addressed Losing subtitle settings

[Brian Warner]

Using v 12.14 (2022 Oct 17)

I've used the subtitle editor to create a number of subtitles. Before exiting it, the subtitles are the size, color, and position as designed. When I save the SSA file and then open it in a text editor, the numbers for location seem correct. For example, I have one subtitle at left-justified, 2% horizontal margin, bottom alignment with 20% vertical offset. Shadow is on and size is 7.

After applying the subtitles, the numbers look the same as before, i.e., it doesn't appear that the process of applying alters the SSA file. I then run the sequence in the sequence preview and, even though the numbers don't appear to have changed in the SSA, all the captions have been changed to horizontal and vertical centered, or at least all of them have been changed to the same horizontal and vertical margins. In some cases, the text size changes; in others it doesn't.

Here are the two applicable lines for one subtitle while having the subtitle editor opened and saving the SSA.

Style: Style9,Segoe UI,45,16777215,0,0,0,1,0,-1,0,0,1,5,5,5,0,0
Dialogue: Marked=0,0:09:51.46,0:09:58.15,Style9,,0035,0035,0011,!Effect,Groups Tree List

 After applying and closing the subtitle editor, the SSA file did not change.

I then restarted the editor. The above caption, and others, were no longer in the same place as before, even though the numbers in the SSA file are what they were before. After saving the SSA file at this point (nothing changed, did not Apply), here are the numbers for the same subtitle, IOW, they automatically-reset-for-some-unknown-reason numbers.

Style: Style9,Segoe UI,45,16777215,0,0,0,1,0,-1,0,0,1,5,5,5,0,0
Dialogue: Marked=0,0:09:51.46,0:09:58.15,Style9,,0005,0005,0030,!Effect,Groups Tree List

In fact, all the subtitles now have margins of 0005, 0005, 0030. It's as if a set of numbers is read applies as if "All subtitles" on the Format tab is set.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Am I doing something wrong?

Brian

[borate]

Be aware that SSA files do not save font size or shadow info.  That's determined by the player.  Other settings seem to be retained.

But if a project containing subs is saved, there should be no change when the project is reloaded.

Please share your SSA file here, or in private, and someone will check it out...

Upload the file to a free server, such as Google Drive or MS OneDrive, get a shared (public) link, copy the link and paste it here or to me in a Private Message via the mail envelope in the top-right corner of this forum.  When using Google Drive, if necessary change "restricted" to "anyone with link can view."

Or, better still, share the project with the subs as they SHOULD be seen.  This, too, can be done privately.  Just follow these steps...

•     Back up --- With your project on the timeline, click on MENU at the top-left.  Click FILE|BACK UP PROJECT FILES TO FOLDER.  Choose a folder and SELECT FOLDER.
•     Upload ---  Use a free server - Google Drive, MS OneDrive, etc.* - to upload the saved, numbered FOLDER.    Do NOT upload the individual VPJ or export file. 
•     Get link --- Get a public link.  If using Google Drive click GET SHAREABLE LINK. If necessary change "restricted" to "anyone with the link can view" 
•     Share ---     Click COPY LINK | DONE.  Paste that link here, or click the folder at the top-right of this forum to message it privately to me.  It won't be shared.

          *    Before uploading, right-click the folder, click PROPERTIES.  Look at the File Size to confirm that it's not too big for the free space on the server.

[Brian Warner]

Thanks for getting back. I'll send a link to files privately.

In addition to the files from backup project are three SSA files. The file names will tell you what you need to know about when in the process they were created. The subtitles retain their size and positions in the project file after applying the subtitles but only if applying them before closing the subtitles editor.

Thanks again,

Brian

[borate]

Thanks for sharing your project.  There may be some issues, which have been reported.

Loaded your project, cut it down to about a minute, deleted all subs and closed the program.  Then it was restarted, and under OPTIONS | DISK tab, Clear Unused Cache Files was clicked.  Restarted again, just to make certain that nothing of your cap files remained.

Loaded one-minute of caps from another project's SSA.  Clicked APPLY TO SELECTED and switched to the Text tab.  Selected a line.  Switched back to the Format tab to change positioning.  Text tab again to select a different line.  Returned to Format tab and altered size and position settings, including offsets.  And so forth...   When done, clicked APPLY.  Seemed to work.  Preview and sub editor screen positions matched for each entry.

It's tricky so review results often.  If mistakes creep in, hit <ctrl-Z> to backtrack step-by-step.

At this juncture, seemingly the only way to accurately save the subs is to save the project.  When it's restored, alignments and sizes appear to be retained.

Save Project File AS routinely, giving it a unique # or name, so as not to overwrite prior saves.  Using Save Project Files (no AS) will overwrite.  From the HOME tab, that choice is available by clicking the chevron to the right of the Save Project button on the toolbar.

Considering that SSA files do not save font size or shadow info, using that format to restore captions that contain various alignments looks to be problematic.

[borate]

Using the current version, your original VPJ project was loaded and the subs were saved as an SSA file.

Restarted the project without any subtitles, then loaded the SSA.

After export, using the suggested resolution setting of 2000x1125, which matches your files, text positions appear to be accurate.

[Brian Warner]

Hi! Thanks for getting back. I've downloaded and installed the latest version. I'll try those steps the next time I work on a project (soon).

Brian