Timeline index doesn't function, stays locked open

Mac Pro 2010 12-core / OS 10.9.1 / FCP X 10.1

I have one machine where the Timeline Index does not function. You open it and it is empty. You then cannot close it. When you quite X and restart it, the Timeline Index starts closed. Everything else in X and all other applications (FC Studio, Adobe, Avid, Resolve, etc.) function normally. Although, turning skimming and snapping on/off are also not functioning.

If I try a different "test user" log in, the Timeline Index works correctly. On this machine this was the case with 10.8.5 and 10.0.9 and is still the case after the upgrade (10.9.1 and 10.1). Trashing prefs and deleting the app and re-installing doesn't fix it.

I realize it could be a corrupt home user, but I'm trying to see if anything else could cause this. It's now the second Mac Pro that I've seen this exact symptom on. Has anyone else run into this?

- Oliver

Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
www.oliverpeters.com

delete the contents of ~/Library/Application Support/Final Cut Pro/Layouts and give it a whirl

(~ means your home directory ...)

Hi Oliver,

I only had this once, on a similar MacPro. In my case creating a new user account did the trick, never had it happening again since.

- Ronny

I deleted the layouts, but that didn't fix it. On the first machine I did a totally clean install of Mavericks with a re-installation of everything. That fixed it on that machine. This one is a client's, so we did an upgrade. I have been given a lead to delete a specific lock file. I won't be able to test that until Monday, but will post back if that fixes it. Thanks.

- Oliver

So I fixed it. Obviously changing users or doing a clean install from the ground up eliminates the reason for the problem, but it is indeed caused by the .lock files. I guess their use, need or location seems to have changed with Mavericks, and if you've done an upgrade install, there are previous vestige files left on your system. This is what causes the issue with FCP X.

To fix - go to to user Library (option+Go to reveal) and delete the contents of the user Library/Preferences/ByHost folder. If you don't see any .lock files in there, they may be invisible. If so, you can search for .lock files by adding two fields to the Finder window search. Add System Files=include and Visibility=invisible or visible. In my case they were visible on this particular machine. I trashed the contents of this folder and FCP X behavior was correctly restored.

- Oliver

Oliver,

Thank you for sharing this solution! Some people on this forum seem to have performance issues since updating the OS and FCPX, so with your permission I will link some other threads to your post hoping this fix might help them as well.

BTW I love reading your blog, so I will shamelessly plug it here: digitalfilms.wordpress.com

- Ronny

Thanks for the plug! In fairness, a friend set me on the path to this solution. I didn't come up with it myself, but I'm glad it has worked. Hopefully it will help others, too. Simon mentioned on the COW that it also fixed some Motion issues for him.

- Oliver

Thanks Oliver, this fixed the Timeline Index staying open, the snapping and skimming being stuck ON AND the import window not saving Favourites and insisting on highlighting the wrong drive/folder when opened. I suspect it may have fixed the problem with the Share destination always coming up as the export folder for three projects ago.

Nice one.

Ian.

I just had this happen to me today. The Timeline index was not showing up for me. There were no .lock files in my ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/ folder. The only way I was able to solve this issue was to delete the user, restart the machine and then recreate the user. Fortunately, this was just a test machine so there was no big loss. However, I hate to think of what might happen if this happened to one of our editors machines.

OS X 10.9.2
FCP X 10.1.1