"Unexpected File Format" won't open

[RichardM]

My Video project won't open. It jams halfway through showing Unexpected File Format and the whole Corel page freezes with me unable to click on anything even the close or minimize.

My project is a mixture of self filmed, downloaded stock footage and downloaded WAV sound files. The project has crashed acouple of times before but I've never been unable to open before.
It starts opening and always stops at the same thing 66% through one of the WAV sound files. Thats when it stops and the "Unexpected File Format" message comes up and I can't click on anything. I have moved some of the files around before so maybe it couldn't find that link but i have since tried everything - I've deleted that WAV file, then I've put that file in EVERY folder it might have been originally. My other projects all play fine even if I insert that WAV file into them.

This is days and days of work that was almost complete. I'll be devistated if I've lost it. Pease don't give advice about how I SHOULD have saved for future reference its saving this that I'm interested in now.

Sea Ghost.zip

(50.99 KiB) Downloaded 44 times

heres the file if anyone can open it

[lata]

Richard, first can you tell us which version of Video Studio you are using?
Are you running Windows 7 as your profile shows, can you update your profile details to show these details. You can access your profile by selecting your name top right.

Generally where the project simply fails to launch it indicates a corrupt project file, unfortunately there is little we can do to correct that.
Your project does try to open so appears to be a corrupt file rather than the VSP.
Still a problem to cure, If the files have been moved then that would cause a Re-Link request after opening the project.

You seem to have tried the obvious by deleting / moving files on the hard drive may allow the project to open then show the re-link, If that works then you can re-place the offending file / clip.

If you can zip your VSP attach to your post we can try opening that, yes we will receive the relink request as we do not have your files, just interested if we can open the project.

[RichardM]

Sea Ghost.zip

(50.99 KiB) Downloaded 65 times

Theres my zipped file. I use corel video studio 201. I think its still windows 2007

[lata]

Ok
Using VS 2020 and 2021
I had no problems in opening the VSP other than I cannot see your files, the program requesting a re-link
Certainly a lot going on in the voice and 3 music tracks.
As you mentioned the crash / stall of the project happened at 66% I have removed all audio files (6 in all) from that area between 00:09:26:001 to 00:10:06:18
I have marked the area with a red colour clip.

Attached a modified project , are you able to open the project, If so then one of those audio files is causing the problem.

If 66% is accurate then I calculated that to be at 9 min 42 seconds. Hopefully that is correct.

Sea Ghost - Test 01.zip

opens using VS 2021

(23.57 KiB) Downloaded 35 times

Post updated can you confirm which VS version you are working with
Go to Help About, what are the details.

[lata]

I have done a few more tests, I can open the project using 2020 and 2022 but not using 2019 which gives the error you are seeing.
I believe you may have 3 different clips giving this error, unless you have used the same file multiple times. I also think they are in the lower music track.
So far I am unable to fix this to open with VS 2019.

[tletter]

You ought to update your profile to indicate that you're using VS2019.

My Video project won't open. It jams halfway through showing Unexpected File Format and the whole Corel page freezes with me unable to click on anything even the close or minimize.

VS2019 indicates that the first problem file at the 66% mark of the VSP is the following:

C:\Users\Richard\Downloads\central-america---guatemala-panajachel-rooftop-quiet-evening-distant-dogs-rooster-and-crickets by bleep--break Artlist.wav

I couldn't download this wav from "https://artlist.io/sfx/track/51462/cent ... -crickets-", to see if the file had an issue. However, the VSP should have still opened, but required relinking, unless your VSP is corrupt.

In short, VS2019 is choking when your VSP encounters the wav file listed above and hangs. So effectively, your VSP is corrupt as far as VS2019 is concerned.

If you don't have VS2021 then you won't be able to open "Sea Ghost - Test 01" VSP provided by lata, and so you may have to either recreate your VSP in VS2019 or else purchase VS2021. Alternatively, you could replace your HerDocdll.dll file in "C:\Program Files\Corel\Corel VideoStudio 2019" with the one attached to this message. Once done, VS2019 on Windows 10 can open your VSP but you may have to relink (see following image).

Note: There is a spelling error in "The Remebering Sea" title.

Pease don't give advice about how I SHOULD have saved for future reference its saving this that I'm interested in now.

You state that you're not interested, however, other may be interested since occasionally VS2019 and earlier would save a corrupted VSP which couldn't subsequently be opened. One workaround is to save a VSP both in the native format, e.g. VS2019, and as a prior format, e.g. X8. Whilst the VS2019 VSP may be corrupted, the VSP saved a prior format may still open. However, there may be some compatibility issues as earlier versions of VS don't support all filters, etc. found in VS2019.

The real issue is why Corel allows VS to save corrupted VSPs that can't subsequently be reopened.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter
.

HerDocdll(2019-09-17).zip

(847.91 KiB) Downloaded 47 times

[asik1]

That dll did open fine the sea vsp on my 2019, is it from 2021?

[lata]

Thanks Tletter
I had not looked for the 2019 hot fix, but do have that saved along with my 2019 files
this post refers
https://forum.corel.com/viewtopic.php?p=373653#p373653

Richards reference to 201 confused me a little now i realise it is missing the 9 Doh...
I will change his profile

Post updated
Yes the hot fix did allow the project to open using 2019

Further details regarding this hot fix here:-
https://forum.corel.com/viewtopic.php?p=373684#p373684

[RichardM]

Hi
I replaced the dll with the one you sent but i still cant open. The message has changed. Instead of trying to run an djamming halfway through it just comes up "File incompatable" when i try and run it. I tried downloading 2021 but it said I didn't have enough storage for the full version and was going to take hours to download what it could for some reason. I guess I'm just going to have to recreate it.

[RichardM]

SORRY. MY mistake the file IS working now!!! It was just telling me that some of the links weren't connected. Thank you so much for your help guys!!!