Can't delete files that were on the timeline but have been removed

AAProds wrote on 5/18/2024, 11:27 PM

I'm sure this has only started with the last couple of versions, and seems random.

Situation: I put a file on the timeline and then at some point, remove it. I then want to delete the file from Windows (or move it). If I go to Windows Explorer, when I try to delete it, it says the file is in use by Magix and can't be deleted. If I try to delete it from the Media Pool, same thing, it says the file is open.

This is annoying because I have to close MMS to be able to delete the file.

Occasionally, and I haven't figured out exactly the situation, I can delete files with no issues from either Explorer or the Media Pool after I have removed them from the timeline.

I'm curious whether others have come across this.

Comments

me_again wrote on 5/19/2024, 12:59 AM

@AAProds

Greetings Al,

I've also found this quirk with the recent generations of MS/MEP but to be honest it's never really bothered me.

Having said that I've found that the easiest way to delete from the system a video or photo that has been opened, without closing and reopening MS, is to delete the file from the timeline, go to EDIT and click on EMPTY UNDO AND CACHE MEMORY.

This seems to work most of the time - more so with MP4s than AVIs for some reason and always for photos.

AndyW

Can-Dive wrote on 5/19/2024, 1:12 AM

Hi @AAProds,
I'm not sure if my suggestions will work since out of personal habit I don't delete files (objects) from my hard drive from within my editing software or have it running while I'm deleting the files in Windows Explorer. I'm not suggesting this is the only way to do it. Others have different workflows and what you are trying to do is reasonable and should work but obviously the system still thinks the object(s) as "in use."

Rather than closing MMS I would try the following.

If there are objects still on the timeline; save the project and see if that "releases" the object(s) you removed.
If your timeline is subsequently empty after removing the object(s) or saving the project didn't work; create a new project and see if that resolves the issue.
@me_again's suggestion obviously works to his satisfaction from his own experience.

AAProds wrote on 5/19/2024, 1:17 AM

@me_again @Can-Dive

Thanks both, I will try those techniques; it could be that I didn't save the project when I couldn't delete the file.

AAProds wrote on 5/22/2024, 8:39 AM

Some more info from the VPX 16 features topic by JohnCB:

When I got out of VPX and tried to delete the copy of the difficult video that had been opened in VPX, it was locked by Magix QTM or something like that. Anyone know what that is? I closed it from the Task Manager as it didn't want to close by itself.

Roberto-Goncalves wrote on 5/22/2024, 8:55 AM

Hi,

@AAProds

I've been using this utility for a long time

IObit Unlocker! (free)

https://www.iobit.com/en/products.php