Unable to import multiple files?

[ianjarvis]

Hey everybody, I'm an animator who uses manual frames for animating. In my early days of using After Effects, I usually use "import multiple files" and it will import multiple files, as it name suggests. Lately however, it seems that it's unable to do that.

I would select all the files I need, and it just won't import it. I could try to do it manually (by importing my files one by one), but this is very time consuming for me. What seems to be the problem here?

[Roei Tzoref]

we need more information. show us what happens exactly. step by step. with screenshots or better yet, video capture

[ianjarvis]

Of course, here you go,

[P.M.B]

Well,  You CAN import multiple files from the same source folder using "import file".  Sequences too.

The point of using "import multiple files" is to import files from multiple source folders which is why, after you import

you are taken back the navigator to select another file.  But apart from being returned to the navigator

both import options should function the same.

Why the files you select are not importing is not clear.

The only reason I can think of is that they are not in RGB color space.

After effects can only deal with RGB color.

But you say you can import them one at a time so they must be in rgb.

Then I look at your screenshots and see something is not quite right.

The first images you uploaded show at least 6 files selected but you are not importing them as a sequence.

From what I can see they should import but not as a sequence.  Not sure why they're not.

Then the final images uploaded is not an individual image but a 24 second animation.

It does not show any files selected in the navigator then cuts to show you have a 24 second composition

but the file list is conveniently not visible in that image but I assume it the sequence of PSD files?

I'm not sure how you managed to import file sequence without having files selected or checking the "sequence" option box.

In short, you images in concert with your comments are confusing and it's not entirely

clear what you are doing'and what you;re trying to do.

You say you've been doing this for awhile and "all of  a sudden"  it stopped working

but based on your images and your description it seems like you might be

at least a tiny bit unclear about what you're actually doing.

At least to a degree that makes it difficult for you to explain.

Are you tying import multiple files or are you trying to import a file sequence?

Are they RGB color space?

Like Roei said: If you could upload an actual video screen capture it might be easier to tell what your doing.

[ianjarvis]

Thank you for the in-depth reply, I will try to answer your questions.

I tried using "import file" according to your suggestion, but it still keeps bringing me back to the navigator. And like I said, I can only import the files one by one and it's very time consuming.

Are you familiar with the "project" window in Adobe Premiere? It's a place where you can put a number of raw footage and files that you can drag into your composition. My After Effects project window works the same way until I encounter this problem. Now, instead of it being a place where I can store my raw footage and files, it's just a place for 1 file at a time.

Your observation about how the final images is an animation instead of individual images is precisely the problem. All I did is import one file from the folder and it automatically turns it into a sequence, when I prefer it to be individual images.

I'm definitely trying to import multiple files

I'm not sure how to find out if my PSD files are RGB color sequences, but most of the things I used to made in Photoshop seems to work.

[kirkeric]

I think at least one problem is simple.  To import them individually, when the file explorer window comes up, uncheck the import as sequence and that should fix that.

Eric

[ianjarvis]

Sadly it still doesn't work. It still came up blank.

[kirkeric]

Send a screenshot of the file explorer when you choose to import.

The only way it will import in to a sequence is if you tell it to.  Sometimes the box gets checked on accident or defaults perhaps from a recent import in which you wanted it as a sequence.

I'd also suggest just importing the folder with all the images.  Makes it cleaner in AE/Premiere anyway.

Eric

[P.M.B]

kirkeric  wrote

I'd also suggest just importing the folder with all the images.  Makes it cleaner in AE/Premiere anyway.

Eric

Or just drag it in.  I think the only time I ever use import is for sequences.  I usually just drag stuff from Bridge or Explorer.

footage, folders, projects, whatever.

[kirkeric]

Hi,

Yes, concur.  I do the drag and drop routinely myself as well.

[P.M.B]

First of all let me say that you are a total madman (or woman ).  You right clicked, selected import, chose a file & hit "OK" 720 times?!?!

I would have had a meltdown if I had to do that.  Seriously something would have gotten broken.

Secondly, the behavior your describing seems very unusual

I strongly suggest uploading a video to show (& tell) us EXACTLY what you're doing because:

Option A)  You're doing something wrong

Option B) There's a problem with either After Effects

Option C) There's a problem with you computer

Option 4) I'm way off.

And congratulations again on manually importing 720 files one at a time.  How long did that take?