - 10\01 Horse Riding Mar 2013\01 Movie Images

The folder 01 Movie Images which is a subfolder of the folder where MEP thinks the video file is.

HTH

John EB

Xenofex2 wrote on 11/14/2021, 2:16 PM

John

I keep trying but still unsuccesful.

In my latest attempt, I attempted to close down that 'File not Found' message, loads of times, and it did load something. However it was just the various pieces of text that I had added. No movie clips nor the voice over that I had added.

I need to think on this but it is possibly easier to start again, especially as I aimed to drastically reduce the video length.

Thankyou though for your advice and direction.

George

johnebaker wrote on 11/14/2021, 4:07 PM

@Xenofex2

Hi George

When the popup message appeared did you use the Folder: button, and when the Browse dialog opens point it to the 01 Movie Images folder and then OK the browse dialog?

You may have to do this several times if the clip it wants is used multiple times in the project.

John EB

Xenofex2 wrote on 11/15/2021, 5:24 AM

John

Thankyou once again for the advice. Even after sleeping on it, I am still unable to open the movie images.

However this time I did see one other message 'Quicktime not Installed'. That does remind me that these short movie clips were taken years ago by my digital camera when Quicktime was supported.

I have thus now got a new plan of action.After converting all the movie images from Quicktime - I have Movavi - , I will start again and re-do my memory of the Grandchildren and their horseriding lessons.

Thankyou once again for your help and advice ..... and patience.

George

johnebaker wrote on 11/15/2021, 10:11 AM

@Xenofex2

Hi George

. . . . After converting all the movie images from Quicktime - I have Movavi . . . .

This may not be necessary - try installing Quicktime Alternative.

John EB