lower thirds don't follow with update

I know I'm asking a ton of questions lately, but I'm updating a few old projects and things keep popping up!

I just updated an older projects and all the lower thirds are missing. Not sure why this is happening as they aren't third party titles. Everything else is there. Are there further steps to take in this regard? I looked in the Motion Template in the Movie folder and there wasn't much there. There was a lower third copy file which I brought over. That could have been from any number of projects though. It didn't help, in any case. thx

Do you mean you cannot see any of the original title clips on the updated Timeline at all?

- Ronny

As you can see, the title is there on the timeline but missing (red). I obviously can't relink it because sit isn't media (right?). It may be how I created the title in the first place. I often will use the first lower thirds I create as a template and copy it along the project for later subjects. This timeline may be a duplicate of an earlier project and fcpx just lost track of it. Does that make sense?

Nope, you cannot relink titles.

The title you show in the screenshot is an FCPX "Basic Lower Third" title, correct? If it is, I don't see why it would give any problems.

Open the FCPX Title Library and drop the Basic Lower Third template onto the problematic title clip in the Timeline. What happens?

- Ronny

It just wants to replace it with a new one.

I'm wondering if it's a font problem. I had another editor work on this project and she may have used a font that I don't have on my computer. But then it worked fine before I upgraded. I've sent her an e-mail to see if she remembers. thx

Yes it will replace it, but when you replace the title does it show the custom text you have written or do you get the default text?

A missing font could indeed be a good explanation. Keep us posted.

- Ronny

I get the default text. Just heard back from my other editor. She says she didn't do anything special to the fonts.

I'm having similar issues with the timecode reader. It keeps telling me I have a missing effect (in fact two) when I actually have three timecode readers in my effects folder. Not sure why I have so many - I probably kept trying to provide them from the other computer. To fix this, I have to delete the old tc reader and add a new one. This has happened on other projects as well. I just sort of work around it. thx

Hi parkerhqj,

The TC Reader is broken since a while - at least it's functionality.

Have you tried to use XML?
You can send me the XML off list and I'll have a look - kiel(at)spherico(dot)com.

It might be font problem.
You should file a bug.

-Andreas

Thanks - will do. Can you actually analyze it without any media?

I didn't realize other people were having problems with the tc reader. I need to use it all the time as I post interviews for selects and send them out for transcriptions as well.

"Can you actually analyze it without any media?"
At least the basic path things.

The TC reader needs compound clips at the moment.

-Andreas

What does it need compound clips for? I apply it to normal clips all the time. Do you mean for sharing?

Applied to a clip in the timeline at will always start at 00:00:00:00 and not on the TC of the clip.

-Andreas

Got it. I was wondering how to do that. I've never needed that actual tc from the clip for my purposes, but it's nice to know that's an option. My clips can be very long though and I've run into issues with compound clips in the past. I'll look into it. Thanks again.

Bill,

I had a closer look at the XML.

Finally your Lower Thirds are kind of third party since you used a modified copy of it.
So make sure this copy can be found in your user's library (~/Movies/Motion Templates.localized/Titles.localized/Lower Thirds.localized/Basic Lower Third copy/Basic Lower Third copy.moti)

There are other effects, generators as well which are modified. So the above applies to them as well.

Another note: the Basic Title shouldn't be used with 10.1. In many cases style changes will prevent the title to render - it looks okay in FCPX.

-Andreas

Thanks Andreas.

Just to add to the confusion, I've been trying to match the effects from my desktop computer to my laptop and just discovered some missing items that relate to this conversation. On my laptop, in my titles folder in the Movies folder, I have a Lower Thirds folder which is empty and a Basic Lower Third Copy folder which has the Motion file and other stuff that goes with that. On my desktop computer, I have the same Basis Lower Third copy folder with the right material in it and no Lower Third folder at all. I'm assuming the enemy in all this is me as I've tried to move effects back and forth over time, but I'm not getting this. I just ran a test title and send the lower thirds back and forth between the computers with no problem. Can someone with a non-sabotaged computer tell me what I should be seeing in my Titles folder? Is that just where third-party and customized effects go? I'm having a tough time distinguishing between upgrading problems that are not my fault and bone-headed decisions which are. Thanks yet again!

And while we're on the subject, I've watched tutorials for sharing work with fcpx and maybe I missed it, but there should be a third category after sharing project xml files and event xml files - and that is all the various effects, etc that you alter on your local computer that don't follow with either event or project xml files. That's where I seem to get hung up.

bill,

i'm bit short on time at the moment.

i'll be back with some details tomorrow.

-andreas

Thanks!

Bill,

Its a bit complicated.
You have screwed up the two machines FX settings somehow.

Finally you have 2 options:
1) Make a bad FX installation on both machines.
2) Make a clean FX installation on both machines and rebuild the projects.

It depends on the amount and kind of projects you have.
But I strongly would recommend option 2. Otherwise with all the duplicates of templates you may run into the same problem again soon.

Just a note on creating or modifying templates for usage in a collaborative environment (this can be 1 user working on several machines).
It's not good to follow the FCPX/Motion route for saving those files - you easily can run into this trap.


Follow the legacy version's route.
So if you create or modify a template save it, but don't use it. Reveal it in Finder.
In Finder select "/Library/Application Support/Final Cut Pro/Templates/TEMPLATE_TYPE" and move them to the matching location for the the type.
Inside the "type" folders you can create subfolders for better organization upfront.

If the "/Library/Application Support/Final Cut Pro..." path isn't there use the little attached app to create the correct folder setup.
The little app also allows to do a basic check of an XML. The output will show you whether the effect is installed, the type of access, the name and the installation path.

-Andreas

Download:
www.spherico.com/filmtools/X-Files/X-Template%20Tool.dmg

Andreas,

Thanks for this. How do I do a clean FX installation? Do you mean reinstall fcpx? Will doing that somehow affect my other projects? thx