unable to open file message; file format missmatch

silversurfer2 · Post by **silversurfer2** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:24 pm

Hi, can anybody please help. I have been doing a fair bit of editing on a wedding video using ulead 10+. on a pentium 4 D ; 1 gb ram. I had problems trying to do insert edits on the overlay track, but somhow, with guidance from here I managed to assemble a 50 min prototype video and burn a chapter'ed DVD for the couple to preview.
To try to better understand Ulead I bought Charlie Hills book on getting started and copied many exercise files/folders as instructed, but as I am in UK I changed the preferances in the exercise mode in order to use the NTSC mpegs. (I assume this is right?) But change it back for UK PAL for editing on my project.
But now getting back to my project. When most (not all ?)of my precious edited work/vsp's try to open I just get the message 'file format missmatch'. (checking properties on these files shows everything still there as ulead vsp's, they are discribed as video studio document.
It happens on both C drive and my Video storage H drive, where I left back up copies just in case I messed up, which I have !!!
Some of the files not opening are AVI's which is a bit puzzling.
Of course this may not have anything to do with my using the CD exercises, as I can normally mess up on editing programmes without even knowing it!
Is there a dodge or command that will restore my work, or should I just go jump of a bridge !!! (well not quite!) silversurfer2

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:19 am

Must have been a fairly unpleasant shock not to be able to open the projects!

The "dodge" you could have used, with the benefit of hindsight, would have been to have written a fresh System Restore Point prior to changing over to NTSC to do your exercises. Whilst you can make use of that in the future, it's obviously no good to you in this situation!

If you are sure that the original files have not been somehow corrupted or changed, then it has to be some sort of configuration problem.

If you originally installed VS from a boxed CD set, you might attempt a repair of the install. "Repair" should be an option when you insert and run the install disc.

Otherwise, I suggest you go back to "File>Project Properties" and make sure everything is indeed set to PAL, and also "File>Preferences", in the "Edit" tab, make sure that the PAL video filter is checked.

Are you sure that some of the files used for the exercises didn't accidentally overwrite some of the original files? This might happen if you used file names like 01.mpg etc.

It might be tedious, but you could go through each video file of each of your projects, inserting it into a new blank project. That might identify one or more problem files.

Good luck!

silversurfer2 · Post by **silversurfer2** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:48 pm

Hi 2dogs, followed your tips but no luck, all settings are back to PAL

I was hoping to work with the US learning exercises but now I think I had better sort this problem first.
Tried the new project idea but when I go to get the vsp file and open it, it first looks good, seems to be going to collect all the 'materials' as I see the blue bar going across the screen for a few seconds, then when I click open I get the dreaded file missmatch.
All I have is the one prototype 50 min.DVD that I made, surely in making a DVD you do not loose the original project ? Even the backup is unreadable. Maybe I can copy back the DVD, but will all the little 'modify edits' they want be possible in mpeg copy quality?
One thing, just after I did the edits but before I tried the NTSC exercises I did a full system restore point, because my brother wanted to run a registary mechanic repair as some errors were shown up on a scan (one in Ulead) so he did it.
Could this have some bearing on this new problem ? Trying to get my head around Ulead is turning into a nightmare and just when I thought I had got it working !
any ideas very wellcome SS2

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:35 pm

silversurfer2 wrote:Tried the new project idea but when I go to get the vsp file and open it, it first looks good, seems to be going to collect all the 'materials' as I see the blue bar going across the screen for a few seconds, then when I click open I get the dreaded file mismatch.

You need to try inserting each video clip used in the original project into a new project file, one by one. Are you saying that you can't even open a new blank project? If that is indeed the case, I think you might have a bad file in the default library. You could therefore try moving any video clips that are not part of your project into a "quarantine" folder. Then when you open a new project, you might get a relink error message, but it shouldn't prevent the project from opening. Instead, the files that VS can't locate will be identified by having black and white thumbnails in the library window to the side of the VS preview screen.

silversurfer2 wrote:All I have is the one prototype 50 min.DVD that I made, surely in making a DVD you do not loose the original project ?

No you don't - but you do have to save the project at some point, and give it a name. Did you do that with your original project, that you used to make the first draft DVD? It is also possible to delete the original files, or move them - but in that case, you would expect to see a file relink error message, as described above, not a file format mismatch one. The file format mis-match error occurs when Video Studio can't read a file. It can read both NTSC and PAL files, but there are lots of other types it cannot read.

silversurfer2 wrote:Even the backup is unreadable.

This suggests that you did save the original project file, perhaps this is an earlier version of the project with different edits. The fact that you have the same trouble with this one leads me to believe there has to be a problem with one of the source video files, common to both projects.

silversurfer2 wrote:Maybe I can copy back the DVD, but will all the little 'modify edits' they want be possible in mpeg copy quality?

You might regard that as your reserve strategy, in case you can't sort out the problem any other way. You can import from the DVD, even straight onto the timeline of a fresh project, and make some changes. You'll only be able to make cuts to the original, unless you have more clips you can add. There will be an inevitable slight loss in picture quality when you make it into a new DVD, however - which is why I would regard it as a strategy of last resort.

silversurfer2 wrote:One thing, just after I did the edits but before I tried the NTSC exercises I did a full system restore point, because my brother wanted to run a registary mechanic repair as some errors were shown up on a scan (one in Ulead) so he did it.
Could this have some bearing on this new problem ?

It's possible. I use several similar registry cleaners. On other people's pc's, I might typically find 300 or more "orphans" in the registry which can be safely deleted, and the registry then defragmented to slightly boost performance. One of those programs is a bit keen, however, and it's all too easy for it to knock out the HP all-in-one printer and Paint Shop Pro on my pc. My registry cleaners do create backups, however - so you may yet be able to restore the cuts your brother's program made. Since your System Restore Point pre-dated the registry pruning, you could try restoring to that point. It might not cure the problem, however, if it is caused by some bad video files - the video files will not be deleted.

silversurfer2 wrote:Trying to get my head around Ulead is turning into a nightmare and just when I thought I had got it working !
any ideas very wellcome SS2

I would suggest you try reading SJ1805's excellent series of tutorials, available from this forum.

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:02 pm

Some of the files not opening are AVI's which is a bit puzzling.

Do you recall what codec was used for the AVI files? Usually you would be using DV.AVI. AVI is just the container file, the error is VS cannot read the video or audio codec contained within the AVI file. This could be because you installed other codecs packages or other video editing programs on the same computer, depends. (or you un-installed them).

silversurfer2 · Post by **silversurfer2** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:38 am

Hi Guys, thanks for tips, first, all my files were made as DV AVI's from mini DV and also some material from HI 8 and digital 8 via sony 355 camcorder. Studio 10+ seemed to accept it ok as at 'share' it made a DVD. (what puzzles is that the time line had vsp's, AVI's and an mpeg on it, is this normal, or perhaps this made the burn unstable, as I wasted a couple of discs ?)
But the vsp file that made the final version is now nowhere to be found. I have found earlier edits, (before sound was balanced) but these either come up as the 'missmatch' message or 'unable to find a file'.
Or, when it loads to the time line some of the vsp's just show half black, half white and they say 'unable to relink'.
I think some of the vsp links got wiped. I located the missing AVI's and they play fine when loaded onto time line, I load them direct, not from the library (when I first started using ulead I did'nt understand the library function, so perhaps my early links to AVI's may be confusing ulead ?)
I have done system restore, (made no differance) so I am back to square one.
I think having wasted so much time I wil probably give up, copy the DVD back to ulead by best method ??? (whatever that is)then dump all the older, earlier edits, reinstall ulead and try again. It's a hard lesson to stomach, but I supose I must just get on with it, I'm not going back to Pinnacle 10 ! SS2

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 3:09 am

Just need you to clear up a few points before we can proceed forward.
Could I ask that you read this link to double check your understanding of a vsp file:

What is a project file?

I do not think that the problem is caused by using NTSC videos - VideoStudio will accept either no matter what your project settings, the different format would obviously have a bearing upon smart render - plus of course rendering to the "other format" has frame size/rate implications but will not cause the error message you have encountered.

I take it that you are only having problems with the previously saved vsp project. If you start a new project and add files you are not getting error messages. This rules out having to re-install VideoStudio - the error lies somewhere in either the vsp file or missing/corrupted source files.

silversurfer2 · Post by **silversurfer2** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:53 pm

Hi sjj1805, thanks for your prompt reply. I have read your lead (and many others you have published to try (sadly unsuccessfully) to understand the 'bones' of ulead.I have tried many of the suggestions put forward. As I suspected, vsp's are just 'notebooks'.
Because my brother tidied up my chaotic file system (I really did mess up my file/library in the early days when I started my wedding project!) I searched and restored stuff from the recycle bin and managed to assemble an earlier (sound dubs missing) but usable 50 min.new ¡¥rebuild¡¦ project. (Maddeningly the best ¡¥finish project¡¦ has gone after I burnt it to DVD.)
Anyway, I saved this as ¡¥rebuild¡¦ to C drive, 'my videos' and gave it a slightly different name and saved it to H (my master video storage drive). I cleared the time line did a quick test 'new project' and saved it. Closed then reopened this project, it was OK.
So I went back to my 'rebuild' but neither would now 'open' to be brought to the time line or library.....just 'file format mismatch'.
I shut down ulead and tried to reopen for a fresh start, but it would not open (probably upset at my messing it about!) anyway I had to restart PC to open ulead only to find I still have the all the recent ulead work inc. all my weeks on the wedding inaccessible ***$$$***!. The AVI's exist but the vsp 'notebooks' obviously don't work anymore!
A state of despair prevails! I think as you say there is a corupt file or command somewhere. I probably must give up and clear the library/H drive and recapture all my tapes, unless a reasonable 'copy back' to hard disc from my precious only DVD burn of the original project.
Suggestions still welcome SS2

Post by **Ron P.** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 10:13 pm

I do admire your "stick-to-itness"...

With your successful DVD, you can insert that into VS. However it will appear as a video clip. You will not be able to change transitions, filters, ect. As long as the editing is kept to a minimum, and you make sure that Do Not Convert Compliant MPEG Files is checked when creating a DVD, DVD Folders or ISO files, you should not loose much, if any quality, on just 1 recoding. You can then burn an ISO and DVD Folders, and use them to create several DVDs.

If you are just needing to make additional copies of your DVD, then DVD MF6+ has the ability to Copy DVDs, so you would not need to rebuild any menus.

I too am thinking that you have some corrupt files that VS can not do anything with.