Re-locating Trim Handles

[Davidk]

Version in use - X5 Pro Ultimate.
This is about trim handles that seem to re-locate - from a clip to a whole project - for no obvious reason, and once it occurs the only fix is a program restart.

I have noted when working on projects that periodically the clip trim handles - those orange icons that sit at the end of the white clip strip timeline that appears in the view panel when clip mode is selected - will re-locate from the clip view to the project view. That is, they no appear in clip mode, but re-appear when project mode is selected; and they then operate on the whole project. That's a trap - the first time it happened and I was trimming a clip, it trimmed the whole project. Ruined it completely, start again was the order of the day. Now, I keep an eye on that: when it happens there isn't an obvious way to get the handles back to the clip view, and the only option then is to NOT do any further changes, save the vsp and close VS down. Re-opening VS and re-loading the vsp breaks whatever condition caused the relocation of the trim handles, and gets back to condition where the trim handles being displayed in the clip view, and trimming of a clip can be done without damaging the whole project.

But its an irritation that should not happen.

Does anyone know what causes this?

Davidk

[BrianCee]

Sorry David - you lost me there

If I select 'project' then my orange trim handles appear at each end of the trim line and moving along that line marking in and marking out are marking the complete project - so if you are in project mode then you are indeed editing the whole project.

If I click on a clip - which is a complete clip then the orange trim handles will again be at each end of that line and any editing will be on that clip only

BUT - if the clip in the timeline is only a segment of a much longer video then the orange trim indicators move to indicate which part of the longer video the clip is.

I do not see a difference in the orange trim handle positions if I select 'project' or select a complete 'clip' in each case the trim handles are at the very ends of the line - so I am having difficulty understanding what you mean when you say the trim handles move from clip to project view.


the only time I do not see any orange trim handles on that line is when I select a still image as 'clip' in the timeline - then I have no trim handles , but as soon as I move the timeline cursor then they instantly re-appear - they do not appear though if I use move the position indicator on the trim handle line but they are always there when editing video clips.

If they are not there when I have a still image selected just moving the timeline cursor always restores them immediately.

are you editing using still images ?

[Davidk]

Hi Brian,

I confess I had not known the circumstances you outline, but maybe that "part of a longer project" is part of the situation. I say part because it does seem variable: part of what I see fits your description, but part doesn't.

Lately I've been making up movies on topics relating to holidays (like temple ruins or dancers), starting with an assembly of all the related source clips in the timeline in time sequence. Then trimming the vsp and the individual clips down (deleting clips that are repetitive or don't add anything to the experience, then trimming the ones that are left to remove poor shot sections, fuzzy audio etc) to get a good coverage and flow with transitions added, and not too long. I have usually found that for trimming - if I select a clip in the timeline of that vsp sequence, and select it to clip mode (the clip is highlighted and the view panel shows clip) the trim handles are shown for the clip (even tho its in a project sequence) and I can trim it (shorten or lengthen from either end) using the trimming handles. This image illustrates that - the selected clip is in a vsp sequence (75 clips and photos) and clippable using the displayed trim handles.

This bit doesn't seem to match your description, because its in a multi-clip project file and the image shows part of that.

This post was about when occasionally selecting a clip like that and with clip mode in the view panel, the trim handles are not there. With the clip still selected but the view panel has switched (not by user intent) to the project mode, the trim handles then showed up and the pointer was at the right place in the overall time sequence. This is the situation you outline. But used to the previous condition, and thinking - with the clip still selected and not noticing the change from clip to project mode - the trim handles still worked on just a clip I've previously moved the handles around to suit what I wanted on the clip and found the whole project ruined.

Now if that behaviour is normal, does the user guide or anything else describe how it is supposed to work? Is there an explanation for why both conditions seem to apply?

Davidk
PS I did capture several screen shots illustrating what I was seeing, but encountered a number of error messages relating to the image size. One was that the image was too big, 256Kb largest allowed, and then after cropping it to achieve the size, the next one was:
"The image must be at least 0 pixels wide, 0 pixels high and at most 950 pixels wide and 800 pixels high. The submitted image is 1164 pixels wide and 637 pixels high."
I eventually got an image the right size and showing the detail I wanted, but meeting two criteria is a bit stiff - I think it ought to be one or the other, preferably size(Kb).

[BrianCee]

if the clip selected is a complete clip - no matter how many other clips are in the timeline then selecting that clip (having yellow lines all round it) will always put the orange trim handles at each end.

If the clip is a segment of a longer video which you have already trimmed for any reason then the orange handles will indicate which part of the longer video that segment is - not which part of the whole project.

you cannot have a single clip selected if you are in project mode.

the only time I do not get the orange trim handles is if I am in clip mode and the clip is a still image, other than that I always have trim handles showing.

clicking ANYWHERE in the VideoStudio window other than on a specific clip always switches to Project mode.

i am unable under any condition to have a single clip selected and be in project mode - my copy of VideoStudio will not allow it - selecting an individual clip always switches to clip mode.

Two further observations - you do not actually need to cut a clip to shorten it in a project - when a clip is selected you can grab the yellow bars at each end and slide them along to shorten the clip.

Do you prefer editing the way your image shows - that is not seeing the video frames in the timeline - I find that quite difficult and much prefer to see frames in the timeline.

[Davidk]

Brian,

Thanks. To answer some of your queries:
1. trimming in timeline versus video clips - I've done it both ways. No particular preference for either one.
2. trimming by cutting. I rarely do this. I found some time ago that it was better to take a lot of short clips rather than one really long one that a) took up time and b) needed a lot of cutting and massaging. With the short clips practice (partly seen in the posted images), trimming is basically 'grab the handle at an end, and move it the needed distance' to shorten the clip. Repeat for the handle at the other end if required. Having said that, I recently found I had to cut some clips before trimming the results: usually because there was an unwanted sequence in the middle of the clip.
3. trimming handles shown in clip mode when the clip is already trimmed. I can accept that, but the posted clip mode image doesn't indicate that - the trim handles are at the very ends of the clip, ie un-trimmed. I have noted that when the selected clip is trimmed, the handles are where the trim occurs. As an aside, I also note that in the clip mode with a trimmed clip within a project, and playing the clip, the play arrow starts and stops where the trim markers are, but in particular when the play arrow stops at the trim handle, the actual playing continues past the end trim marker to the end of the clip. Only happens in clip mode. A bit disconcerting when 1st seen but playing in project mode is per the trim marker on any clip so one ignores this eccentricity.

I hear what you are saying about trim handles in project mode, but you did say that selecting a clip in a multi-clip project would not allow trimming using the handles in clip mode. One of the posted images proves I can do that. My PS remarks about image sizes were related to getting enough of the VS UI screen in the capture shot to demonstrate it. And the tenor of your reply seems to suggest you can too.

The last time this odd situation occurred (no trim handles in clip mode and clip seemingly selected with trim handles in project mode), it was in the middle of an editing session and I had just been trimming clips using the methods outlined. Then I did something with the imaged timeline (what???) and the display changed as outlined. The UI just seemed to twitch, and this time I noticed. Neglected to do a screen capture on it tho. I then spent some time switching between clip mode (no trim handles) and project mode (trim handles shown and the clip displayed as selected), de-selecting/selecting the clip to see if something simple would shake it loose, but eventually I had to shut down VS and re-start/re-load the vsp to get back to the condition we both seem to be saying is normal. I have no idea at all what might have caused it, and since it was the second time it had happened I thought someone might know why. That was the question I posed . . . . but it seems this one might be better in the category of "odd effects that get noticed from time to time but no one knows why".

Davidk

[BrianCee]

I cannot see any where that I said you cannot use the trim handles when you have selected a clip in a multi-clip project - you certainly can.

and as for a full screen shot - no problem :-

CLICK ON THE FILE TO ENLARGE IT

[Davidk]

I've re-read the posts - several times - and I take your point. Nevertheless at the time that's what I thought you had said.

As to the condition I reported - I now know more about VS in this circumstance but I haven't been dreaming, even if it might seem like that. When it happens again (I would not have taken a bet on a 2nd time but it did; so a 3rd time, sometime, seems inevitable) I'll get a screen shot and re-visit it. Something I did triggered this, but I know not what.

Davidk