Quote: Originally, I did have shadow files created. At the end, when I started troubleshooting, I removed Shadow files because I figured my system was fast enough.

Hi,
I'm concerned you changed half way through a project.

I'd like you to delete all Shadow Edit Files please. I think the 0,0,0, are incomplete shadow files.
Go to:
C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR PC NAME HERE\Application Data\CyberLink\PowerDirector\8.0\ShadowEditFiles
and delete the contents - yes all of them.
NOTE: The address given directs you to and through hidden folders. Do you know how to display hidden folders?
Open a folder,
go to Tools,
select Folder Options
select View
Check "Show hidden files and folders"

Quote: I regularly saved the file by click the save icon. I had chosen the specific directory to save it. Each time I open the project, it never prompts me for the location of the files.

I recommended to you a specific save option, ensure you follow it please.

1. have you saved the project to a specific location using:
select:
directors icon/chair > File > save project as.... ?

Quote: Keep in mind, the audio within the clip still plays(I didn't split the audio out for some of the blank clips). There are other clips from the same MTS that are working just fine in the timeline.

It would if drawing the info from a shadow file.

Quote: So should I enable shadow files again? Or just work without them from now on?

You do NOT need shadow files on your system.

Quote: As a side note, I think I figured out my DVD burning issue. It might be related to my Trend Antivirus. I'm running a series of tests now to determine if it's the problem. I will post when I find out.

As a matter of course you should manually select any software updates especially anti-virus updates as these could regularly interfere with editing. I don't know at this time what influence it is having on your write to DVD process. I recommend you to write to a folder first when as in this case a large file is being rendered. I'm suggesting you split the operation of render and write to disc. I ALWAYS do as a matter of habit.

Dafydd
[Moderator]

Thanks for the help. I will try all that you have mentioned regarding:

1. Eliminating Shadow Files
2. Using "Save as" instead of Save
3. Rendering to folder then creating a disc.


As a matter of clarity, I did not change the shadow file option half way through the project. I was done(or so I thought) until the clips went blank. I unchecked file processing in a process of troubleshooting.

I do believe I had 2 separate issues. One that prevented me from rendering to anything and creating a disc. All of those options would cause PD8 to crash.

The 2nd issue was the blank clips. Hopefully the non-use of shadow files will end that issue.

I think we can all agree though that the software should work as designed. It shouldn't matter if I do a Save As or just a Save. In addition, file processing shouldn't cause an issue. Obviously I will work within the confines of these workarounds, but I think this reflects a bit on the quality of the product code. I hope these bugs get worked out.

Thanks again for your help. For now, I will recreate my lost clips.

Quote: My computer info is here: http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/30/8445.page#40892

My camera is a Canon HF200


1. I take the SD card out of my camera and put it in my card reader on my laptop, then copy everything on the card to an internal hard drive.

2. I open power director 8 ultra and import the AVCHD video files (.mts)

3. I am using shadow files (although i probably don't need to with my system). I have never moved any of my files; and therefore, am never prompted to locate them when opening the project.

4. I have ATI stream technology activated.

5. I add multiple transitions, a few music tracks, and did trim or multi-trim on a few videos and pictures. The project totals about 50 minutes of video and slideshows. About 7 GB of data.

6. I replaced the clips that had the blank 0,0,0 issues (i'll note that these had full audio, just no video, and I did not split out any audio either), so I do not have any screenshots with the issue. I did confirm that all video clips do have the green filmstrip icon indicating that the shadow files are created.

Question: I had heard it's best to make each chapter a separate project. Should that be necessary for just a 50 min movie? I have about 9 chapters.

To save me writing the same answer to you, please read: http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/15/9333.page#40917

With reference to your question on separate project per chapter. That's a pretty good idea. It is identical to the segmentation of a project and to rationalise each. Remember you can ADD additional pds projects to your DVD and these would become separate chapters in the same way as adding an additional video at the same point. see attached image.

Please can you add your camera to:
********************************
Have you seen this, please add your spec?
http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/8445.page
Please add your camera spec here:
http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/8727.page
Thanks
********************************
Dafydd
[Moderator]

hi. im fairly new to PD myself .. but ive encountered this blank video playback within the program. what i did was to double click the movie thats not playing ( as if you are going to edit ) and the video appears. close the edit window and it all works fine again. ive seen this before in other editors and i just feel it does happen. for me its not been that desperate .. as long as it doesnt crash. i thought it may be a memory or system problem.
just thought id let you know ive seen this happen a few times with no major probs.

Thanks for the info. I stopped using shadow files and hopefully that will help.

My last issue is that I can't get anything to burn without crashing. It happens whether I burn to disc or to a folder. I just can't believe how buggy this program is.

Power Director continues to cause me frustration. Why can't the timeline just work? In 7 it was altering the speed of clips. In 8, all the great reviews led me to believe Cyberlink had gotten its act together, but now another timeline problem.

I'm hours into a project and I've gotten the black 0,0,0's. I followed Dafydd's suggestions regarding shadow edit files and now I've got further problems. After deleting my shadow edit files, PD now wants me to show it where one of those files is. At first I thought I could simply rename the original video file with an underscore zero added on, but that won't work because the shadow edit file was .MPG and my video files are .MTS (AVCHD).

Any suggestions?

It's looking like I'm going to need to re-edit the original video files. Has anyone had there 0,0,0's properly restored?

Other info: I have been using Save As, I wasn't asked for missing video files until I deleted my shadow edit files as mentioned above, my raw video was imported from an SDHC card, it was shot with a Canon HF100, I'm using PD 8 Deluxe 2220c, and I started out with shadow files enabled and then switched them off.

DxDiag file and proof pictures are attached.

New features are wortheless with a defunct timeline.

Lastly, why is it cheaper to upgrade to Ultra than Deluxe? In my naviety, I assumed the more expensive version would be the one with more features. It's not like Deluxe and Ultra are at all ambiguous.

Hi John,
When you're asked to browse for a file, GO FIND THE ORIGINAL. OK, I'm shouting sorry.

Do NOT use the shadow files as a substitute. These are low res footage and it is these that are causing the 0,0,0, black media in VT issue.

Once you have browsed for the files there is no need for you to redo your video. OK I know it might be a pain ...just to look for an original file but that is an essential part of the corrective process.

Dafydd
[Moderator]
PS I'm really concerned at the number who are encountering this issue. Something no one else had during the Beta stage (I reported it to R&D).

Dafydd,

Thanks for the quick response. I appreciate your concern and commitment to the solution of this issue.

First off, originally when trying to provide the missing files I thought PD wasn't accepting the orginal video because it kept asking for the shadow file, but in reality it was accepting it, but since it was refrenced in multiple places in needed me to show it the replacement file multiple times since it wasn't the file it was looking for. Doing this solved the new chunk of black 0,0,0's that appeared after deleting my shadow edit files.

Secondly, the old chunks of 0,0,0's still remain in my timeline. When I open PD it doesn't ask for missing files. Shadow edit file generation is no longer enabled and I've deleted all the previous shadow edit files.

Thirdly, I never dragged shadow files onto my timeline. I never brought them into my workspace. I simply dragged the original video files from my workspace onto the timeline. How a shadow edit file ended up on my timeline baffles me, but it was not my conscience doing. Or is that how shadow file generation works? Once a shadow file is generated, it replaces the original file in the timeline? If that is the case, I don't understand why the other files that had shadow versions didn't also go black 0,0,0.

Fourthly, my project is in one location and always has been. My pds file is in the same folder as all the original video files that I imported into my workspace. Were you refering to the shadow edit files not being in that folder as well? I'm not going to have them enabled on any future projects.

Sorry for the wall of text.

Hi John,

I've done a quick read of your post.
I need to explain the issue.

Quote: Dafydd,

Thanks for the quick response. I appreciate your concern and commitment to the solution of this issue.

First off, originally when trying to provide the missing files I thought PD wasn't accepting the orginal video because it kept asking for the shadow file, but in reality it was accepting it, but since it was refrenced in multiple places in needed me to show it the replacement file multiple times since it wasn't the file it was looking for. Doing this solved the new chunk of black 0,0,0's that appeared after deleting my shadow edit files.

The pds was referencing you to use the shadow files - it should NOT have been. That's one of the issues.

Quote: Secondly, the old chunks of 0,0,0's still remain in my timeline. When I open PD it doesn't ask for missing files. Shadow edit file generation is no longer enabled and I've deleted all the previous shadow edit files.

OK, I fully understand. One of the problems with this error is that the pds now has the wrong address for the files you need in the time-line. The remedy is to change the addresses in the pds file.

Quote: Thirdly, I never dragged shadow files onto my timeline. I never brought them into my workspace. I simply dragged the original video files from my workspace onto the timeline. How a shadow edit file ended up on my timeline baffles me, but it was not my conscience doing. Or is that how shadow file generation works? Once a shadow file is generated, it replaces the original file in the timeline? If that is the case, I don't understand why the other files that had shadow versions didn't also go black 0,0,0.

Yep, I know you didn't. Basically the pds got corrupted at some point during a save process and from that point onwards it called upon the shadow file and NOT the originals. You were then editing the shadow files and when you selected Produce or Create disc it was from the shadow files the production would have come and NOT the original HD. I couldn't when i first discovered the issue locate the cause/trigger. I could only provide projects and samples. R&D could not replicate. Nor could any other Beta tester.

Quote: Fourthly, my project is in one location and always has been. My pds file is in the same folder as all the original video files that I imported into my workspace. Were you refering to the shadow edit files not being in that folder as well? I'm not going to have them enabled on any future projects.

Don't worry, You appear to have a standard video source and the shadow files should NOT be part of the project retained files.

Quote:
Sorry for the wall of text.

John,
The solution is really to edit the pds file. Now, I realise this is a pain... I've done it and so can you. It's just a question of identifying the location in the Video track of "ex-shadow" files and the 0,0,0 and what they contain. Shadow files ~01.MPG and 0,0,0, should be searched and replaced.

At this point I'm sure you're screaming with annoyance, I would be. I have referenced your previous post to a group at CyberLink, I have also suggested this thread should be read.

http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/7958.page
Subject: PowerDirector - information we request and tasks to carry out.
PART O may help.

Dafydd
[Moderator]

Well I've dug through the pds file and attempted to attach some meaning to it. I don't have much experience in this sort of thing, but I've drawn a few conculsions which may or may not be correct.

I looked at clip id's and their corresponding parameters. I noticed each clip id was refrenced twice and I assumed one was for audio and one for video. Since the audio plays correctly I hoped I could use the appropriate audio parameters in place of the faulty video parameters.

Initially I changed the IDREF and NAME values. Upon opening PD 8 the corresponding clip now displayed video from the the correct original source, but it played it from the start of the video instead of where the clip was supposed to correlate to. I then noticed the MEDIASTART and MEDIASTOP values were different for the two references to the clip in the notepad file. The reference which I assume pertains to the video began at zero whereas the reference I assume pertains to audio began elsewhere. Excitedly, I pasted the values from the audio parameters to the video parameters. I fired up PD 8 and received a nice let down as both the workspace and timeline were empty.

Without knowing the structure of the pds files I'm wasting my time and while I appreciate your suggestions, as the customer I really shouldn't have to dig through a giant document of values to fix my project. I'm sure you know this though.

The most valuable info I was able to retrieve during this process was identifying which pieces of original video I need to re-edit by checking their audio id's.

If I wasn't a student and actually had some cash to throw around I would probabbly move on from Power Director at this point, but since this isn't a feasible reality I'll continue pressing forward, grinding my teeth at each succesive roadblock.

Thanks for the help though.

Hi John,
1. Open the pds with notepad or wordpad
2. Use the search facility and first look for .MPG. Note the file name of the Shadow file this is will be the same as the original. You may need to alter the file a little as it has a"~" as part of the file name. Add/replace with the original extension .mts or which ever your original is.
3. Repeat the search for .MPG throughout the pds.
4. Look up Search/Find again and seek out 0,0,0. This is a new area for me, as I didn't have to locate this sort of missing file. I also warn you, you MUST KNOW what the file name is and the local address (where the video file is stored on your PC).

OK, so you're basically going through the pds and using search for TWO types of name - and replacing them - that's all.

Dafydd
[Moderator]

It would be great if the solution were that simple.

Unfortunately, I don't think it is.

The only .MPG that comes up is associated with a video file that isn't causing a problem. It was the file that asked to be found when I started up PD after deleting the shadow files. I told PD the file to replace it with and that worked as it should have. It is no longer an issue.

I'm confused when it comes to the 0,0,0 search. Both name parameters and value parameters in the notepad file are assigned 0,0,0's . In the past, I experimented with changing the name paramters to what they should be but this did not solve the problem. The value parameter that is currently 0,0,0 belongs to the parameter VIDEO_USER_DATA_ALIAS. I changed this value to what it should be, based on the clips that are working. I opened PD with both the name and value parameters edited and both the workspace and timeline is blank.

I am at a loss. Either I'm not understanding what you're telling me, or my problem isn't fully understood.

Try a search for the video files on either side of the 0,0,0, in the video track.

Sorry, but I've given you some good suggestions on how to find the local address of the "missing" video in the pds.

IF you look in:
C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR PC NAME HERE\Application Data\CyberLink\PowerDirector\8.0\AutoSave
you may be able to find the correct location by examining the auto saved project files located there.

best of luck.

Dafydd
[Moderator]