how to move all iMovie files to external?

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Level 1

8 points

how to move all iMovie files to external?

OK, I've ascertained that due to my limited space, I should keep iMovie files off on the external drive (3 TB available there). Now I'm not sure of two things:

1) Someone mentioned moving just the events off but not the projects - won't the projects be equally big files as it contains the same DV footage? Is there an advantage to the project being on the internal HDD?

In most cases, I am working with video conversion NOT editing for a "movie" - so I'm talking an hour of footage in the Event, an hour in the Project (and end result, the movie.)

2) If I want to move all the files to the external, how should I do this with the upgrade to iMovie '09. Will there be an opportunity to install '09 and then choose a location, then something handy like the "Consolidate all files" feature (that is in iTunes)?

Or, should I move all of the existing iMovie files NOW (these are both projects and events from iMovie HD and iMovie 08), before I begin the upgrade.

Thanks for your help -
Alexa

imac, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Jan 28, 2009 3:48 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 28, 2009 4:12 PM in response to akcorcoran

I always back up my events/projects before doing any sort of upgrade.
It's a good idea to copy your entire User/Movies (both projects and events) folder to an external drive, particularly if you are running out of disk space.
That might cause other issues.

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Answer 2

akcorcoran Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 28, 2009 4:20 PM in response to dontwhine

OK - after I do that though, should I then just upgrade - or move all my existing files to where I want them to be AFTER the upgrade? (And, is that as easy as just moving the files - it's never that easy in other program, iTunes being the worst offender!)

Thanks -
Alexa

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Answer 3

Jan 28, 2009 4:20 PM in response to akcorcoran

The project files in iMovie '08 are much different than in iMovie HD. These are small files which don't contain the large movie files.

You can move the Events to an external drive in iMovie 08 or 09. Just make sure you do it within the iMovie application (e.g. don't do this in the Finder).

Moving an Event in iMovie '09:
- In the View menu, enable View->Group Events by Disk
- You should now see all of your hard disks listed in the Event Library
- Drag and drop your event from one disk to another while holding the command key down.

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Answer 4

Jon Walker

Level 6

19,473 points

Jan 28, 2009 4:38 PM in response to akcorcoran

1) Someone mentioned moving just the events off but not the projects - won't the projects be equally big files as it contains the same DV footage? Is there an advantage to the project being on the internal HDD?
Project files normally just contain a set of instructions detailing how to export the source content as a finished file. About the only thing stored in the project file of any great size are the "Media Browser" copies of your output. However, iMovie '09 now allows you to move both Event files and Project files to an external drive. (I just finished moving everything to an external 1 TB drive.)

In most cases, I am working with video conversion NOT editing for a "movie" - so I'm talking an hour of footage in the Event, an hour in the Project (and end result, the movie.)
If trimming and converting is all you are doing, an application like MPEG Streamclip might better suit your needs as it has few, if any, restrictions of storage/access/target compression formats.

2) If I want to move all the files to the external, how should I do this with the upgrade to iMovie '09. Will there be an opportunity to install '09 and then choose a location, then something handy like the "Consolidate all files" feature (that is in iTunes)?
If you perform the upgrade first, then the work flow would be to
a) Events not in Project use - "Command-Drag" Events from their internal drive and drop to external drive.
b) Active Projects - "Command-Drag" Project from source drive to target drive and then select the "Move Project & Events" option to move both to the external drive.
NOTE: Do not just drag Event and/or Projects as this performs a "copy" action -- i.e., it creates two copies of the files and does not update active reference pointers.

Or, should I move all of the existing iMovie files NOW (these are both projects and events from iMovie HD and iMovie 08), before I begin the upgrade.
I didn't, but there was nothing I could not live without if it got lost. Most of my projects are just to answer questions here so there was nothing of "high" priority to lose. As Dontwhine says, its a good idea to back up anything you couldn't afford to lose but frankly, my switchover went without a hitch.
ADDED: Wow! Looks like an active group here. Will have to make shorter responses to keep up...

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Answer 5

Jan 28, 2009 4:42 PM in response to akcorcoran

The Movies folder that you copy on your external drive will be seen by iMovie '09 automatically. If you want to hide that folder to iMovie '09 place it in another new folder and name it BACKUP IMOVIE PROJECTS.

Do all this AFTER quitting iMovie.

Then proceed to install iMovie '09 in your system, but be sure to read the systems requirements here and have a minimum of 25GM of internal disk space.
http://www.apple.com/ca/ilife/systemrequirements.html

After you installed (know it takes a while), RESTART your system.

Then launch iMovie '09 and expect to see no projects and no events.

To make those visible to iMovie '09, after quitting iMovie, you have move your Movies folder back to the root level of your exernal drive.
Launch iMovie again and wait for it to optimize all projects and events.
NOTE: know that iMovie HD projects will not be completely seen by iMovie '09 because they are written differently.

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Answer 6

mikek818

Level 1

0 points

Feb 4, 2009 7:11 PM in response to dontwhine

Hi, I just upgraded to imovie 09, but when i launch it no longer recognizes all the event library links to my external drive that i so laboriously created by moving each event manually from within imovie 08. do u know of a quick fix? i figure my worst case scenario is to copy all my files back to my primary drive and then move everything back from within imovie 09, but when i tried that, for some reason my external drive has a yellow exclamation mark like it's inaccessible or something (even though it's mounted and accessible in finder). i'm stuck! i didn't really understand your solution below involving the movies folder. do you mean imovie events folder?

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Answer 7

akcorcoran Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 14, 2009 10:19 AM in response to Jon Walker

Jon,

I just got back around to really moving things and wanted to come back and thank you for your post here. I was in a flurry of activity and didn't get to properly acknowledge how much I appreciate your helpful answer with specific steps outlined for me to follow.

You're a great source of help on these boards - and I am grateful!
Alexa

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Answer 8

akcorcoran Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 14, 2009 10:48 AM in response to Jon Walker

OK, so now I'm back with another question. See how ungrateful I am!

In all the flurry of back up, I sort of organized things by my life events, so I have the iMovie Projects, iMovie Events folders but then I also have some videos in other folders (e.g. Corcoran Home Movies / 2005).

When I install iMovie 09, does it have the ability to see all these movies throughout the internal and external HDD? Sort of how you can do an iTunes, "consolidate all music on this computer" feature?

I'd love it all pulled together but don't want to go moving the movies here there and everywhere.

Thanks for your help -
Alexa

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