AFTER EFFECTS WARNING: YUR PROJECT FILE IS APPARENTLY DAMAGED (SKIPPED SECTIONS: 8)

[#1]

Hi,

I have an after effects file I have been working on for a client. I just had the client on to run through final amends on a 5 minute film and I am getting the error message: 
AFTER EFFECTS WARNING: YUR PROJECT FILE IS APPARANTLY DAMAGED (SKIPPED SECTIONS: 8) PLEASE SAVE USING A DIFFERENT NAME. ( 26 :: 0 )

I have looked all over google for a solution but can't find one. I have no backups to fall back on as I had been working on it from home. I tested the file yesterday at work and it worked fine so I then deleted the back up from my hard drive which obviously I now regret.

If anyone had any ideas of how I can recover a weeks worth of work I will be forever grateful.

Many thanks,

Paul.

PS if more information is required please ask.

[Moderator: Moved to the After Effects forum]

[#2]

What about autosave files? I always have a copy that is no older than 15 minutes because that is how I set up my preferences.

If not an autosave the only option I can think of is to try and import the damaged AEP into a new AE project instead of opening it. You might be able to recover some of the work.

[#3]

Hi

Thanks Rick,

I haven't got any of the backup files unfortunately. I tried importing into another file but it doesn't work. 

I fear I am going havce to do all the work again but the deadline is tomorrow and it has taken me a week to create so I think I am in trouble 😞

[#4]

Hi Paul,

I am getting this same error from After Effects:

"After Effects warning: your project file is apparently damaged (skipped sections: 4). Please save using a different name. ( 26 :: 0 )"

I checked previous After Effects project files that I know have always worked for me, and even those have the error. It seems any past project I open is giving me this error. I recently auto-updated all my CC apps to the newest available. After that the error started. I tried reverting to the previous version of After Effects (17.0.6, Build 35), but that isn't helping. The projects still aren't able to open.

[#5]

Hi Paul,

I am getting this same error from After Effects:

"After Effects warning: your project file is apparently damaged (skipped sections: 4). Please save using a different name. ( 26 :: 0 )"

I checked previous After Effects project files that I know have always worked for me, and even those have the error. It seems any past project I open is giving me this error. I recently auto-updated all my CC apps to the newest available. After that the error started. I tried reverting to the previous version of After Effects (17.0.6, Build 35), but that isn't helping. The projects still aren't able to open. I am running MacOS Catalina 10.15.4.

[#6]

Hi Jo,

So I couldn't find anything online that helped me. I tried everything you have, re-installed CC, dumped the prefs and lots of other things including buying £100 data recorvery software to find an old version of the file (which didn't work either).

In the end the simple re-start of my mac worked. I know, I couldn't beleibve it either after losing most of the day to this issue however it did work for me. I would give that a try but other than that I honestly don't know why it does it. 

Let me know how you get on.

Good luck.

Paul