Is this a glitch in Vegas?

tfc wrote on 1/29/2004, 12:23 AM
I am at my wit's end trying to figure this problem out. I just spent about 8 hours "refining" JPEG photo's in my favorite photo editing application- Adobe's Photoshop. After saving all my pictures on my hard drive, I then opened Vegas with the intent to make a slide show on the timeline. After dragging the photo's up from Explorer on the bottom, I then realized that my pictures were in need of being renamed for better efficiency. While down in the Explorer section, I right-clicked the individual file names and renamed every one of my photos. All of this was done in Vegas. After closing Vegas, rebooting and then re-opening it, I discovered that Vegas could not open the file with all of my photos. Nothing I did could make Vegas open that file. It is blank, as far as Vegas is concerned. Next I tried to open the renamed photos in Photoshop, but still no luck. Next, I tried to open the file on my Desktop through "My Computer" and Windows Explorer. This allows me to see the individual photo file names, but no preview capability and no way to actually see the photos. When I tried to view the photos, Windows says, "Windows cannot open this file" and "Windows needs to know what program created it". After scrolling down the selections of programs to open, I hit Vegas. It will then open the picture through Vegas only, one picture at a time. So, back to the original problem, I cannot open more than one of my pictures at a time, and I must originate the opening through my Desktop screen via "My Computer" or Windows "Explorer".

So, my computer still has all of my pictures, but I have no way to open them, or use them in Vegas. Is this a glitch? Should one not ever rename a file in Explorer inside Vegas?

FWIW, I have a new, fast computer with XP Pro.

I am very frustrated right now, and I don't know what to do, can anyone help me recover my work? Any suggestions? Thanks!

Comments

Grazie wrote on 1/29/2004, 1:00 AM
Yeah, tfc . . . this does sound very familiar, and your conclusion, "Should one not ever rename a file in Explorer inside Vegas?" made me want to reply.

Here's my experience. I spent one morning capturing and then Renaming and Creating bins for AVIs. I saved closed Vegas. Turned off the pc and when on rebooting and reopenning Vegas I had lost the whole project. I posted here for solutions and ended up sending the veg to Sony-TEch. I'm still waiting for a solution.

OKay, this aint jpgs, but it IS media, and maybe it is the "fact" I renamed the files that "may" have caused the problem. However, unlike you, I could still get back to the captured AVI files, and then rework the project.

I can't help with a solution - if in fact our two experiences are contingent on some underlying issue - but I will never ever rename anything anymore from within Vegas. Others may have had a better expereince. I can't afford the possibility that something similar will not happen again.

Oh, my pc specs? XP Pro; 3.2ghtz P4, HT, 2gig RAM; 40gb sys HD; 2 x 120gb Video drives and a totally of 350gb of external f/w . . plenty of space and speed here . . .

No, I wont rename or even use bins now. PERIOD! - Correction, I'll attempt a test in the future, when I've the time, to rigorously "nail" the issue . . but I wont be able to do anything about it . . . life's too short.

I don't like the idea that you can't access your JPGs after renaming. Very odd. Something has gone walkabout . . and this is the most frustrating thing . .

. . Is this a glitch? IF it's broke . . then someone has to fix it! Yeah? I for one haven't the abilities or the time to hassle this any further.

Best regards,

Grazie
Udi wrote on 1/29/2004, 1:08 AM
You are sure that the suffix is .jpg or .jpeg ?
What happen if you select photoshop in the expolorer, can photoshop open the file in this way?
Try renaming them in windows explorer, retype the full name, including the suffic.
Grazie wrote on 1/29/2004, 1:26 AM
Excellent point Udi! - Please post back with your results TFC - yeah? g
ibliss wrote on 1/29/2004, 1:32 AM
For some reason when you rename the files from withing Vegas it loses the file extension (*.jpg, *.avi etc).

You don't expect this to happen because, just like Windows explorer, it hides the extension. However, where Windows keeps the extension when renaming, Vegas doesn't, hence the mysterious disapearing media. Once the file has lost it's extension, Vegas and Windows don't see it as a valid media file. Within vegas' explorer if you change the view to show All Files, you will now see the pictures/movies/sound files again, and be able to drag them onto the timeline. (note:they will all have the same icon - the 'windows doesn't know what file type this is' icon).

If, within the Vegas explorer, you rename the 'lost' file and include the extension (eg lostpicture.jpg), all will return to normal.

You have to click the refresh button with Vegas explorer to see the changes though.

If you have a large quantities of files that need this 'repair' operation, I would strongly recommend a free renaming utility call 'Oscars Renamer'. Extremely quick to use, basically like using a text editor, and it lets you record macros to speed up renaming. Once renaming is complete, clicking one button carrys out all of the changes to file names in one hit.
You can find the program here:

Oscar's Renamer

Hope this helps
Grazie wrote on 1/29/2004, 1:46 AM
Ibliss this makes a lot of "sense". I must have renamed the AVIs with just the file name and NOT added the avi part . . I really wouldn't have thought of doing that?!? - Blimey, so simple . .but somehow, having worked in Windows for . .let's say a long time now . . . not having the *.avi automatically added too is a bit bad. Hey, when we name and save a new Veggie, we don't have to add the *.veg bit - yeah? GO figure . .. There SHOULD be a warning that one needs to to do this. Don't tell me, it is in the Manual somewhere? Hey, BTW, how come you figured this one out Ibliss? Anyways, this is a "keeper" - thanks,

Grazie
rmack350 wrote on 1/29/2004, 9:12 AM
Let me guess. You have "Hide filename extensions" selected in windows Explorer's prefs?

I see the extensions in Windows Explorer and Vegas explorer. I'd know immediately if the file was renamed without extension.

The default WinXP interface is an accident waiting to happen. Do your best to undo it.

Rob Mack
Grazie wrote on 1/29/2004, 10:02 AM
rmack350 Yes it was . .. . And yes I have! Funny thing now is that I've got a file named as "Myfile.avi.sfk " as well as having the "Myfile" working AVI file with NO "*.avi"extension at all . .What's all THAT about?!?!?

Thanks!

Grazie
jetdv wrote on 1/29/2004, 11:19 AM
The "SFK" file is a "drawing" of the audio wave for display on the timeline. You can delete it but it will be re-created upon opening the AVI file again (that's what it's doing when the status bar counts to 100% upon opening a new AVI file - it's creating the "sfk" file).
Grazie wrote on 1/29/2004, 11:27 AM
Yes, but in the same folder I did have AVI files . . where have they gone?

Grazie
jetdv wrote on 1/29/2004, 11:29 AM
I thought you had just said you had:

myfile
myfile.avi.sfk

You need to rename myfile back to myfile.avi
tfc wrote on 1/29/2004, 12:52 PM
Yes, THAT'S IT!!!! Thank you so much, everyone. That is exactly what was happening. When I was renaming the pictures, Vegas was dropping the ".jpg" file extension. What a HUGE revelation. All of you have saved me a huge amount of time! With something so important like that, you would think that this problem would be highlighted more or at least given a casual mention in the full Vegas manual.

You guys and gals are the best. Thanks AGAIN!!!!!

This once again reaffirms in my mind that this is the best forum on the net.