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 It looks like the problem was entirely my fault.
After trying to change both the disk label and the volume ID with no good results, I noticed that I had mistakenly copied all files to the root of the new drive instead of one directory level down, in the M:\video sub-dir.
Windows is good about moving files within one drive, and is smart enough to know that a move operation only requires adjusting some pointers, not moving data. So I was able to fix the problem in just a few seconds instead of the 12 hour operation it would have taken to copy the data all over again from scratch to the correct directory.
So at least I learned that neither the volume ID or disk label is important in a disk swap like this. Makes it easier.
Now if only Power Director wouldn't store the drive letter in the PDS files, it would be better yet. Right now, if I copy files from M: to H:, all scripts point to the wrong drive. It's a common way of writing programs, but some are better about it. For example, PageMaker 6.5 stores the drive letter too, but if it can't find a file, then prompts the operator and the op manually fixes the path, PM is smart enough to know that other files it can't find might be fixed in a similar manner and doesn't need to prompt the op. That's pretty sophisticated, but it makes the user eternally grateful when it happens and saves hours of fixups.
Sorry...
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I just tried some other programs (graphics editors, etc.) and they seem to exhibit the same phenomena, so the problem is probably a system one, not a PD8 one. I sure would like to know how to fix it globally.
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This is an XP, SP2 system with Power Director 8 installed.
I had a 1.5TB drive that has PD8 files and is addressed at M:. I copied all files to another, larger 2TB drive. Next I replaced the 1.5TB drive with the larger one and made sure the drive letter assigned is now M:, the same as before. Both Computer Management and My Computer recognize M: and the files are all where expected; the folder structure has not changed.
Computer was rebooted, just to be sure. Executing PD8, I try to open files on M: using the most recent list. In all cases, PD8 cannot find the files (PDS, MPG, JPG, whatever), but when I manually navigate to the location on M:, it can read them. Note that the old and new path is identical.
If I attempt to open a PDS file cold (not in the recent list), after opening the PDS, it cannot find any of the files necessary to edit the project unless I manually locate each. But the path is the same before and after I re-locate them.
What can I do to avoid having to re-address thousands of files?
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I've found Riva, shareware that creates FLVs from MPG, and it seems to work OK. But I think I need to make a SWF file from the FLV, then I need the embed code to complete that task. That's where I am stuck.
If I could bypass any of these steps, I'd upgrade to PD9, but only if. Flash has been around for a long time, and is a de facto web standard. Why doesn't PD handle it? Is it a copyright/patent issue?
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I want to make video files created in PD8 available on a web page. The playing must be controllable by the end user so they can forward, pause, rewind, etc. A way to control the size of the image on the screen would be nice, too.
I have been advised to use Flash. I am familiar with other file types (MPG, WMV, AVI), but not Flash.
An ideal size for the final file would be 320x240, 15 fps. Quality is important if it doesn't make the file too big.
Can PD do any of this work (creating Flash)?
Any advice for accomplishing this? Or would you recommend another file type?
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