Unable to re-open an old but not completed project

Xenofex2 wrote on 12/16/2015, 2:46 PM

Think it must have been using MEP 2015 at the time, and I had imported old camcorder recordings that had at the time been saved on VHS. I started cropping them and exporting each short sequence. Well I must admit that I had started this project months ago and thought I would do a quick revisit to finish off for Xmas.

At the time as I progressed, I exported each sequence as a Mpeg file and also saved the sequence as a MEP file. I think since I started the project I have upgraded to MEP 2016 so don't know whether that is causing problems but I cannot seem to open any MEP files in either MEP 2015 or MEP 2016 (it cannot find them) to finally complete this project. Looking at the folder there does seem to be something there but MEP cannot find it. Does anyone have any suggestions please?

George

Comments

Scenestealer wrote on 12/16/2015, 5:22 PM

You just need to click on the "Folder" button in the file not found window in your screenshot, and navigate the path shown in the first line which indicates the missing file.... \Recording-0001.mxv is on your C: drive.

You should be looking for a .mxv file (magix's own movie format) as this is the format that MEP recorded the VHS to, not the MPEG you exported to. If it is the MPEG you want then you will have to search your whole computer for it then drag it into the timeline after going "Skip All" in the current project or start a fresh MVP project.

Make sure you have all external drives ( Elements, etc.) you may have saved to, plugged in.

johnebaker wrote on 12/17/2015, 4:49 AM

I have the same issue with MEP 2016 - despite pointing to the correct folder and the video clip being there it does not pick it up.

Have not found a way round it yet.

John EB

Xenofex2 wrote on 12/17/2015, 8:14 AM

All my movie projects are, in theory as it seems from the current experience, stored on a Portable External Drive, I also create an overall Project Folder and then within are Four sub folders,

With this Project I imported the VHS recording with the intention of editing and exporting each relevant short sequence. 1) The Initial Save - which in this case was done using 'Rescue Your Video Tapes' but now I find that even that program cannot find this initial save.2) Work in Progress, 3) I duplicated my work by making MEP versions (supposedly) of each exported clip (which now I cannot open, 4) the Exported Movies. This way I have everything together so that if I want to go back on anything and amend, I can, or rather should be able to! The size of these four files are 83.7KB, 1.25MB, 2.38MB and 3.28GB respectively.

Looking back now on my previous work I see that I have exported 19 short sequences as MPEG's and totally guessing now after such a long time, don't think I would have done all this at one sitting and thus think I must have been able to re-open files as I returned to the Project.

So yes the external hard drive where everything is stored is connected. Whilst I did click on the Folder button and then navigated to the specific folder/file, it then asks me if I wish to add it to an existing project (when there is nothing open) but then I go in a permanent loop, navigate to the Project, add or close an existing file and then back to the File not Found screen.

Incidentally since 'Scenestealer's' reply, I checked and thus did note that my Work in Progress' appears to have been saved by MEP 2015 (I think it was) as MVP files and NOT MXV files.

Funny but annoying as despite actioning regular saves of the work in progress, I cannot open any file, not even the original VHS import recording.

George

NB - As a result it seems that I cannot re-open other saved (but this time) completed projects.

Scenestealer wrote on 12/18/2015, 4:34 AM

So yes the external hard drive where everything is stored is connected.

According to your screenshot the original recording .mxv is not on an external drive but on your C: drive which is the default location for Magix projects and recordings.

It seems you may be confused by the file extensions names - MXV is a magix proprietry format/codec for magix recorded material and is also used as an intermediate, lowly compressed proxy format.

MVD's are all the information / clips and effects contained in the "Movie" on the timeline.

MVP's are the Project files containing 1 or more MVD Movies and Disc projects.

......it then asks me if I wish to add it to an existing project

This would indicate that you are trying to open a Movie (MVD) or MVP file and it is trying to create a Movie within a Movie, not relink the recorded .MXV file.

HTH

Xenofex2 wrote on 12/18/2015, 8:43 AM

Thankyou for that detailed explanation of all the file extensions, much appreciated. It has started us thinking of my next action.

Following the replies I have just actioned a MXV search of the Desktop and seems or appears that the last MXV file was created in 2013 ??? I don't know if MXV files come with new Programs because I do have MEP 2014, 2015 & 2016 all installed.

However I am pretty sure (as sure can be) that in trying to keep the Desktop as free from large files as possible that whilst Magix initially selects a default folder in the C drive, I have (well it now seems only tried to) save the files to an external drive. I certainly cannot find though these original MXV files on the External Drive either so it looks like I need to start again.

In light of what appears to have happened, would it be best practice instead to initially save to (the default) folder with the C drive, and then once one has completed all the editing, and only then, then transfer that folder for safe keeping to an external drive?

George

johnebaker wrote on 12/18/2015, 11:43 AM

. . . . . I have just actioned a MXV search of the Desktop . . . .

Do you mean all your files were in a folder(s) on the Windows Desktop or are you referring to desktop computer?

. . . . In light of what appears to have happened, would it be best practice instead to initially save to (the default) folder with the C drive . . . .

Yes and no - if you have only one internal hard drive then yes, use the default folders that MEP sets up on installation, alternatively if you have a second internal hard drive installed then no, set up a specific location on that drive for all the MEP data files - this is how I do mine.

. . . . then transfer that folder for safe keeping to an external drive . . . .

This is how I do mine except in duplicate, one copy on two different external hard drives.

HTH

John EB

Xenofex2 wrote on 12/18/2015, 2:09 PM

Yes, sorry I meant the Desktop Computer and yes I only have one internal drive.

Thanks for that feedback and yes I also try to have at least two back-ups except that something has obviously gone wrong with this Project. Definitely food for thought and my first New Years Resolution methinks. In light of my current experience, I will now more closely watch exactly where the default folder is located and just check the file extensions.

Thanks again for the feedback and advice.

George