PTE lost all of the File Name associations...

[goddi]

Greetings,

I recently updated to the latest version. I noticed that PTE has lost the correct File Name folder associated with previously saved PTE shows. When I open a project, the File Name window shows some other project, not the correct project.

Normally, when I open a .pte show, the files associated with the project will appear in the Fine Name window. Now, each time I open a .pte show, the files in the File Name window are for a different project and I have to scroll around to find the correct File Name folder and resave it to keep the correct File Name folder associated with the project.

If, before I resave the .pte with the corrected File Name folder, I do a Save As, it shows the correct File Name folder. But it will not correct or update the association of the project's correct File Name folder. I have to scroll around to reset the correct File Name folder for each project.

So my question is, if the Save As can find the correct File Name folder when doing a Save As, why does the .pte not automatically keep the correct path to the File Name folder? Why did the PTE lose all the correct File Name associated with all of my projects?

Gary

[Igor]

Hi Gary,

Usually it should work the following algorithm:

Once you Save/Save As a project, the saved includes a parameter:

ImagesFolder=C:\MyFolder\Images\

However it's possible that user chooses another folder for the FIle List without saving a project. PTE uses a special global storage here:

C:\Users\YourProfileName\AppData\Local\PicturesToExe\ProjectsExtraData\

"ProjectsExtraData" contains text files (named as .dat files) where certain .pte project file is associated with a certain folder which should be displayed in the File List on loading a project. This global storage has a higher priority on loading of a project. And only if this global storage doesn't has a record for a project (new computer, renamed project), PTE reads and uses a folder path from a .pte project file (ImagesFolder parameter).

You can make a backup of "ProjectsExtraData" folder in a ZIP and send me for checking. Also open 1-2 projects where wrong path is displayed on loading. don't save them. Send me these 2 projects (only .pte files) for checking in a personal message.

You can delete "ProjectsExtraData" folder, and it will force PTE to load default folder from each .pte file. Then the global storage will be updated automatically with new records for recently loaded projects.

[goddi]

Greetings Igor,

I sent a PM with the information you requested. I found an example project with this problem where the .dat path for the images is not correct. However, if I would do a SaveAs, it will show the correct path to save the .pte file, even though the FileList shown is incorrect.

I just don't understand why the .dat file in the ProjectExtraData would not show or retain the correct path. I know for sure I have always done a SaveAs so that when I open the PTE project, the correct images appear in the FileList. Sometimes, the correct path to the images for the FileList are lost and I have to do a SaveAs to get it back to being correct.

Gary

 

[Igor]

Gary,

Thanks for sending me ProjectsExtraData folder.

Normally PTE automatically remembers last chosen folder in the FIle List, regardless Save command. And this path is recorded in ProjectsExtraData folder.

The folder path could be changed only if you opened some project and changed the folder in the File List panel. 

Usually it works well. 

Probably you changed it after loading a project?

If you delete ProjectsExtraData folder, PTE will read saved folder path from each project file on loading.

Or try to choose another folder in the File panel for some project, do not save the project and close PTE AV Studio. Check ProjectsExtraData folder, it should contains an updated record for this project. I just checked - it works this way on my PC.

[goddi]

Greetings Igor,

I understand what you are saying. But...I am always very careful in doing a 'SaveAs' for each project to insure the path in the 'File name' window is correctly set. The files are correct in the 'SlideList', but not in the 'File name' window. So when the 'File name' window's path is not correct, I have to scroll around to find the correct path and do a 'SaveAs'.

This problem seems to be random and affects some, but not all projects. I took a look at one trip where I make 9 separate projects. Each project's files are in their own separate folder. All files are saved to their own folder with its .pte file. Of these 9 projects, only 5 show the correct files associated with the its project (shown as 'OK').

However, 4 of these projects show incorrect files in the 'File name' window. Each of these projects show the images from a completely different project of a trip to Portugal.

 

So, it seemed to have happened after I installed the latest upgrade. Just a guess but I only noticed it at that point. Possible?

These projects above were created in 2011 so there is no connection to the Portugal project made in 2024. I know I have opened the above projects many time having the correct files associated with it. But something recently has changed the file association in the 'File name' window for some projects. I remember this happening many years ago but never understood what caused it.

Gary

[Igor]

Hi Gary,

If you load an old project created before V9 it doesn't have saved folder path for the File Panel. In this case, the project gets current folder displayed in the main window of PTE when you load this project for the first time in V11.

Regarding recent projects saved in V10 or V11. Is there a chance that you could have opened a project and unintentionally changed the folder without even saving the project? Because it is enough to simply select another folder in the File panel and PTE automatically remembers your choice for the opened project (saving is not necessary).

Honestly, I don't know another reason for this issue, it works correctly for my projects.

[goddi]

Greetings Igor,

I took a look at a 2001 project that had 4 different shows created from it. All 4 of them showed incorrect paths in the 'File names' window. I changed the 'File name' path to some other  path, but did not do a 'Save as', as you mentioned. Yes, the 'File name' window did change to the other incorrect path.

So it is working as you described. But this is an unexpected result. I don't think this should occur. I would like to be able to set a default path so no matter where I might browse in the 'Fine name' window, the project will always revert back to the default 'File name' path that was set when it is re-opened. The idea of putting every file used in a project into a default single folder should be the basic setting for PTE projects. Sure, people can change it, but it is a real pain to suddenly have to go search for the correct 'File name' path and resave it to get it re-set.

If the 'Slide list' shows the correct images when the project is opened, so should the 'File name' window.

Gary