Linking Files

[Nedlowise]

I am using VideoStudio X5 Pro. My new computer has Windows 8.1. Previous computer had Windows 7. I cannot link to previous projects.

Now I get the following message: "Unable to open file. File format mismatch. (16801: 1.2)." I am sure Windows 8.1 is the culprit.

Please help. I need my previous projects.
Thanks

[Ken Berry]

The problem is that other users, including me, have Win 8.1 and don't report this sort of problem. So we need more details. What exactly do you mean by "link"? Do you just double click on the project file in Windows, expecting VS to open with the project, or have you first opened X5, and then go to open a particular project file and get that message? Is the project file on the same computer/drive as VS, or is it on an external drive? Are the videos in that project still where they were stored when you created the project?

[aussiejoe]

Its not a Win 8 issue

ive had this a number of times and Im on Win 7

Its to do with VS not finding the content of your projects in the original place where they were created/saved
If you have moved to a new computer/operating system you need to have the files on the new set up in the exact same name file structure/location as on the old set up.
Also if you have used any program content from VS in your projects you will need to have that content located on the new machine/operating system in the same place as before

I just bought a new laptop and went thru this exact scenario
cheers

[lata]

Hi

Video Studio uses files located on your hard drive, they are displayed in the library and timeline as virtual clips / thumbnails.
They are linked to the files on the hard drive by location and name.
If you move or rename those files or folders the program will loose their identity n request Re-Link, that process I am sure you are familiar with.

If all clips associated with a project are in the same folder then re-linking should do all in one go, however if they are fragmented / spread over several folders then re-linking can be a pain.

Video Studio provides a process called Smart Packaging, this copies all clips used in a particular project to one folder, with all files within the same folder you can easily move your projects without problems, maybe the one re-link.

Ok the “Unable to open file. File format mismatch” error seems to be a different issue.
Ken asked how you are trying to open the projects.
You should run Video Studio then File – open project.

One question…when you created the original projects did you use a process called “Nesting”
This is where you add a project file VSP to the timeline. If this is done on error it can cause problems.

Do you have access to the old computer to check your projects contents

[Ken Berry]

...And just as a footnote, a VideoStudio Project file (*.vsp) does not contain any video files. It is merely a small text file which tells the program what video clips are in the project, where they are stored and what editing has been done to them. So merely having the .vsp file will achieve nothing if all the various clips involved have been moved or worse, deleted...

[aussiejoe]

In regard to "Unable to open file. File format mismatch" and nesting of files.
Nesting seems to me to work a bit like "paste linking" in Excel

I have found that if I change the length of the original nested vsp file (not the file in the overall project) I have gotten this error (or similar) as well
So the message could be as a result of either a change in the location of the original files or changes to the length of the original nested file
cheers

[lata]

Just to add to aussiejoe’s reply

Windows operating system hides extensions for known file types, so when you view (windows explorer) a video clip next to a vsp there is little difference, it is easy to add a VSP to the timeline by mistake.
You can also add a vsp to the library, provided its not nested as that is not allowed.

However you can now open that vsp as normal in the timeline, adding another vsp nesting the project, effectively you have a nested vsp in the library, as I said this is not allowed, the library will give errors, probably the next time you run Video Studio.

For me nesting VSP’s is a no no

I guess we wait for Nedlowise’s reply