Encountered an improper argument

[Corel user]

Help, I'm editing on Corel's x 8 ultimate : When finished edit of a project, Share screen opens blank except for a pop-up which says " encountered improper argument"
Support has been less than useless!

[lata]

Hi

Have you installed the latest patch SP3 from Corel?

Are you able to use Share panel after accepting that message.?

I have had this error message but not really found the exact reason.
Others including Corel could not replicate the problem.

I believe it is associated with the Instant Projects library, doing a bit of manual cleaning does stop the warning for a time but always seems to return.

Do you use Instant Projects?
Have you created your own instant projects?

The templates are saved / installed here.
C:\Users\UserName\Documents\Corel VideoStudio Pro\VSPTemplate
Rename that folder to:-
C:\Users\User Name\Documents\Corel VideoStudio Pro\VSPTemplate_old

Now reset the program by renaming 18.0 folder to 18_old
C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Ulead Systems\Corel VideoStudio Pro (x64)\18.0

The folder structure is hidden so either change that folders view option or insert %appdata% in Start Search to locate the roaming folder.

Launching the program will create a new 19.0 folder, may take a while to launch the program.

The new VSPTemplate folder will hold templates from Graffiti, I would delete those.
You have a copy in the VSPTemplate_old folder should you need to manually import to the library.

Do not select the Instant Projects library, work with the program to see if the message re-appears.
If you do press Instant Projects do not choose to import from earlier versions.

Otherwise try re-installing the program

Ok sorry about the complicated fix

Have you installed the latest patch SP3 from Corel. Try running that patch again after resetting as above.

This problem practically drove me nuts so if you do find the actual problem, let me know?

Some more info here:-
http://www.lata.me.uk/corel/argument/argument.htm

[Corel user]

I have not done any instant projects. I have been able to upload to Vimeo and U tube sometimes after acknowledging the "argument mess.". I have also finished Mp4 and AVCHD formats. It's an action of mine, I think!
I downloaded the x8 files onto my ext.hard Dr, then uninstalled the x8 because I wanted the files on C drive . Could the first download files, still in my ext.hard Dr. be my problem??

[lata]

Hi

The download location is ok and has no bearing on this error message.

The download files are self extracting exe files, you should save these to a safe location, I also copy / burn them to disc along with serial numbers just as a backup.

When you run this file the setup files are saved to
C:\Program Files (x86)\Corel\Corel VideoStudio Ultimate X8 Setup Files

It is these files that are used to install the program.

Did you try resetting the program by re-naming the 18.0 folder as mentioned in my first reply, along with re-naming the VSPTemplate folder

[Corel user]

Thanks for the reply Trevor: I haven't renamed a folder.Do you mean the Corel files or templates?
I am averse to this action because I am no computer geek.Conversations with the person at Corel support made me think he had no idea how or why I am seeing this message.
I am reluctant to uninstall and reinstall the software because the disc has only one install left.
The blasted message sometimes clears and I go on to render and upload. ,makes me wish I could dive into the program like Tron.
Mike
P.S. It's Tuesday evening I'm just now downloading sp3 from Corel. 'hope it eliminates the message!

[lata]

Hi Mike

You need to reset the program by renaming the 18.0 file
I said…
“Now reset the program by renaming 18.0 folder to 18_old
C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Ulead Systems\Corel VideoStudio Pro (x64)\18.0

The folder structure is hidden so either change that folders view option or insert %appdata% in Start Search to locate the roaming folder.”

The old 18.0 folder exists as a copy and can be replaced by simply re-naming the folder back to 18.0 if you need to do that.

I had the same problem for a long time and did narrow it down to Instant Projects but to pinpoint the actual cause eludes me.

I don’t understand what you mean by the Disc has only one install left, I have re-installed video studio loads of times from the download files, I don’t think the disc has a limit as to how many installations it can do?

[Corel user]

I bought Corel's ultimate pro x 8 as a disc from Amazon which allows three download s of the software

Is it possible that sp3 or the upgrade to x 8.5 will solve my issue?

Hello Trevor, when I try to rename 18.0 to 18_old
the machine yields 18.old

[RobertOZ]

Three downloads? do you mean 3 installations, are you sure that your copy is a genuine Corel product, you should be able to install from disc as many times as you like, the only issue could be that when you apply the reg.key it states that you have exceeded the maximum number of times and that would certainly be far in excess of 3, but I am not aware that Corel has any such limitations on VS

Edit
I have contacted Corel support and asked then to clarify if there is a maximum number of times VSX8 can be installed from disc

[Corel user]

When I was advised by Corel support to uninstall the pro 8 and reinstall it to remove the message problem I questioned how many downloads were on the disc because I thought there was a limit and was told that you could download on up to three cpus
By the way, I am rendering a short video. now!
I saw the phantom message but, when acknowledged, the software moved on to render controls!

[RobertOZ]

Yes, you can install on up to 3 computers, but only have the product open on 1 computer at a time, no limit on the number of times the program can be installed.
You should install the 8.5 upgrade it might just correct your issue along with other improvements

[Corel user]

Thanks a lot for your tenacity!
I have downloaded the sp3 update and the x8.5 upgrade, but neither one was successful. After allowing Corel to make changes on my computer install Wizard says the installed version of the application could not be determined. The set up will now terminate. System not modified. To install program at later time. Run install later!

[RobertOZ]

That message is Corels way of telling you that the updates are already installed, what version number is showing in Help/About

[lata]

Hi

Are you still having problems with Improper Argument?

As far as I know the EULA allows us to install Corel products on 3 PC’s providing we only use one at a time.
However for Video Studio we can only install to one pc.
I would have to dig out the EULA to double check, but I don’t think that has changed.
How Corel know if we install on more pc’s is another matter?

[Corel user]

I have reinstalled the the x8 software.I have seen the install of the sp3. Choosing help .about shows version as 18.6.0.6
For some reason my CPU won't update to version x8.5 or the hotfix update.
I have opened the share scren with out a project and there was no argument message, and the functions and buttons were all there, so perhaps the message is a thing of the past.
Thanks all for the help!!

[lata]

Hi
Nice to hear you seem to have the program running again

I believe Corel have combined the hot fix, in fact all previous service packs into the one SP3.

I have just installed X8 and only saw the SP3 install. No SP2 or Hot fix required.
and your version number is correct

If you happen to open the Instant Projects library a popup will ask to import earlier templates, something like that, choose do not show again then say no