How to Relink PE Files???

[Desert Sky]

I have been archiving my Premiere Elements 2018 movies on an external hard drive, each in a separate folder.  Now I want to rework one of the projects but do not know how to relink the video and photo files so that they will operate with the PE .prel file.  The video and the photo files are saved in separate folders for each archived movie, along with the PE .prel file.  Can anyone share some simple instructions on how I can relink all these files as simply as possible?

[Peru Bob]

If they don't automatically relink:

https://helpx.adobe.com/in/premiere-elements/using/offline-files.html

Also, make sure to assign a fixed drive letter to the external drive so they stay linked:

https://www.google.com/search?q=assign+a+fixed+drive+letter+to+the+external+drive&sourceid=chrome&ie...

[Desert Sky]

PB,  I just worked on your suggestions... and yes, it appears that I can relink each video and photo individual file back to the project.... yet this will take a very long time considering how many files there are to process by hand.  Is there any way to just reassign the link to the master folder of all the files?  Or is there a way to determine the link that the .prel project file is looking for... then put the master project file back where it belongs?  -Sky

[Bill Sprague]

This is hard to answer.  There are two options in the Premiere Elements project archive system.  And, there are manual ways to do it.   Can you explain how your archives were done?  Were the files in a project specific folder?  Were they random selected across your drive?  Have they been moved for storage?   

[Desert Sky]

OK... Each movie project has a master folder named for the movie.  The master folder contains subfolders: Video Clips (sometimes with subfolders), Photos, PE Project Files, and Finished Movie Versions.  The master folder contains everything organized into these folders.  I work the movie on my computer hard drive, then then complete, archive it on an external hard drive without changing the master folder.  I'm wondering if there is a way to tell PE where the master folder is now located.  Also, if I knew the folder address of where PE is looking for my files, then I can move the master folder from the external HD to this same location on my computer and hopefull be able to edit or modify the project.  Any help you can give me in this regard will be immensely helpful.

[Bill Sprague]

I use the same manual system.  Every project is in a master folder that includes the assets.  When complete, the entire folder is moved to an external drive.  If I want to work on the project again, I move the folder to its original location and the links connect.  

Have you tried putting the master project file back in it's original location?  Have you tried that?  Can you post screen shots showing what is not working?

[Desert Sky]

It sounds like moving the master folder from the external drive archive to the original location on my computer is the best way to go.  I'm not sure exactly what the file path was for the original location of some of the movies I want to work on.  Is there a way to find this path on PE?

[Bill Sprague]

_

..... Is there a way to find this path on PE?

Not that I know of from withing Premiere Elements.  However, when you open the project there should be a dialog saying it can't find a certain file by name.  You should be able to use Windows Explorer to search for that file in a separate window.   If you have kept the project clips in the same folder, finding one will locate all of them.  

[Desert Sky]

Thank you Bill for your suggestions.  I will give this a try.  Hopefully it will work.

[pier luigit69016332]

In a folder you need to put the following files:

Adobe Premiere Elements Audio Previews

Adobe Premiere Elements Captured Audio

Adobe Premiere Elements Captured Video

Adobe Premiere Elements Video Previews

Encoded Files

Layouts

Adobe Premiere Elements auto-save

All Clips

Music files

Click on the * .prel file

If it doesn't find the audio files, it cancels the search

Open Resources in the expert view

Double-click on an offline clip

Save the project and exit

Reopen the project and all clips should be displayed correctly

For audio files check the path (place the mouse on the Audio1 track and
with the right mouse button select Show Properties