FCPX won't "leave files in place" even though I've selected the option

Here's an example of what I do. I have all my video files (copied from the cameras sd card and onto a 4tb external drive) organized by month and year. I select the folder and import its contents. It appears to allow me to "keep files in place" but after import they all start transcoding into my library instead of an alias file. This happens when I try to import smaller amounts too. Even when I try to do individual files.

The **** of it is that it doesn't happen all the time. I have successfully imported (and left in place) thousands of other files but not without batalling this issue randomly along the way. Sometimes the import works, sometimes not. Other times I drag and drop into the event and that works, other times not.

JP

I don't copy the "entire folder structure" and the camera I use shoots ready to use mp4's. I only copy the DCIM folder which only contains dated folders that hold each days files. And, as you can see from this screen grab, FCPX is saying (with the option I checked) that I can keep the files in place. But when I import they are copied to the library (sometimes...) (ADDITION, I also have backups of all the files, one on a separate disk and the other is online)

What do you suggest I do? I have about a hundred hours worth of home videos (all MP4s). As I said in my previous post the import works and then doesn't whether it be through the import window or drag and drop.

Everything should be current. As far as properties, my import is to "leave files in place". As for Library, I have included 2 pics.

I get that the DCIM could be triggering an issue but at the moment I have all 1TB (100 hours) of videos in and working in FCPX. Although I have had this "copy to library" issue along the way. And those files seem to work fine. As a test I even changed a source file's name and it remained linked to the file in FCP. I also deleted a file and restored it using one of my backup files on a seperate drive with no issue. It seems like it's working with the files just fine but the import is giving me grief.

I was able to import and "keep in place" today by dragging and dropping the folders directly into FCP and it worked this time. Should I worry about anything with all the files I have already brought in from a sd card copy?

Do you think I need to do something different when I copy and import my media in the future? I prefer to use the original MP4s as optimized media takes up twice the space or more.

Thanks,

JP

Thanks for the advice. I already tested that and it does work. I even moved the clip folders and deleted the DCIM folder and FCP was still linked to them without going offline.

As for the MP4s working with FCP, I have yet to have any issue with them so far. They edit and play fine dispite having over 7,000 MP4's from this particular camera (a simple canon r400) I have key-worded and compound clipped most of the files and edited together many videos without issue there (other than FCP crashing on occasion for no reason, but that's a different matter.)

I may start to go back to my files and delete and or rename the DCIM and see if that works in the future.

Thanks,

JP