2021 store graphics pack: where is it?

[RobertOZ]

The default location is C:Users\******\Documents\CorelVideoStudioPro\VSPContent\Decoration

[Davidk]

Thanks Robert, The standard 5 frame icons in the library of my 2021 are there, but none of the new ones installed by FR-01.
?? 'tis a mystery where the new ones are.

[RobertOZ]

Hopefully Trevor may have an answer
When you open the VSP Content Folder, The Decoration Folder contains 140 images, then there is a VS_Decoration.dat, which contains 48 .dat & .ini files, lastly, is a folder called VS_Decoration_HTML.dat which also contains 48 .dat & .ini files

[Davidk]

I think that the existence of a custom install has really screwed the graphic pack content up. In that path, my decoration folder has 5 icons. The decoration.dat and decoration-html.dat folders both have similar content. screenshot.

Since the component of the pack I attempted to install was FR-01, the file names here make it look like an aborted result of that file.
The actual process to get the store material Corel offers is enuff to turn users right off. If it was a paid component, I'd be asking for money back at this stage.

[lata]

I commented earlier that I have a problem showing the frames in the graphics library
https://forum.corel.com/viewtopic.php?p=392309#p392309

For some reason the frames do not show for me in the library unless I import them manually
So it does appear I am seeing the same problem as David.
I do know that this process did work for earlier versions, and seems to work ok for Robert.
So whats the difference?
I only have 2022 installed, What programs have you installed David.

So maybe installing one of the earlier version first, 2019, 2020, 2021 then 2022 would fix this.
I will be going through the re-install process shortly

[Davidk]

Trevor,
On this (win10) system, I only have 2021 and 2022. The graphics pack in question was downloaded by 2021.
As to importing frames manually, that's what I'd do if I could find them; which is what my queries to Robert were all about. What the evidence on the PC says is that an install seems to have been attempted in the same folders as Robert's, but hasn't finished (despite the installer saying it had), and the only apparent difference between our machines is the use of a default install by Robert vs a custom install by me.

Regarding prrior versions of CVS. My win10 desktop was 'migrated' (MS recommended method) from win7, not a clean install, altho I did try that with broken computer environment consequences. As I've posted previously (2 years ago) all my other CVS versions were previously installed under win7, and for some reason all of them present the same repeatable Share jam issue if installed on my migrated win10 desktop. 2021 was the first CVS version not to be initially installed under win7, and it runs fine. ditto for 2022. My conclusion was and is that a registry residue value carried over in the migration causes the Share errors I saw with versions 2020 and prior. I still have a perfectly functional win7 laptop with CVS 2020 on it, but since 2021 and 2022 don't support win7, that's a dead end for the latest versions.

[Davidk]

Something odd about this storage of frames that occurred to me overnight, so after a bit of checking this morning, once again it's apparent that Corel does not really have a plan for where either a) programmers store parts of VS on installation; or b) QA are too lazy to check that the programmers are following the rules. Sometimes I suspect that both apply.

What triggered this: I use a custom install, and in this attempt to get extra frames for VS 2021, I found the standard frames in the default path on C drive. Where a custom install doesn't store things according to the folder specified at installation time (in the installer). But they still show in the VS main UI, library overlays, frames.

Additional information:
1. up to 2020 inclusive, frames were part of the samples folder(s), even when samples were split between the main install path, and the shared folder introduced in 2019. And storage of those followed either the default or custom spec, except that the shared folder was "separate' from either default or custom specs.
2. and in 2022, the library, overlays, frame item is stored in the very same location that 2021 is; they share the same folder and icons.

There's been occasional remarks in these forums about Corels' storage practices. I do think they should get a consistent spec together and enforce on their software devs.

[Granpaw Broon]

Hi Davidk, I found the folder on my desktop and installed the files. I now have the following frames depending on the version of VS. 115 in 10.5, 55 in 2018 and 10 in 2021. The date on all the files is 24/10/2018 09:22, so not updated since.

[RobertOZ]

Granpaw,
In VS 2021 you should have 30 Frames, located ion C:\Users\****\Documents\CorelVideoStudioPro\VSPContent\Decoration
VS 2018 has more frames because they are located in two different folders, which Corel then changed to one folder

You need to install the free Graphics Pack, Welcome Screen/Store, then in Filter by: tick Free, locate and install Graphics Pack, this will install 20 more frames

[Granpaw Broon]

Hi RobertOZ, the Install Graphics pack doesn't show up when I tick Free only when I tick Library and I have installed it twice.

In C:\Users\****\Documents\CorelVideoStudioPro\VSPContent\ I don't have a folder called Decoration either but I do have 26 other folders all dated 05/02/21 19:02. But that is not the location of my Documents Folder, it is E:\Documents\Corel VideoStudio Pro\ and contains all the other versions of VS along with VSPContent\Decoration 140 files, VS_Decoration.dat and VS_Decoration_HTML5.Dat which both have 48 files. I have always kept the (My) Documents folder on a separate drive to C:\ since Windows XP days as there is an option to move it to a different drive, just in case of Disk failure. My Documents Folder is 247GB containing 52,011 files. For some unknown reason C:\Users\****\Documents contains just Corel VideoStudio Pro\VSTemplate from VS2021 (24MB) and nothing else. Corel's programmers are not very good at installation scripts if they only think folks use system folder Documents on drive C:

[lata]

Granpaw Broon
I have had similar problems in installing the graphics pack, I could install the files to a Decorations folder then import to Video Studio, yet the process would not complete in one go.
I do know that it did work sometime in the past.
Today I found the reason for this behaviour, the fact that I have two Documents Folders, with help from GEWB a forum member pointed me in the right direction, thank you Gewb
Your comments here raise eye brows, I had one folder called “my documents” populated only by Video Studio files, and the windows “documents” folder also containing Video Studio folders along with other program folders.

I have now removed / reset the folder to its default location, now I only have the one folder, things have improved, I can confirm that the Graphics pack does install correctly.
Files automatically populate the library in their respective folders FR = Frames, BG = Backgrounds, OB = Objects.

I have X10 , 2020 and 2021 installed all show the graphics clips.

I have to add that I try to keep my C Drive as small as possible by saving all my personal files to other drives, that includes keeping the Documents folder small.

If you wish to install graphics automatically then I think you need the one Documents folder
In addition another problem regarding saving Split Screen Templates has also been fixed

[Davidk]

Trevor,
Perhaps you elaborate on the 2 documents folders you refer to, specifically paths to them, and what you did to "reset" one to it's default location?
Windows explorer shows 2 folders, but they are in fact the same one. The one at the parent level (desktop, downloads, documents etc above the drives) is really just a short cut to the documents folder in the C:\users\xxx\ tree.

[lata]

David

The default location for "Documents " is:- C:\Users\UserName\Documents, this will be the same for all pc users.
I noticed another "MyDocuments" folder here :- C:\MyDocuments

I do not know where the MyDocuments came from but is always created when installing Video Studio from 2020 maybe 2019?
Of course this may be self inflicted some time in the past, I just dont remember.
So I can uninstall all Video Studio versions, re-install and get the My Documents back. always there.
The My Documents is only used by Video Studio unlike the Documents folder which is also used by VS but also used by other processes.

OK

Granpaw Broon seems to have done that, move the Documents folder to another drive, and indeed indicates having the second My Documents folder.

How
Right click on the default Documents for Location tab, now we can move the Documents folder to another location and indeed another drive that should work with no problems.
However I have two Documents folders, not the same as they have different contents, so not a copy or synchronised folder, separate folders.

Impact on Video Studio
1 / caused problems saving a Split by Screen template
2 / cannot fully install Graphics files to populate the library.
3 / There was also an issue using the Mask Creator
There may be other issues.

I fixed the problem by first moving the Documents location to C:\MyDocuments
Now I only have the one folder which would probably work but I want it back as default location.

Now I access the new My Documents folder properties again for the Location tab and chose - Restore Default

My "Documents" folder is now back in its original location as C:\Users\UserName\Documents
Now I only have the one folder.

All problems for video studio installing Graphics and saving Split Screen templates have been fixed

Just to say my folder has little content so moving it about poses no real problems for me, however Granpaw Broon seems to be quite large so may cause some issues.
I am not saying he needs to combine the two folders but they do seem to be causing some confusion for Video Studio.

[Davidk]

Trevor,
I don't have a second MyDocuments folder in the C: tree ie C:\MyDocuments. Just the one documents folder in the users tree.
I did a windows search for 'documents' and a weblink turned up that explained it (?). Apparently prior windows versions called it MyDocuments, and windows 10 renamed the folder where windows stores docs as just Documents in the user tree. So your MyDocuments folder may have been a carry over from the windows version you used before upgrading to windows 10.

Despite that, I've basically given up looking for the installed graphics. I have the expanded graphics pack, and there is no evidence of any graphics installed elsewhere on the PC. I think this is a side effect of a custom install, as those with the default install don't seem to have an issue, even tho the process is unwieldy. I was after extra frames in particular. Fortunately for years I've taken the precaution of saving the samples folders (which contain frames etc) in a separate folder, and un-installing VS versions hasn't impacted my access to them. So I can and have gone looking there for things VS once had, like a good frames selection, and just import from those save samples files. Not new data, but there are favourites there.

I can recall a time when getting extra stuff from the Corel site - like disk themes - was straightforward, but that was before the home/store concept was added to the program.

[lata]

I assume you have installed Video Studio to a different location than the default location on the C Drive, that may be the reason why the Graphics install does not complete.

I assume Granpaw Broon has installed to the C Drive but also moved the Documents folder at some time. Clearly he seems to have 2 Documents folders.