Video Studio X9 (9.5) unable to open vsp file from Version 7

[melda m]

Hi, Before I remake a project wondering if any suggestion that works to open a project made Oct 2016 & Corel shortly after then been upgraded to 9.5 version.
I have read comments from web board from 2016 & tried:
File open project vsp or right-click on vsp & open with Corel VS
This has been tried within Video Studio & via Windows
All trials end with content being transferred across with blank content - Comment "File doesn't exist" Old Corel VS7 - Relink Checking - skip cancel etc
To my knowledge no files have been moved within the computer to other folders.
My projects are normally always completed over short period of time - unfortunately this is grandchildren & I was waiting on other parties for more photos/video footage from their lost external hard drive - not going to happen so wanted to finalize what I had myself but to no avail obviously other than start again completely.
Bit of a nightmare to reassemble as old video recorder (JVC I think - now past tense thankfully) had a very strange MOVIE numbering system & very difficult to follow sequence !!

Any advices much appreciated & willing to try. My system Windows 10.
Thanks Melda

[asik1]

Are all the files missing?
Are 100% sure the files are on your system and know their path?

**If you upload the vsp we can poke inside for few clues

[lata]

Hi Melda
If the project file cannot locate the clips used then you will get a re-link request
This popup panel (relink) indicates the last known location and name of the clip/file
You should take note of that location, now try to locate the file.

If you do not have those files on your pc then there is little you can do.
Cancelling the re-link will show the clips as Black and White on the timeline

Take care when re-linking, If you choose another video file on your hard drive with a longer duration than the original then re-linking will appear to work effectively using the wrong file / video clip.
If the file is an image, jpeg etc then relinking will work when selecting any image file, so make sure you select the correct files as indicated on the re-link panel.

[Davidk]

Hi,
Even if the JVC camcorder is history, the video clips aren't. And - as one who has a JVC unit - which still worked when I upgraded to HD with Panasonic in 2016, JVC having been forced out of the consumer market by smartphones - the clip/file numbering system is based on a hexadecimal notation based on 16 (0-9,A-F and then repeat 10-19,1A-1F, and so on) and goes something like this:
1MOV001-009, then 0MOV00A-00F for the first 16 clips.
1MOV011-01F for the next 16,
1MOV021-02F for the 3rd 16 clips . . . . . . etc.

Sorted in alpha-numeric sequence by explorer, that usually means that the alpha sequence (A-F) clips are displayed before the numeric sequence (0-9) ones. Look for the last 6 clips in any sequence right up at the start rather, than in a topic sequence. Takes a bit of getting used to, but it works.

To help with re-link, the file name it is looking for is in the top bar of the re-link panel, so you don't have to juggle explorer and VS at the same time.

[melda m]

Thanks Davidk...sorry for slow reply - my host for Outlook Emails had experienced an extended outage & only back on line now.
Your explanation of the JVC numbering system is great. When I was using previous JVC footage continuously a few years ago I had it worked out & sequence written down but this current production was a "blast from the past" & was doing my head in.
After two days solid perseverance & noting the relink file details of all clips from various folders in my computer ( & tricking it a few times so I could move on) I have had success & managed to restore the overall production which I am now adding to. Sometimes picking up one clip did automatically add some others in that sequence.
Again thanks for taking the time to lend suggestions & I have kept a copy of your format for JVC numbering for any future issues.
Melda

[melda m]

Are all the files missing?
Are 100% sure the files are on your system and know their path?

**If you upload the vsp we can poke inside for few clues

Thanks asik1 for your reply to my query.
Slow on a reply sorry - my Outlook Emails host had experienced an extended outage & only back on line now.
Yes files definitely in my computer. I spent two days & with perseverance noted all relink details & had success relinking.
Appreciated Melda

[melda m]

Hi Melda
If the project file cannot locate the clips used then you will get a re-link request
This popup panel (relink) indicates the last known location and name of the clip/file
You should take note of that location, now try to locate the file.

If you do not have those files on your pc then there is little you can do.
Cancelling the re-link will show the clips as Black and White on the timeline

Take care when re-linking, If you choose another video file on your hard drive with a longer duration than the original then re-linking will appear to work effectively using the wrong file / video clip.
If the file is an image, jpeg etc then relinking will work when selecting any image file, so make sure you select the correct files as indicated on the re-link panel.

Hi Trevor, Sorry for late reply but my host for Outlook Emails had an extended outage & only back online.
All various files were in my computer so there was hope !
Boxes on time line were initially black & white as you said. Prior to getting your information I had just started to note the file details, from the relink pop up, writing these all down etc so from your comments then knew I might have been on the right track (thank you). Sometimes by picking up one clip it did automatically add some other sequences which was helpful. I had to trick it a few times on the jpeg image & substitute to allow me to me on. BUT all good.
I am grateful I now have linked footage & can proceed to add to production at last & eventually finalize my project.
Appreciated Melda

[lata]

Melda
Nice to hear you managed to resurrect the project
Re-linking should do for all files within the same folder, if that does not happen and only re-links one file then save and re-load the project
Follow the first re-link you see after the project runs, it should then relink all in the same folder.

File -- Smart Packages

Creating a Smart Package will save copies of ALL your clips used within the project saving them to a new folder.
This makes it a little easier to manage your files.
If you choose to do that then any further re-links should be easy.
It also creates a VSP project file within the same folder, use that to open and edit your project.

If you wish to add more clips to the timeline, first add them to the Smart Package folder, then insert from there.

[melda m]

Interesting - thanks have never used that option but makes a lot of sense.
Mainly holiday or grand children productions I have made over past 20 yrs with full works text/audio etc & usually done over short period of time so haven't had a "major" relink issue - the troublesome one was started 3/4 yrs ago - then waiting another party for footage materials & now gave up & decided to make without their input just to get off my to do list.
Again your suggestions appreciated, Trevor.
Melda