Modified File, Why and No Fix For It?
I opened up FCPX and discovered that the test project I created shows the Modified File alert icon for the only media I imported. The clip is red, with the Modified File icon.
I checked the FCPX user manual under "Solutions to common media management issues." There I found the description to the Modified File Alert Icon, but there was no solution. It simply states, "A media file has been changed by an application other than Final Cut Pro." It would be nice to find a "solution" to this issue in the "Solutions" section of the manual. It's interesting that Apple also calls the section "common media management issues." Well, they got half the title to the chapter correct.
First of all, I'm not sure why I have the issue. I didn't move or rename the file. I took the time to view (purchase) the Ripple Training series on FCPX by Steve Martin. So, I know that FCPX does not want you to move or rename media files outside of FCPX.
In FCPX I choose the Reveal in Finder option for the media and it opened up a Finder window showing the file, where it's supposed to be. (Users/Me/Movies/Final Cut Events/Test Project/Original Media) The file is actually an Alias, since I choose to not copy the file from it's location on an external RAID drive. In the Finder window I choose Show Original and it did. It found the file (where I left it) on an external RAID drive.
The definition of the issue states that the file has been changed by an application other than Final Cut Pro. Interesting that it does not say which "version" of FCP. I didn't think I had touched the media file with any other application. (apparently, I had)
So, I attempted to fix the issue. In FCPX, I re-imported the file. That did not fix the issue. I simply wound up with two files, same name, start, end, duration, content created. One version is fine, the other still shows the Modified File Alert Icon. Although, when I look in the FCPX Original Media directory, it now has two Aliases (as expected) but the new one added "(fcp1)" to the end of the file name, as in TestProject(fcp1).mov
Now that I had a new version of the file imported, I tried to see if I could recreate the issue.
I closed FCPX. I opened up FCP7, created a new project, imported the media file, put it in a sequence and did some color correcting on it. I saved the project and quit FCP7. I opened FCPX and everything was as I left it. The original import of the media file still had the issue. But, the newly imported file did not. So, having FCP7 "touch" the file did not create the Modified File issue.
I closed FCPX and tried the exact same thing with Premier Pro. (Hey, it was 50% off since I just became a proud FCPX owner) The result was the same. Importing and color correcting the media file with FCP7 and/or PP did not cause an issue for FCPX. Just for kicks, I opened and closed the media file with Quicktime and as expected it did not create an issue. I'd like to know what caused the issue. I can't avoid an issue if I don't know what caused it.
Even if I will never find out why I have the issue, I'd be more happy to simply fix the issue. As Apple clearly states in the FCPX user manual, this is a common issue. They are correct, as it didn't take me long to experience it. But, they don't list a solution to it, even thought the issue is in the "Solutions" section of the manual. Perhaps the person who wrote the manual (not the SW) realized it's a common issue and therefore should have a Solution.
Not only is the media file missing. But so is all the work I did. I was using this media/Project to test out FCPX. Now that FCPX can't find the media, all the work I did in the Magic (sorry, Magnetic) Timeline is gone. All the work I did on the Timeline has the same Modified File Alert Icon along with the wonderfully soothing bright red color where media should be.
If I can't actually fix this issue (which I have no idea how it happened), then I actually did just loose all my work. (granted on a test project of no real value) No undo, no open up a previous "Saved As.." version. Go directly to FCPX Jail, do not pass Go, do not collect $200. (that was humor, not a rant)
If that's the case, then FCPX is not usable. At all. For anyone. Regardless of whether you make a living using it or not. If iMovie worked like this (maybe it does, I've never used it), I doubt anyone would find iMovie usable either. Same goes for iDVD, iPhoto, iWeb, iTunes, etc.
Therefore, there must be a solution to this issue. I'm sure someone will post the solution that I could not locate myself.
Thanks in advance.
Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), FCP 7 and FCP X