My timeline turned gray. I think I lost my work. PLEASE HELP!

Hello. Thanks for this guidance. This is screenshot no.1. Shots 2, 3 and 4 are given below in order.

This shot 3 [above] is to show that the entire screen faded away, with all the desktop icons not in sight, when I did this: I right clicked upon the FCPX icon in the dock and entereed 'show recents'. With the entire screen faded, I clicked on the Google chrome icon [in the dock] and it pulled up this page in which I was reading about greying of the timeline thread.

This is shot 4 in which the timeline has been restored in all its glory!

Hope this helps.

I've had the exact same issue with a project Ive almost completed before the timeline turned gray. Same image too. Attempted everything possible (reinstalled fcpx, trashed preferences and layouts, used backup project, read very many forums online).

Two things - The project must still exist (minus the greyed timeline glitch) because when pressing "play" on the display screen, my project still plays, just without sound. So it has to be somewhere.

Secondly, when reopening FCPx, other projects do have their timelines, then when opening the actual project with the greyed timeline, and then afterwards opening the projects were fine - their timelines also have turned grey. Always happens when opening FCPx.

There is a glitch and it needs to be fixed - have you discovered anything?

EXACT SAME ISSUE... this has now happened to me TWICE on two different occassions/projects. I can access the file and play, but am unable to edit my project. In my case, I have it narrowed down to the glitch seems to happen when adjusting gaps at the end of my video.

😠 NOT HAPPY. I now have to re-do the entire project AGAIN.

PLEASE FIX THIS APPLE!!!

Tom - I just sent "Feedback" to Apple, indicating multiple cases being reported in the Community. Good suggestion, with enough incoming requests I am hopeful it will be investigated.

Yes, I was rippling a gap clip - that seems to have been the trigger in both of my cases.

I appreciate your interest in finding the solution!

All the best!

This worked for me...

I was able to get my timeline back (previously it didn't work for me, must be the order in which I did things).

Timeline went missing as previously noted when I was rippling (adjusting length) of my gaps within the timeline window.

1. I closed out of FCPX completely.

2. THEN Deleted (2) FCPX preference files:

User > Library > Preferences > com.apple.FinalCutPro.plist

- AND -

User > Library > Preferences > com.apple.FinalCut.LSSharedFileList.plist

3. Relaunched FCPX and timeline had returned!

4. I also decided to TURN OFF the two skimming options prior to my attempt in readjusting the gap within my timeline. This time it worked fine - I was able to export the final version of my project.

GOOD LUCK! I'm hoping this glitch will be fixed soon.

I have seen this issue if I'm working in Full Screen mode and hit cmd-H to hide (accidentally, since I would be in full-scren app mode). Usually a restart of the app works. But you can also just hit CMD-0 to bring up the project screen.

Hello,

I have just now experienced a greying out of the timeline. I was actually selecting the clips and had wanted to detach and silence the audio when this greying out took place. Searched this thread to get directions of how to negotiate. Duplicated project in the project library, but the duplicate was as bad as the original. Attempted my own trials to get things right. Observed that the rendering was taking place. Took screen shots till 100 was reached; but the timeline remained faded.

Finally I did this: selected the entire project and pressed 'V'. Lo and behold, the timeline began to be colorful as before and my smile returned back to me!

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/75338695/Screen%20Shot%201.png

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/75338695/Screen%20Shot%202.png

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/75338695/Screen%20Shot%203.png

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/75338695/Screen%20Shot%204.png

Hope this helps.

DR.SOMANNA

Could you please use the camera icon to put your images in line in the message on the forum. They're not displaying correctly when they're linked to DropBox.

The V kye is disable. It sounds as if you disabled all your clips.

Thanks Tom. I am very new to all this stuff. If you can guide me regarding placement of screen shots by way of camera icon, I'll be glad to use that feature to get the message across.

Thanks once again and regards. Have a great GREAT DAY!

You are very right Tom. Thanks for your help I am learning. I had after this 'fright' experienced another hurdle: FCPX just froze. Read about others having this problem, but when you yourself face it, then you will understand how to negotiate it. The entire screen simply froze, the arrow shaped cursor included. Tried to take a screenshot, but found that even the keyboard commands were also being ignored. Had to switch the power button off and restart. Wonder why the FCPX froze. Need to look into that thread. Anyway, thanks once again.

DR.SOMANNA

Eric, thank you so much for spelling out how to solve this problem. This just happened to me this morning with a near-completed project and it really scared me...especially since I am fairly new to X and never bothered backing up because I assumed that it was like 7 with the auto backup. This also happened to me while adjusting the length of a gap near the end of a 19 min project. The one thing I would add is that I needed to export the XML file for that project first because upon opening it, it showed 00,00 for duration and only played the video but with no sound. After importing that XML doc (like ismagom7), my timeline was mixed up but at least it plays through now and shows the timeline. So grateful for all of you contributing to these forums and so glad my project has returned!

You do mean a completely gray window, no dark primary storyline, right? Did you trash the Layouts folder?

Please use feedback. If enough people report it, maybe it will get fixed.

Did you ripple a gap clip to wipe it out? Trying to figure if there are different things that trigger it.