Dependencies > Collect Files - Grabs files and comps that aren't being used

[dparsons85]

I'm trying to use the Collect Files function but it keeps including files and comps that it should omit. 

I tried Collect Files > For Selected Comps > Generate Report Only and it reported that I used files that were not in the comp I had selected (or any precomp within that).

I also tried Collect Files > For Selected Comps > Reduce Project and it collected a bunch of comps and files that were not in the sequence I had selected. 

Any idea why this might happen?

Thanks!

[OussK]

may you have some expression linked to the comps that are not used by the comp you try to collect, so are you sure you don't have expression? 

[dparsons85]

No, there's definitely not any expressions linking them.

Little bit more context: I'm working on a series that uses a lot of templates that we made in AE (premade transitions and elements) so I always import that Graphic Elements AE project when I start a new video. It's comps and files used in those templates that are being included in the Collect Files function.

I actually did some tests and am getting two different results.

First test:

• Made a new project
• Made two comps in the Project Panel
• Imported two images
• Put one of the images in one of the comps and tried Collect Files for that comp
• This worked exactly as it should, it only collected the come I had selected and the one file that was in that comp.

Second Test:

• Made a new project
• Made one comp in the Project Panel
• Imported one image and put it in the new comp
• Imported the AE Graphic Elements project 
• Tried collecting files for the comp with the single image in it
• This did not work correctly and many comps and files from the Graphic Elements project were collected

Let me know what you think. Thanks!

[Rick Gerard]

Try selecting only the comps you want to copy in the Project Panel. 

[dparsons85]

That's what I was doing, I only had one comp selected in the Project Panel when I collected the dependencies.

[Warren Heaton · Accepted solution]

Try doing a Save As of the full project (File > Save As).

In the resulting project, select the Comp(s) you want to keep and do a Reduce Project (File > Dependencies > Reduce Project...).  The result should contain only the Comps and footage being used.  Save to update the changes.

Then do the Collect Files (File > Dependencies > Collect Files...).  When done, you can delete the first Save As project.

[dparsons85]

Thanks Warren! That seemed to do the trick.

This confirms that the Reduct Project function within Collect Files isn't working correctly. Frustrating for sure but at least we have a workaround now. 

[clauderozsa]

Good morning,

I have a question which concerns the option "reduce project" in dependencies. Supposing I have 2 comps in the project and a few images and videos in it. Having completed my project I want to keep only in a final edition only comp A and the images used in it. If I use the option reduce project, will it keep the initial structure with the two comps and images and create a new folder with the selected comp I choose to consider the final project, or will it erase from the disk the comp and images I decided to eliminate from the initial project composition?

Thanks

Claude

[dparsons85]

If you have 2 comps, Comp A and Comp B, and you want to save Comp A (and everything in it) but get rid of everything else then click on Comp A in the project panel then go to File > Dependencies > Reduce Project... 

Using the Reduce Project function will only remove the files from the After Effects project - all images, videos, etc... will remain on your hard drive in the same place.

If you want to delete all the assets off your hard drive that you are not using, then after using the Reduce Project option click on Comp A and go to File > Dependencies > Collect Files... and use this to COPY the files that are used in Comp A to a new folder on your hard drive. Open the new project created by the Collect Files function and make sure everything looks good, if everything checks out then you can just delete your old project and assets from your hard drive. 

[clauderozsa]

Thanks Dparsons let's hope I'll solve my memory problem with my complex E3d comp! It's getting me mad! By the way I had checked the option to get an alert by email when an answer was available but did not get any...The mysteries of internet!LOL! 

Claude

[Noah331459586gpc]

false

[Warren Heaton]

Do a Save As from your main project.  Add something descriptive to the tail of the project name.  (This file can be deleted later as it's just created to preserve the main project.)

Select what you want to keep and Reduce.

The organization within the project will be mainted.

Save.

Then do the Collect.

Any source footage will be copied to a (Footage) folder in the resulting Collect folder and this will not mirror how the files were organized in the Finder/Explorer.  If there were folders in yout project, you'll find subfolders in the (Footage) folder with matching names

So, organization inside the AEP remains, organization outside the AEP does not.