renaming captured video clips

Gordy · Post by **Gordy** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:15 am

How can I rename my captured video clips?
I can rename it from windows explorer but then when I go to VS it still has the original name "uvs071116-002.mpg" with a yellow block on the top left of the thumbnail indicating that it is unable to locate this clip.

Is it at all possible to rename these clips so that they are easier to identify?

thanks

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:17 am

Just right click on a clip in the library and rename it.

Gordy · Post by **Gordy** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:21 am

I've tried that but it does not give the option to rename.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:24 am

Sorry, just working from memory as I don't have VS on this computer. But I know you can just highlight the name of the clip and overwrite it.

Gordy · Post by **Gordy** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:40 am

That works!!

Never thought to try that, Duh!

Thanks,

SoldOnParadise · Post by **SoldOnParadise** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:30 pm

I had been wondering the same thing so thanks for asking! Now I'm wondering if there is a way to see the full name of the clip rather than just the first few letters that show below the thumbnail? I'm specifically referring to the renamed clip, not the name of the entire capture that you can get by right clicking on the thumbnail. If it is not possible to see the entire name of the clip, how do you experienced users keep track of clips once you have hundreds of them to manage?

Post by **lancecarr** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 5:55 pm

Here's what I do. Other's have their own methods.
I capture to a folder on the hard drive so that I now have a folder full of foolishly named files a la VS. (We have been whining about being able to give files a meaningful name upon capture for years now...no joy.)
I then use a program called Lupas Rename (free) and using that batch convert all the filenames whilst retaining the order of the original numbering.
That way the file formerly known as "uvs070928_212530~1.avi" (no, I am not joking!) now becomes "Holiday 001.avi"

SoldOnParadise · Post by **SoldOnParadise** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 7:09 pm

That makes sense for batch renaming the clips but I still don't understand how you find the clip you want if you have a hundred thumbnails displayed in the VS library? You can only see a few letters of the description displayed under the thumbnail. Maybe I don't understand the workflow people use to put numerous clips together to make a movie.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 8:35 pm

If you hover your mouse pointer over a thumbnail, normally a little box comes up giving the file's full name, format and date. Does this not happen for you?

SoldOnParadise · Post by **SoldOnParadise** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:46 pm

Ken Berry wrote:If you hover your mouse pointer over a thumbnail, normally a little box comes up giving the file's full name, format and date. Does this not happen for you?

That gives me the file name for the entire file I captured, not just the short clip that I renamed to be able to tell what a particular clip represents. Maybe I should not be capturing a lot of assorted clips to one large .avi? After cutting out various clips, many of my thumbnails look similar so I can't tell what portion of the entire capture they represent without playing them. Hence my reason for giving them descriptive names. But if I can't see the new name of the clip then it does no good. What I probably need to do is learn more about proper workflow. Thank you for trying to help!

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:21 am

Sorry. I am now a little confused. Are you talking about capturing one big video file, putting it in the timeline, then making various cuts in that big file, and seeking to rename the individual clips resulting from those cuts?

If that is the case, then those individual cut pieces are not in fact separate files which you can rename unless, after you make a cut, you use Clip > Save Trimmed Video. This will create a real file which you can rename. Otherwise, the cuts you make in the original file will only create 'virtual' clips which always remain part of the original video file (and name)....

SoldOnParadise · Post by **SoldOnParadise** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:00 am

Ken Berry wrote:Sorry. I am now a little confused. Are you talking about capturing one big video file, putting it in the timeline, then making various cuts in that big file, and seeking to rename the individual clips resulting from those cuts?

Exactly! I didn't do a good job of making myself clear but you did a great job of providing a solution. Is this not common practice?

Thank you!

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:34 am

What making yourself clear, or capturing as one large file?

It is a matter or personal choice and if we held a vote on who does what I wouldn't be surprised to find a 50% / 50% split.

SoldOnParadise · Post by **SoldOnParadise** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:48 am

sjj1805 wrote:What making yourself clear, or capturing as one large file?

You got me there! I'm an expert at not making myself clear. I'm sure this will all make more sense once I get used to the software. At this point I'm just confused by having many thumbnails on my desktop that all have a picture of the beach/ocean and are labeled uvs071117-002.avi. I have to preview several to find the clip I need.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 7:12 am

Try doing it the other way then and split by scene whilst capturing.
This creates loads of smaller files on your hard drive.
Use a program such as:

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

Lupas Rename
Lupas Rename is a FREEWARE program developed to rename a few or a massive number of files with a lot of features
It works on Win95, Win98, WinME, WinNT, Win2K and WinXP.
It is a simple .EXE file and doesn't need any other external libraries.
http://www.azheavymetal.com/~lupasrename/news.php

This will allow you to create a more meaningful name to the clips such as
Thisholiday0001.avi
Thisholiday0002.avi
Thisholiday0003.avi
and so on - each with a different thumbnail.

Then import that sub-directory from your hard drive into the VideoStudio Library.

As I said before, what may suit one user may not suit another. In fact some of us use both methods dependant upon the particular job in hand.