Smart Package backup recovery

[Viddynick]

Hi all, have backed up my latest project using Smart Package - all files seem to be in place. Inserted this to a folder and saved to external hard drive. Fine! Problem: how now do I get the project back into VS? Do I physically copy and paste them into VS's project folder - how do I restore them to their rightful home? Need to practice this in case I lose the current project file I'm working on - as happened a few weeks ago! Or can I insert media to file - follow that path - but will it go to desktop? Am afraid of too much practising currently as we have a really important project on-going and am afraid of corrupting something!!! Any advice on backup and restore with Smart Package process would be appreciated. Thanks. Mr and Mrs Viddynick.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

The Smart Package is what it says.
Smart because it was clever enough to copy all the projects content.
Package because it saved these files to a single folder.

Opening the VSP in video studio will run the project using all files within the folder.
There is no reason why you cannot run the project whilst the files are on the external drive. Try it……….File Open Project, navigate to the hard drive………
Otherwise copy the folder to your PC’s hard drive.

The folder contains all files and VSP associated with the project, you are using it as a backup.

The original project still exist. When you further edit the original project you would have to run the Smart Package again to back up the edits. There is no automatic backup.
Using the same name and location will overwrite the folder updating the backup.

There is no reason why you cannot create the Smart Package direct to the external drive, rather than the pc and having to copy to external drive.

[Viddynick]

Trevor, thanks for your response - very helpful. I understand what you are saying - guess we are a little nervous at experimenting currently as we have a really important project on at the moment working to time scales and as we had terrible trouble last time losing a project file, am frightened of anything going wrong!!! One more query, do I import the folder I have named and saved the backup to - or do I open it and merely important the .VSP project file - will it bring with it the other related media files alongside and in the same folder?

Thanks for your time on this - appreciated.

Mrs Viddynick

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

To run the Smart Package Back-up project …….
you should be able to open the project with the files on the external hard drive, no need to move anything.
If you have problems with speed, (slow connection to external HD) then you can move the backup to the PC, move everything keeping it all within the folder.
Anyway I doubt if there will be any speed problems.

But you would only need to use the backup if something went wrong with the original project files.

However It is a good idea to open the backup project just to make sure it is complete.
Rather to find out immediately after creating than when you need it.

[Ron P.]

I would add that testing workflows, methods, procedures, should be part of the work. If you're going to use a back-up method, test it first using non-essential or crucial files. Test to see that they do get backed-up, and that the back-up can be used. I say this because every computer is different, and what may work on one computer may not work on another. Just grab some clips out of the samples provided, then use the Smart Package. Check to see that all necessary files are included in the folder. Then close and re-open VS, and navigate to the VSP file in the Smart Packaged folder, open it to see if all the clips are inserted properly, or if VS asks to re-link, which it should not. Then you'll know that you can have some trust in that method.

Smart Package is a means for collaboration, where more than one may be working on a project. They each can work on it, and package up what they have done, sending it to another person to continue the work. So far I've not had any problems with VS having to re-link to clips included in the package. This is one of the more intelligent functions Corel has added to VS..

[Viddynick]

" would add that testing workflows, methods, procedures, should be part of the work." - thank you Ron - glad you put that! - my hubby will tell you that's me! I will often do a dummy run just to prove to myself it is going to work! Unfortunately, we have never bothered with back up before - as we know we have the material somewhere if anything happens but hubby started work on an important project for an outside source and I started to panic that back up might be sensible on this occasion! So me - being the Technical Director(!) - am quietly working away setting up and testing things out as we move along! Foolish - we should have learned about back up for these files previously but life gets in the way and so it goes on. I would advise anyone reading this to do just that and don't get caught out at the last minute as I have done!

Sadly, my friend who I would have turned to for these things died and the only recourse of back up for ourselves is this forum! So thanks to you all for responding.

I should add that Smart Package seems a great little app integral to VS. So far, it seems to have integrated all related files without problem. I will check in here now and again in the hope of being some help to someone some day! Right now, I feel I am taking advantage!

Thanks again for help.

Mr and Mrs Viddynick.

[Ron P.]

Good luck on your project. You'll do just fine. Hurry back, we're here to help, and no you're certainly not taking advantage of us. Please do take advantage of the information found here on the forums.

[Viddynick]

Thanks for that Ron. Important film now completed and all went well - including burning. Very pleased with it - thanks to all those who helped with our queries.

Regards
Viddynick.