Videos edited in NCH Videopd will not upload VPJ files

[James T]

musician40@hotmail.co.uk

Hi, Why does VPJ not upload to Videopad? It saves in that VPJ only? Then to save as MP4 it takes a lifetime for it to do so?

[borate]

When a project is saved it creates a non-playable VPJ file.  That's the instruction file that tells Videopad where to find source files and how to handle effects, transitions, etc.

Save Project File AS routinely, giving it a unique # or name, so as not to overwrite prior saves.  Save Project Files (no AS) will overwrite.  Double-clicking a VPJ loads a VP project.

To create the final product for playing in a viewer or uploading to YouTube, export as an Mp4 or other approved YT format.  Video editing is resource intensive, so good hardware can make a considerable difference in smoothness and speed.

Before beginning a new project, Clear Unused Cache Files - under OPTIONS | DISK tab.

[Nationalsolo]

Hi

As noted above, the vpj file is NOT a video file or a video clip. It is a text file containing information about your project.

In short you open VP and add clips/audio/images etc. You can then place these clips on the timeline and edit them, add effects/transitions/texts and titles etc. This is your project.

At some point you may wish to save your work. You do this by invoking the option Save Project. This command will make VP create a vpj file. This file holds the list of clips you have used, their location on your PC  and the editing steps you have made to create your project. It is a data file in text format. Using Save Project  will overwrite any previous vpj file you made with this command.

If you want to save your project at different points of development use the option Save Project File As. This enables you to enter a specific name and destination and will not  overwrite previous vpj files.

VPJ files are not video clips and are designed to be opened by VP.  If their icon  is double clicked VP will open,  read the file, load the clips from their recorded location and assemble the project to the state it was when the project was saved. 

Normally this is done quite rapidly as copies of clips and thumbnails are stored in the cache file and can be retrieved fairly quickly. However if the cache has been emptied in the interim, VP has to retrieve the clips from the actual pc locations and this can take much longer since the cache also has to be reloaded. If, as can happen you have moved/deleted or renamed any of the clips/images etc. VP cannot cannot find and load them but it will list the missing items and prompt you to locate them.

Saving you project as a playable video is referred to as Exporting the project. There are numerous options when doing this but the end result is a Video clip.

Don't get mixed up between the vpj file and the exported project.

Are you saying that VP will not open your vpj file?

Nat

 

[James T]

I have just seen this as I have been locked out for a while and take the suggestions and see if any resolves this issue. Thank you.  JIM TAYLOR

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Hi Nat,

 I have just tried what you said by double clicking the VPJ file and it just loads onto the Videopad with a resolving message and of course it does not resolve. Therefore where are my film clips if not saved within these icons? I have searched widely and there is nothing else on my computer?

Thank you and others for your help.

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Hi, Thank you for your reply, borate. Double clicking on the VPJ files does absolutely nothing. They do not upload again to Videopad for some unknown reason? I have used the exporting by MP4 and it works fine although it takes a little longer than I am acustomed to. However, that is not the issue it is losing all my files I am working on without any real reason.

[borate]

Using Save AS routinely ensures that nothing will be lost ... IF source files have not been deleted or moved.  If so, then VP will prompt to RESOLVE them.

Note the name of a missing file.  Click on its RESOLVE button.  File manager will appear.  Locate the missing file and double-click it.  Once all missing files have been resolved, one-by-one, FILE | SAVE AS once again, to update the VPJ file.  The chevron to the right of the Home menu | SAVE PROJECT button will present that choice.  Click it.

An alternative is to locate the missing files prior to opening Videopad and move them back to where VP expects them to be.  That path is shown in the resolve entry.

Yet another possibility is to move the VPJ file into the same folder as ALL source files.

Bottom line:  do not move or delete source files until certain that the project will never again be loaded, and use Save AS regularly.

[James T]

Hi, I use Save as all the time and I have tried endlessly clicking all my Videopad files and nothing happens. When they appear on Videopad with the resolve information nothing resolves even after a while, unless it takes a long time. However I will try clicking around to see if there is a change. Although nothing so far.

                                            BEST WISHES  JIM

[borate]

Resolving is not automatic.  When the resolve button is clicked it brings up the file manager.  You must manually locate each file for each RESOLVE notice, and double-click each.  The resolve entry will then turn green, as VP now knows where the file is.

[James T]

On 1/10/2021 at 8:56 AM, Nationalsolo said:

Hi

As noted above, the vpj file is NOT a video file or a video clip. It is a text file containing information about your project.

In short you open VP and add clips/audio/images etc. You can then place these clips on the timeline and edit them, add effects/transitions/texts and titles etc. This is your project.

Yes indeed this is what I am saying and I have desperately tried to upload without any success. I have deleated nothing. JIM

[James T]

3 minutes ago, borate said:

Resolving is not automatic.  When the resolve button is clicked it brings up the file manager.  You must manually locate each file for each RESOLVE notice, and double-click each.  The resolve entry will then turn green, as VP now knows where the file is.

I do not know if I have missed something but this is certainly a twister and nothing i have experienced before but I will attempt what you say once again. Thank you for you help as I do appreciate it  JIM

[James T]

11 minutes ago, borate said:

Resolving is not automatic.  When the resolve button is clicked it brings up the file manager.  You must manually locate each file for each RESOLVE notice, and double-click each.  The resolve entry will then turn green, as VP now knows where the file is.

When I try resolve it simply goes to my pictures and there is nothing there and even though I change the area of search it still does not resolve anything??

It appears to go to pictures as there is a selection of pictures in one or two of my films and I see the an MP3 on the resolve information notice.  JIM

[borate]

It isn't necessary to quote the prior post, unless there's a specific reference to which you are replying.

This is what you see... 

The FILE line is where VP expects to find the file.

The NAME line is the specific file's name.

When Resolve is clicked and the file manager appears, you need to manually locate the folder where the missing file is stored, then double-click that file.

The yellow File line will turn green.  Then resolve each and every missing file in the same manner.  Finally, Save AS once again, to update.

Or use one of the alternative methods mentioned above, to copy the files to the correct folder ... or to copy the VPJ to the folder containing ALL source files.

[James T]

When I click the resolve button it directs me always to my picture files and a file manager has never appeared once at all and I have been at this for days.

I will have to digest some of that. Yet, When I press the resolve button it always goes to My Pictures and there is nothing there except my pictures. Strangely i do have some pictures in some of my videos. Again I see an MP3 on the resolve notice so yes I do have mp3 in most of my videos but I have already searched everywhere and there is nothing in those files either. Thank you so much once again.  JIM

[borate]

When clicking on a RESOLVE button, this is similar to what pops up, dependent upon view settings.  It's the file manager.  You must use the left column lo locate the missing file folder.  Then in the right column open either the subfolder where the file is located or, if the file is already listed at the right, double-click it.

If you didn't delete the source file, it must be somewhere on the PC.  It's up to you to find it.  Check the Recycle bin where files can be right-clicked and restored.

Note in the right-bottom corner of the above it says "Common Media Files."  That normally covers the file types in a typical project.  However, clicking the chevron that's at the right of those words will drop down a menu where you can choose to show ALL files, no matter what their type.

It may help to do a Windows search (top-right of the image above) of the C:\ drive for the exact file name/s that are missing.  That should reveal where they are.

[James T]

Hi Borate, Thank you so much for all your trouble and I will do a search as you suggested and I am very grateful for all your patience and hard work too A VERY BEST WISH  JIM

[borate]

It's common for unintended changes to occur in Windows.  When the files are located, jot down their folder path and then use the RESOLVE buttons in Videopad to find each file.

After all are located, don't forget to Save AS.  That will be your new VPJ file and since VP now knows where to find the files there should be no more missing file issues.

[James T]

I have discovered VTS files that I have never seen before.  Are they them?  They do load into Videopad?   JIM

[borate]

The files you need have exactly the same name and extension as shown in the NAME field of the resolved files box.  See the image above.

Those are the files that you need.

[James T]

Thank you for your continual guidance and extreme patience too.

I have discovered there is much more missing items and this appears to be due to Microsoft and their recent windows 10 updates and many more people are complaining bitterly with the company to restore their windows back to an earlier date.

I have another video software on another computer and in saving to MP4 it has gone into space and can only be viewed on from out there somewhere but I cannot locate it either. Now this seems rather silly, but I have never encounterd this before after many years of filming and video making too, so it does appear Microsoft has a lot to answer for.

I am still engaged in finding these films as they are important to me and I understand what you are telling me on the film names and I do understand that, but the mind boggles into the unknown and thus gets lost in the clouds of dispair. I will have a more extensive look but it does look as if they are lost somewhere and this figures with all the mystery complaints about Microsoft at this vey moment. I will be going back to them as I now believe this has something to do with them and my file expoeore is not functioning properly and the changes to it is not satisfactory and this is due to Microsoft. Thank you so much and if there is anything else you can suggest I will be happy to listen to your excellent suggestions.  JIM

[borate]

Exported (final) work is often in mp4 format - the VP default.  But you could have chosen others, such as AVI, WMV, or MOV.  VPJ files control the program, telling it where to locate source files and how to apply effects, transitions, etc.  Searching the PC for those file extensions should reveal what's available.  Or perhaps files have been saved to a remote 'cloud' server.

Earlier suggestions outline how missing files might be resolved in VP.

The simplest Windows restore method is reverting to a restore point, but changes made between when the point was created and today will likely be lost.  That's a topic for an MS forum.  Good luck!

[James T]

Thank you for all your help and I am continuing to try and resolve this with Microsoft. It appears there are many complaints already and they are trying to resolve the situation but all these uploads should be proved workable before they do upload. Whatever, I do hope they will sort out this matter and it appears on my other computer they have sent my MP4 strait to some internet source as it says it can be viewed on line. I cried to myself WHAT THE HELL!!! it should have been in my videos like all the rest and that is a different software package. Every best wish and THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND PATIENCE WITH THIS.  JIM

[James T]

Hi I have eventually got to the back of this extremely tiring episode with the Videopad software and it appears much of it was down to the Windows ten updates and probably myself going round in circles so thenk you so much for all your help and perfect guidance throughout this difficult time.

EVERY BEST WISH and let us hope this will be an end to it.        JIM

[borate]

Glad it worked out.  Keep in mind...

Never move or delete source files until certain editing is forever done.

Back up frequently, using Save AS, so older saves are not overwritten.  That way you will have a number of versions of the project, each represented by a VPJ file.

If using a VP release that is working well for you, there's no need to upgrade.  Newer releases can always be tested, unlicensed, to check out their features and quirks.  If there's something you like, make the switch but retain any purchase registration info.

There's a six-month window for free updates.  After that, updates cost money but a licensed version will continue to work indefinitely.  Even a 'free' or 'trial' version will still function in most cases, with limitations.

[Nationalsolo]

Hi Jim

Borate described things pretty clearly. Hope things remain OK. Don't hesitate to drop by again if VP reacts unexpectedly or you need some guidance. (Start a new topic though!)  

Nat

[James T]

Hi, Yes he did a great job and I cannot thank him enough for guidance and also for kindly patience too. Every best wish and yes I will probably need more help of a kind.

Hi Borate and thank you kindly for your further welcome advice  and every best wish;your patience is a virtue so well done.  JIM