General Error with Project Files

Today, I am bordering on wanting to go away some place and die. My FCP
project files appear corrupt - generating a 'General Error' when I try
to open them. But I don't know why.

Here's what I did.

I have 4.5 on a Powerbook. It's hard-drive generated some errors, so I
re-formatted and re-installed everything from scratch, including FCP
4.5

All my video files and FCP project files are on an external
hard-drive. Today, I connected the drive via firewire - and tried to
open up the most recent projects. Unfortunately I get this 'General
Error' message.

Some of my project files - especially old ones, open up no problems.
But the most recent ones don't.

I don't think my FCP project files are corrupt - though may be they
are. I am suspicious that it is something to do with the fact I've
installed a new version of FCP.

I read some notes about Prefs and stuff. But can't imagine that would
be the problem. The Prefs should be clean, right?

Now the other interesting point is that I just emailed the file to a friend in Australia and he can open the project file... So, the file itself is not corrupted. It must be to do with my install, or my machine ???

Any help or pointers appreciated. I live in Sri Lanka and one of the
few FCP users here. So, it'd be great to get any tips or suggestions.

Thanks, Sam.

hi, sam.

nick meyers, here.
i just got your email, im glad you posted here as well.

i dont have much to offer.
there is also an article here on what to do if your FCP project becomes corrupted.
[www.lafcpug.org]
it;s from the FCP 3 day,s i think
one suggestion is to trash your render files.

the fact that your friend could open the project bodes well.
you can do the same thing, too (i hope)
copy the project to your laptop,
un-mount the drive.
try opening the project with no media.
hopefully it will,
you can tell it to forget all the media when it asks for it.
do a save-as and call it something like "my project - fresh start" or whatever

then you can mount your drive, and start reconnecting.
start with the video media,
then save,
and move onto the non-video media.
you could have a dodgy graphic in there (CMYK?)

blow the renders off and do them again.

good luck with it,

cheers,
nick

Hi Nick,

I tried the tips suggested at cafe la - unfortuantely no luck.

The problem is I can't open on my laptop - even with the media drive unmounted. That's why it is a strange problem ...

I may try and install FCP 5 and see if a newer version will open it ... But I wonder if there's any information about dependencies... For example, could my project file be dependent on something I have forgotten to install?

I do feel positive that the project files aren't corrupted - but confused why they won't open for me.

Thanks - Sam.

if it was a missing plug-in i think you'd get a specific warning abut that.

have you tried creating a new account and logging into that to open FCP, and that project?

i hope someone else chimes in...

nick

Have you trashed your preferences? If not, thats the first thing to do.

[www.lafcpug.org]

Installing FCP 5 wont help

Michael Horton
-------------------

Hi,

No I tried the Prefs - no luck.

FCP opens up project files that appear to be less complex. It's the more complex ones that are generating a General Error. But my friend can open up the more complex ones on his machine.

The only thing different on my system from before is that I have partitioned the main hard-drive in to two. Could this have an impact?

Interestingly, when I go to install FCP, it will only let me install it on the first partition, and not the second.

If I don' t get anywhere by the end of today, I will re-format and re-install everything again.

Thanks, Sam.

Are you sure your recent FCP files haven't been updated to FCP 5? All it takes is one open and save from FCP 5 and the project file gets altered permanently.


www.derekmok.com

Hi,

Absolutely sure ... They open fine on my friend's machine in Australia. It's just on my machine here there's problems.

The next step for me is to go and install FCP on a friend's Powerbook and see if the files will open. It is a strange situation. I am seriously thinking the fact that I have partitioned the drive could be why there are problems.

Really want to avoid having to re-install everything - but will do that if I have to.

I tried Nick Meyers xml export guide... Basically, I got my friend to export to XML, and I can re-import back and all the sequences come back. All I have to do is import/link the media... But I am not satisfied with that solution. There's some other reason why I can't open the project files.

Ta, Sam.

What is the file size of your problem file?
We ran into a ceiling of about 300MB per project where problems like this cropped up.
Right now we're working with keeping everything under 110MB.
If your project is huge like this you'll have to get the other system that is able to open it to save copies of the project divided up by Sequences and Sources, or by Acts or by Episode or whatever it takes to get the project size down.

ak

ak
Sleeplings, AWAKE!