STL file not importing

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STL file not importing

I am trying to add subtitles to a DVD Studio Pro project, but not able to import STL files that someone else did for me. I get an error message that it is an incompatile format, even though my DVD SP3 manual says it is a supported format.

Any ideas?

Mac G4, Mac OS X (10.4.3), DVDSP 3.0.2, Avid Xpress Pro 4.8.4, QuickTime 7.1.5

Posted on Apr 1, 2008 12:03 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 1, 2008 3:12 PM in response to Trog Ray

Can you copy and paste a bit of the stl file here? I've been working with these and may be able to spot the problem.

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Answer 2

Apr 2, 2008 10:03 AM in response to Trog Ray

I know this sounds like an obvious thing but sometimes it's the obvious that catches us out. You can't Import Subtitles (STL files/whatever) into DVD-SP as you do other files.

Are you trying this? If so you need to select the track where the subs are going. Then in the Subs track S1 (below the Audio) Ctrl+Click (or Right Click if you have the appropriate mouse) and you get a dropdown which shows Import Subtitle...

Of course if this is what you are doing then there may be something wrong with the Subtitle file supplied... What is the Exact Message you are getting if you are doing it this way?

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Answer 3

Apr 2, 2008 5:41 PM in response to Steve Kirkham

Those subtitle data files can be really choosy about little syntax errors, a space, tab, or comma in the wrong place will prevent it from importing. Even when I have a nice clean file, I often have trouble, and wind up starting with a file that I know imports correctly, and replacing the data. It's pretty easy to do a find and replace in word to clean up data, and save as a .txt file that imports just as easily.

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Answer 4

Trog Ray Author

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Apr 3, 2008 11:13 AM in response to Trog Ray

Thanks for the suggestions! Unfortunately I still need help.

Russ, I couldn't open the stl file directly, but here is part of it after I opened a text version of it:

00:00:00:23 , 00:00:03:07 , Spanish (overwrite English) | Me encuentro con tantos | que anhelan algo más…
00:00:03:07 , 00:00:04:10 , están hambrientos…
00:00:04:24 , 00:00:07:14 , Algunos saben que están | en una búsqueda espiritual,

Steve, I was indeed trying to import by clicking "import asset" as I've always done before. So I tried clicking the S1 track with Ctrl+Click and no dropdown appeared. Tried other keys and tracks also with no luck. No dropdown.

Max, will note your comment for the future but at this time I don't have any file to use that imports okay.

Appreciate your responses, and look forward to more ideas.

Thanks again.

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Answer 5

Apr 3, 2008 11:42 AM in response to Trog Ray

Hi

I can't see anything wrong with your file - in fact I cut and paste it into a text document, saved it and happily imported it into a new DVD-SP project... you know you can use Text Edit to look at and save STL by the way (DVD-SP will import a properly formatted Text file)

Ctrl+Click is (as far as I know) the only way to import subs. You are clicking in the actual track S1 right?

You can email me the STL file if you want to tree dot frog20001 at btinternet.com

I'll see if it imports properly

Steve

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Answer 6

Apr 3, 2008 12:24 PM in response to Trog Ray

Sounds like you're just missing something simple. Be sure you're right-clicking in the track itself (content area), not over by the orange S1 button.

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Answer 7

Apr 4, 2008 5:47 AM in response to Trog Ray

I guess that you create your STL file in mac? If not, you must make sure your STL is in RTF, otherwise import will fail. I'm subtitling on PC and using a great software called Belle Nuit I convert to TIFFs and an STL file that works fine (except that the colors and transparence never gets right, but that easily fixed with the Apply to stream command).

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Answer 8

Trog Ray Author

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Apr 4, 2008 8:10 AM in response to Trog Ray

Problem solved!

Steve and Russ, you were right. I was simply not clicking the S1 track to get the dropdown to import subtitles. And when I first tried this, I only clicked the area where the orange S1 button is, and not the track itself. Once I clicked inside the track, I could import them with no problem.

To others this may have seemed very obvious, but to me at first, I could only think to click "import assets" like I usually do. And I couldn't find anyplace in the DVD SP3 manual index that specifically led me to where to click to import subtitles.

So thanks, everyone, for your info and suggestions!

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