VideoStudio X6 Relink Problem Need Help

[danomite]

I have Corel VideoStudio X6 and am experiencing a relink problem. I moved all my media (pics and vid) from c:\Home\MediaFiles\ to d:\Media\Files\. I open VS and relink to the new location.

I noticed it didn't relink properly, I have videos with the same name in different directories. In the end it linked to the incorrect video.

So, here's my question:

Is there a master file the VideoStudio application uses to reference video locations? I would assume it’s the library and I was hoping I could possibly open the file (with notepad or something) 'find and replace' c:\Home\MediaFiles\ to d:\Media\Files\ and avoid the relinking through the interface.

I reloaded my library so I still have everything with the old references after I tried to relink through the UI. Good thing I backup regularly.

Thanks in advance.

[Ken Berry]

I have videos with the same name in different directories. In the end it linked to the incorrect video.

It has always been my understanding (since VS7 over 10 years ago) that VS will only re-link to a file which is exactly the same size and properties as in the original location. You say you have videos with the same name in different directories... Do you mean those different directories are on the d:\ drive -- e.g. d:\Media\Files\Travel, d:\Media\Files\Home, d:\Media\Files\Work? Or do you mean something else.

If it is the former, when asked to relink, you need to browse to each sub-directory in order to re-link successfully i.e. Home, Travel, Work, and not just d:\Media\Files\.

Otherwise, the 'master file' you refer to is in fact the project file: ****.vsp. It is not a video file but a small text file telling VS what videos are in the project, what editing has been done to them and, importantly in this case, where on the computer they are stored. But there should be no need to manually edit this file if the correct re-link procedure is followed. And of course, once successfully re-linked, if you then Save, the new location of the re-linked files will appear in the vsp file.

[danomite]

Thanks for your reply.

I needed to add another drive to my machine and move all my media files over. So my C:\ only contains applications and my D:\ contains media items (photo and video). The entire directory was moved from C:\ to D:\ but the path slightly changed.

I do have files with the same name in different directories:

D:\Media\Files\Folder1
D:\Media\Files\Folder2
D:\Media\Files\Folder3

Some videos have the same name but the content is different in each directory. When I performed a smart link it picked up the wrong video for a few of the ones with similar names (different size and content).

I would like to edit the 'master file' because I've attempted to relink using the UI a few times without success. When I open the .vsp file in notepad I see a lot of line items with 'null'. I'm a developer (10 years) and find it easier to modify the root config file in some situations.

Worst case I'll need to relink each file through the UI but there are hundreds of items that would need to be relinked, a bit tedious. I would like to experiment as all of the .vsp files are backed up along with the library items.

Thanks

[huberkinky]

Relinking is my worst nightmare in every version of video studio - working now with version 6-th and swearing like a mad because different machine, different hdd's and of course the program has no clues where is what.

Just relinked one film and I've spotted really weird problem with relinking.

I had 4 video clips in the project, 4 different parts from the same file. And... you have guessed correctly - I had to manually find 4 times the same clip!

That's the only problem I'm having with Corel VS. Otherwise I love it.

When you're making a new film and later you want edit - relinking is a nightmare.

What is worse, when you searching for the folder, the paned does not showing you anymore the file name!

That is the worst!

On the bright side, just bought second time Power Director 10 (had 8) and I can't work on that program. Rendering titles making the proggy unusable for me.

But on PC magazine usually number 1. Fishy, huh?

I'm not asking for an answer but... please guys... the next version SHOULD search for files and in case of two with the same name it would show both names, details like file size, and even maybe some even some pic from the file if movie or thumb from the pic!

Than VS will be the real king!

And these are just... basic stuff, know to most people in other fields! :D

But in mean time would be good to get some tips. I've learned one. Use for every project a different folder and put in it religiously all files, even originals.

[lata]

Hi Guys

It is really a matter of good house keeping.

Create a folder dedicated to holding video files for each project you work on.

1 / If all files are within the same folder then re-linking should work for all in the first attempt.

2/ If you have separate folders for Images and Video then subsequent re-links may be required.

3 / If VS requests a second re-link to the same folder, save the project and re-open it, then the re-link should find all.
A little explanation, there seems to be two types of re-link, automatic when you first open a project and a manual when you click a clip.
The auto may find all clips, the manual may find only the selected clip.

4 / The re-link window indicates the last location and file name so you should not get the wrong file.

5 / Re-linking will allow you to select the wrong video provided the target video is the same or longer duration, so take care. Images well you can select any.

6 / If you intend to move projects and clips you are best to create a Smart Package, that will copy all clips used in the project and save to a separate folder, I guess good housekeeping as mentioned above.

Re-linking to a Smart Package should complete in one attempt as all files are within the same folder

7 / Take care to recognise VSP files, these are not video files but can be added to the timeline and indeed the library. Adding VSP to the library or timelines can cause problems, so again take care.

Re-linking is quite straight forward providing you follow a few rules, and that is managing your files.

[danomite]

Well I resolved my relinking issue after many failed attempts, moving from C:\XXXXX\ to D:\XXXXX\YYYYY\ should be more seamless than it currently is. All of us will experience a system failure or decide to upgrade at one point or another, in this case moving from one drive to another is something VS should be able to handle more seamlessly.

The process didn't take too long and I utilized the relink feature but approached it differently.

- I moved the files back to the original location, this make VS happy
- I then moved the video files in groups while VS was open, performing a big bang approach seems to confuse the relink algorithm
- After each group was moved I relinked them. The smart link function helped in this case and was able to find the proper files
- Relinking works well if you initiate it in smaller batches

Thanks for all your feedback on this topic.

[AccreditationDept]

Hi All,

I recently started using VideoStudio X6 so maybe there is something that I am doing wrong...I too am trying to figure out a way to resolve this re-link error issue.

I have tried the fix that I found on the Corel website (how to re-link files if they have been moved) and I have also tried saving files in different locations to see if the problem goes away. The only time when I don't deal with the issue is when I use the computer on which I edited the files in question (originally .wmv files, which I imported on to .vsp without problems and then proceeded to edit sections of the video. I can re-play on my computer in both .vsp versions and .wmv but no one else (colleages who also have x6 versions of corel on their computer) is able to view the video.

My colleagues, who also need to work on the video, cannot view .vsp versions and are unable to resolve the re-link error by following all recommended steps. We tried allowing them access by emailing the file and saving it on our shared drive. When this didn't work, I tried to go through the "Share" steps and converted it to .wmv but this didn't work either. Both colleagues (two different computers) are able to oepn the .wmv version but it is extremely choppy and lags no matter what we try...

Is there something else that I can try? What is troubling me the most is that the .wmv version isn't working which will cause a lot of problems for me as we purchased the program solely to be able to edit recording so information sessions that my department had collaborated on...

Thanks in advance for feedback and help!

-Sumaiya

[RobertOZ]

You cannot send a .vsp file to another computer and expect to read its contents, because a .vsp file is just a set of instructions which tell VS where to locate all the contents of your project on your computer. To view on another computer you need to create a Smart Package of the project, File/Smart Package, which copies all your project assets into one file which you can then save and then send to another computer.

Robert

[canuck]

To add to what Robert posted: you of course have to have the (same?) version of VS installed on that other computer

[AccreditationDept]

Thanks guys,

I will try this -- like I said, I'm pretty new to using this program so I had a feeling that there may be something I wasn't doing right. Yes, we all have the same version installed on our computers.

[lata]

Hi

Once you transfer the Smart Package to another computer when opening the VSP you will be requested to re-link to the first clip on the timeline, but the process should re-link all in the first attempt.
The re-link will indicate the clip being targeted at the top of the window.

It is however possible to re-link to the wrong clip (especially for images) so take a little care in selecting the correct clip/file

[aph0ticzone]

I have been getting a relink error since trying to move my files from the D drive to my C drive (using X8). There was only 1 video clip, so it's pretty hard to complicate the situation with a single source file, but the video was edited into many segments with lots of effects. I thought that moving the file was the problem, but in fact, I discovered it was actually something else.

Manual relinking (File->Relink on 1 segment) will fail on any video clip that has a speed/time lapse attribute, no matter where the file is located. So even if the clip is properly linked and I try to relink it to the existing clip in the accepted location, it will give a link error stating "the duration of the file should be longer than ##" and it won't accept the relink.

So when a file is moved and auto-relink takes place, it appears that moving the file is the issue but, in fact, in my case at least, it was the clip duration that made relinking fail. Kind of a nasty bug if you ask me. Not sure how that made it through QA testing.

As soon as I set the clip speed (of one segment) to 100%, that segment will relink to the file anywhere it is moved to. Unfortunately, if you have a hundred edited portions, that's a lot of work to relink it.

[lata]

Hi aph0ticzone

There was a recent post regarding this problem please read here:-
http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=56250

One workround to the re-link---place the original clip in the library
Drag this clip to the problem clip on the timeline, hold CTRL key then drop the clip, that should replace the clip, not sure if that will retain the Speed change?
Yes additional tests show the speed being re-set, but at least the project opens ok. Well nearly ok.

Can you please report this to Corel Support either via your free support period or Corel’s Facebook account.

[aph0ticzone]

Hi aph0ticzone

There was a recent post regarding this problem please read here:-
http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=56250

One workround to the re-link---place the original clip in the library
Drag this clip to the problem clip on the timeline, hold CTRL key then drop the clip, that should replace the clip, not sure if that will retain the Speed change?
Yes additional tests show the speed being re-set, but at least the project opens ok. Well nearly ok.

Can you please report this to Corel Support either via your free support period or Corel’s Facebook account.

Unfortunately having multiple clips lose their speed adjustments would kind of destroy the project, or a lot of time that went into it anyway. I had to do each clip one at a time so I could reapply the speed adjustment once re-linked. What a pain! I will report the issue. Thank you.

Oh, and now my program keeps crashing regularly... Maybe they need a better software tester

[lata]

Hi

Unfortunately yes I can understand your frustration and the effort needed to replace those clips.

I have also passed this info to Corel who replied as….

“Thanks for sharing this, we can reproduce this issue and will discuss about the solution”

Well they know about it so just hope a quick solution is provided.
Whether that will affect the old projects or just new ones, Hmmm….

Anyway your crashes, the software testers may be best using your pc, clearly they don’t have the same problems.

Give details of your video files and what you are doing when the crashes occur?
As a thought when you apply Time Lapse to a clip do you also add other filters