you've done it again! even better than the first (vegirl). maybe it's just me, but it's saving as a .php file. if anyone else has this problem, just change the file extension to .zip and you'll be ok.

Does your new creation use up system resources while sitting and waiting?

does it work for all versions of vegas (ie 2,3,4,5,6 & 7?)

Now, Jonathan, make one that creates Vegas Folders - such that Vegas keeps to them!

Great utility. I'll d/l today and give it a spin.

Grazie, explain a little more about what you mean, I'm not certain I understand.

TheHappyFriar, I kinda think it does, based on the method it uses, I'm guessing it does. You'd have to tell me though.

rextilleon, yes it does, but only as much as any other 208kB program would. That's about the size of utorrent :)

And with not a little unadulterated pleasure! I have explained this in another thread too. But, however . . Ahem . . .

In Vegas you can set up several working folders: Pre-renders; Temp; Preferred Audio editor path; Recorded Files Folder . .and so on. Great!

But.


#1 - These PATH instructions and creation options are in different places on the Vegas GUI - unlike ACID Pro there is ONE Menu that holds your PATH-creation decisions - excellent!

#2 - I've found ( others can chime in here! ) that actually working with Vegas there appears to be a lack of consistency and for me not a little frustration. Meaning, when I SAVE a project, the actual VEG, this is NOT remembered when I want to SAVE AS, it will defer to a folder that I did my Renders in? I don't mean pre-renders, I do mean Renders - actually this has confused me on a number of occasions. I've "lost" veggies 'cos they were saved in a Renders Folder - needing me to do a nervous MS "Search My Computer" operation. Oh yes, I have actually created NEW Veggies and have had to run away from the "proffered" folder - usually an unneeded "Render As" folder - to then re-navigate to a re-relocated V7 Veggie folder.

Was it ever thus.

Now, Jo-Jo, what YOU are going to say to me, I think, is that as you can't get-at the Vegas platform, the API?, you will be unable to assist.

But stranger things HAVE happened!!

Here you go Jonathan, one of the threads. This was a NEW TOOL "Jive" created . . alas, not available now ..

Nice job Jonathan. You've obviously been working like a beaver while I've been sleeping.

Alan

Jonathan,
Great idea,----but Tarzan seems to do his jungle yodle no matter what I choose. Not my prefered alarm.
Also for some reason the alarm isn't activated when renders complete.
Any thoughts.
Something on this end I'm sure.

GREAT it works! Thanks

Awesome.

Steve

This was a NEW TOOL "Jive" created . . alas, not available now ..

Thanks for the head's up Graz. I changed some things on the server and forgot to update the link in that thread. It has now been fixed and anyone can download it.

Also, nice idea Jon. DEFINITELY something Vegas should already have but doesn't. I think it would be nice to have such options integrated into Vegas scripts such as the Batch Renderer rather than an external program polling Vegas no matter what, but until then, it's nice to get this functionality.

Thank you Jive! Thanks!

Jive, great to see you still around, thanks for getting the download link back up.

I've got some ideas for Structure and I know my way around AutoIt (noticed you were using that), so would you be interested in combining our efforts? Also, I may have two solutions that would allow Structure to assign prerender, media, and audio directories to Vegas projects! Let me know if you're interested; you can also IM me on AIM at jonathantneal.

Jo? Are you actually saying that Vegas would SEE and take note and follow/USE the folders? The problem as I see it, is that Vegas wont abide by whatever you do? Yes to creating the folders etc, great, but will Vegas then go ahead and USE them - that is, NOT doing the thing it does at present? That is putting "Saved As" instructions within Render As?

Grazie, I mean setting a project folder with specific subfolders for different things (audio, prerendered video, etc) and then creating a project in Vegas WITH THOSE EXACT SETTINGS, being set for that exact project. I wrote something here and tested it, and it worked. It can be done. Hopefully Jive is interested.

Speaking on behalf of all the disorganized people of the world, what a great idea!

How about including a .sfk file exterminator? Those things have infested my drives like roaches.

Jo, yes I can see you can do that, in one hit. But I doubt if Vegas would stop its naughty ways with what I said. Yes to making the various folders, but I bet Vegas wont adhere to them once you are deep in a project? Please prove me wrong! I really love you to!

I've actually been planning on building a Vegas-specific version of Structure for some time now. It would be more of a Vegas project setup/launcher tool, and would change certain settings in Vegas to user-defined project-specific values.

Like Jon said, directories that can be set via a project's properties dialog (e.g. prerendered video files, recorded audio files, etc.), as well as the directories used for saving rendered files and project files CAN be set and Vegas WILL adhere to these settings (sorta).

Here's where it gets a bit sticky tho

All settings in the project properties dialog are saved with the Vegas project, so those will be used whenever the project is opened. However, the directory for rendered files is not project-specific. In fact, it seems that ALL rendering actions share the same last-used folder (e.g. if you render a selection to a new track via "Tools>Render to New Track" to "C:\Track Renders", the next time you go to render an entire project via File>Render As, the default save directory in the dialog will be set to "C:\Track Renders"). While this directory can be set using an external program before Vegas is launched, Vegas will no longer adhere to these settings once you render something to a different directory (which will then become the default save directory). You would have to quit and restart Vegas in order for the settings set by the external program to take effect.

One way around this is to have a program in the background that watches for the activation of the different rendering dialogs in Vegas and automatically changes the save directory in the dialog to a user-defined one. This IS possible and I don't think it would be that hard, nor consume very much of the system's resources to achieve this (The save directory can be set in much the same way as well).

Here's the process that I'm envisioning (tell me if anything can be improved upon):

1) User runs Vegas Launcher

2) Select project from list
   a) If project was created using the launcher, then all user-defined values are already set (render, save, etc. directories).
   b) If project was not created using the launcher, user is asked to set project directories.

3) Project is launched
   a) Project-specific settings are set before Vegas is launched
   b) New instance of Vegas is launched and selected project is opened

4) Launcher app runs in background to make sure user-defined directories for different operations (Open, Save, Render, etc.) remain.

What do y'all think? Good? I outlined this functionality a while ago, but have not yet had the time to really get into building it. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to it soon...

" However, the directory for rendered files is not project-specific. In fact, it seems that ALL rendering actions share the same last-used folder"

THAT was/is exactly the issue. At last, Jive, you have recognised my pain!

OK, count me in as a BETA-man. What I WOULD like to have to review and comment on is YOUR list of folder options - yes?

Only yesterday I did a Render As, then went off and saved a new "version" of the project and that got plopped into the Render As Folder.

One thing that might bite us in the bum is the spectre of me creating NEW or opening other INSTANCES of Vegas as part of the initial Project.

Well done Jive!!

I'm glad I went and searched for that link . . .

And yes, there is pain with this one.



. . oh yes, it would be really brilliant to have this ICONISED on the Toolbar .. oh yes! . . . You could even have my FACE, screaming, as the icon button!!

I wrote an application that will generate Vegas files with custom video-pre-render and audio-record folders. This might help deal with the "bite in the bum" problem Grazie pointed out. It could also be developed further, I'm sure, to include other properties, but for now we have that much. Now, tap onto that the abilities of Structure, and tap onto that the alarm, and we could have ourselves a kick-butt Vegas program, Jive!

Looks like a fantastic project. It will definately save me losing all thosed 'save as's.
Any chance of including nested project proxy files in the structure. They seem to go where the veg is.

Ohh and when that's done and dusted, any chance of you looking at the 'seting preferences' issue. A save to text file, of all those settings one so labouriously fine tuned would be fantastic.