Loading a project into Photostory

Robert-Wells wrote on 3/19/2021, 10:22 AM

I have completed a project some while ago using Photostory 2018 and have burnt it to a DVD D/L disc but now find I need to do some changes but unfortunately I cannot find the project under Documents, Magix Projects, Photostory Deluxe. As I have the detail on a DVD is there any way I can load that disc data back into Photostory 2021 so I can do the changes.

 

Comments

emmrecs wrote on 3/19/2021, 11:58 AM

@Robert-Wells

Without the original project file you cannot totally recreate the slideshow. Arguably, the "best" thing to do would be to create your new show from scratch, assuming you still have all the images etc. which were part of the original show.

However, all the audio and video/images of your original slideshow will now on your DVD disc be stored as .vob files. You need to extract those. vobs from your disc to your computer (there will be several, especially since you say you burned the show to a dual-layer disc) and then open them, in order, in the Timeline of PS. You should then be able to edit them just like you would with a standard video file.

One caveat: if you have any sort of audio track, e.g., music or commentary, making any change to the video (images) will also affect the audio and could make it disjointed, to say the least! Hence my earlier statement about being best advised to look at recreating the project from scratch!

HTH

Jeff
Forum Moderator

Win 11 Pro 64 bit, Intel i7 14700, 16 GB RAM, NVidia RTX 4060 and Intel UHD770 Graphics, MOTU 8-Pre f/w audio interface, VPX, MEP, Music Maker, PhotoStory Deluxe, Photo Manager Deluxe, Xara 3D Maker 7, Samplitude Pro X7 Suite, Reaper, Adobe Audition 3, CS6 and CC, 2 x Canon HG10 cameras, 1 x Canon EOS 600D, Akaso EK7000 Pro Action Cam

Robert-Wells wrote on 3/19/2021, 3:48 PM

Thank you Jeff for the information, yes I have all the photos on my PC but if I can extract the sequence from the .vob files that would save a lot of work, all I would need to import would be the files of the pictures and titles as audio can easily be added after.

How do I get the .vob files from the DVD and how do I add these to the new (replacement) project.

Thanks in advance for your guidance

Robert

johnebaker wrote on 3/19/2021, 4:48 PM

@Robert-Wells

Hi

I agree with @emmrecs comment about re-doing the project from scratch due to an issue you will see if you import the VOB files from DVD.

The visual quality will be down on what you would get if you redo the project. On creating the original, when you went through the burn process the images were resized down to 720 x 576 (PAL) or 720 x 480 (NTSC) and then compressed, ie un-needed data is removed to make the VOB files smaller.

Reloading from the VOBs means the low resolution is your starting point and adding the new images is going to be noticeable once the new disc is created and the original parts compressed for a second time.

John EB
Forum Moderator

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

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Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

Robert-Wells wrote on 3/20/2021, 3:02 PM

Thank you both for the information, I will remake the project. Robert

browj2 wrote on 3/20/2021, 4:19 PM

@Robert-Wells

Hi,

Did you do a search of your hard drives for .MPH files? You may have saved them elsewhere.

John CB

John C.B.

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Robert-Wells wrote on 3/21/2021, 6:22 AM

Thank you John CB yes I have found the file under the .MPH search, it appears that the problem is after loading Photostory and clicking Load Project it does not show the file.

In fact there are 3 projects not shown that I originally completed under PS2018. The not shown files are all in Documents\Magix Projects\Photostory Deluxe\Slideshow XXXXXXX but do not show in the PS2021 version.

How do I get them to show on the Load Project display.

Many thanks Robert

emmrecs wrote on 3/21/2021, 6:32 AM

@Robert-Wells

Two methods to be able to open that project in PS:

  1. Double-click the file in Windows Explorer and it should automatically open PS and the project.
  2. On the opening "New Project" screen, click on the folder icon in the screenshot below and navigate to the exact folder where this project is currently stored and then select it. Please note: you will have something very different showing in the "Project folder" window; what you see is how I have it set up on my computer

HTH

Jeff

Win 11 Pro 64 bit, Intel i7 14700, 16 GB RAM, NVidia RTX 4060 and Intel UHD770 Graphics, MOTU 8-Pre f/w audio interface, VPX, MEP, Music Maker, PhotoStory Deluxe, Photo Manager Deluxe, Xara 3D Maker 7, Samplitude Pro X7 Suite, Reaper, Adobe Audition 3, CS6 and CC, 2 x Canon HG10 cameras, 1 x Canon EOS 600D, Akaso EK7000 Pro Action Cam

Robert-Wells wrote on 3/21/2021, 11:18 AM

Thank you Jeff, but I still cannot see old projects on the 'PS Load Project' screen.

If I now look in Docs\Magix Projects\Photostory Deluxe the 3 old projects are not shown, was there some different file system in the 2018 version. They are on my system but not shown in Photostory.

Ref 1 above, when I look in File Explorer the file name shows that it should be in Photostory projects but under PS they are not shown.

Thank you

johnebaker wrote on 3/21/2021, 2:06 PM

@Robert-Wells

Hi

When you view the files in Windows File Explorer do they have the text _BAK followed by a single number in the range 0 - 9?

If so these are auto backup files, see image below, and will not display in the Open project dialog.

To get them into Photostory use File, Open and then change the file types to look for (circled in image below) to All files - you will then see the files and can load one - if there are more than one start with the latest by date/time not the single number which is used cyclically ie once it gets to 9 the auto backup starts again at 0.

Added - once you have loaded a backup save it as a project file - .MPH - giving it a new name

HTH

John EB

 

Last changed by johnebaker on 3/21/2021, 2:51 PM, changed a total of 1 times.

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 23H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

Robert-Wells wrote on 3/22/2021, 5:29 AM

Hi John EB

I have gone right through File Explorer, Magix Projects, Photostory Deluxe and there are no files that show the "not shown" project, also that project covered a range of photos and those are also not shown. It must be there on my PC as I have managed to get it into Photostory for checking and update. It therefore must be under a different coding method, maybe something different was done on the 2018 Version.

I worked on the old project yesterday but this morning it is still not shown in File Explorer, Magix Projects, Photostory Deluxe.

Regards Robert

Robert-Wells wrote on 3/22/2021, 5:44 AM

Sorry John but pleased to say that the project has been found, all the detail is in a folder and not listed as separate items as some of the other projects. It looks as if some projects are stored in folders and others list the whole contents under Photostory.

Thanks however for your advice

Robert

johnebaker wrote on 3/22/2021, 9:31 AM

@Robert-Wells

Hi

Pleased to hear you have found them.

When these projects were created you may have had used the option to copy media into project folder turned on

This helps a great deal when you backup your projects.

John EB

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 23H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.