Re-Linking-Replacing slide show images.

[Trevor Andrew]

Re-Linking is one very useful process that Video Studio uses.

Whilst working within a project all clips/images are linked from their location on the hard drive.
Change the name or path of the file and VS will loose the link.
Video Studio automatically requests a re-link.
We then browse the drive for the appropriate file to establish the link.
The re-link box gives information to the last known location.
VS indicates a lost link by displaying the clip as a black and white thumbnail.


Re-linking can be used to our advantage, a question in the forum asked, can I change the images within a slide show but still retain the transitions? I have made a slide show using my favourite transitions and cannot find a way to re-use them, other than inserting manually.

There is a way, but you have to be methodical in your approach.

In the past I have always assumed that the re-link had to identify the correct file.
Not True
Although there are some rules that need to be observed.

To Re-Link:-
The files have to be the same type, i.e. video files / image files or audio.
You cannot re-link a video to an image etc.
But you can re-link a Avi to a Mpeg.
Or
Jpg to Bmp

Video

1 / When re-linking video, the file has to be the same length or longer.
2 / Re-link will not work if the video file is shorter.
3 / When the video file is longer VS trims the end of the video to the original length.
4 / If the original video file has been cut and edited the re-link video will replace the file using the same cut locations. Be aware that the start point will be the first frame.

5 / The file do not have to have the same name. (but it could be an advantage)

Images and Slide Shows

We make a slide show containing all our holiday photos.
There can be a lot effort and time involved in selecting the nice transitions.
There are many transitions to choose from, using the random approach is a poor substitute.
Someone needs to tell Ulead the meaning of random.

Anyhow we finally produce a good slide show.
Then someone said, can¡¦t you just replace the images. The framework is there, it just needs different images.
Well yes you can by re-linking; unfortunately you would have to re-link every image separately. Unless the image files have the same names.

This is how;
Create a folder for ¡¥slide show 1¡¦ containing say 99 images.
Rename the image files to Image (1).JPG to Image (99).JPG

Create a separate folder for ¡¥slide show 2¡¦
Again rename the images using the same names as in slide show 1. (Image (1).JPG etc)

Create your show using ¡¥slide show 1¡¦ images. Save the project. as ¡¥show 1.vsp¡¦

Save the project again as ¡¥show 2.vsp¡¦
Close the project.

Now we need to replace the images.

On your hard drive.
Rename the folder ¡¥slide show 1¡¦ to ¡¥slide show 1a¡¦ (To force a re-link)
Open your project ¡¥slide show 2.vsp¡¦ and you will be prompted to re-link.
Browse for ¡¥slide show 2¡¦ folder --Image (1).JPG
All images should re-link in one go.
Re-name ¡¥slide show 1a¡¦ folder to ¡¥slide show 1¡¦ to re-establish slide show 1 links.

We now have two slide show project using the same transitions but different images.

Of course the number of images used may be different, this will cause some problems. But by using the longest slide show as your template, there should be no problems.

Should your second slide show be longer, then it¡¦s a manual approach to insert additional images, remember to keep the file name numbering in order.
When complete use the longest project as your template.

The only thing you have to remember is to re-name the images before creating a slide show. The opportunity then exists to replace the images.

Using XP you can batch re-name files.
Select all images in the folder, Ctrl+A
Right click the ¡¥first¡¦ image file and give it a name
Press ¡¥enter¡¦

Regards

Trevor

[sjj1805]

Moved to Tutorials. Thank you Trevor.

Just another tip to make Trevors method a bit easier.
To rename all of your files quickly you will find the following piece of FREE software indespensible>

The Rename
THE Rename is a program designed to help you to rename files and folders en masse with a number of possibilities and options.
This is a freeware program. You can use it in any situation (professional and personal use)
http://www.herve-thouzard.com/modules/w ... rticleid=1