.prel file will not open in premiere elements

[Task1]

Hello,

When I attempt to open a .prel file, this is what happens:

If I click a file this box comes up:

If I just hit cancel, the file loads with this message and is unplayable:

Does this happen because I deleted all of my raw video footage from this computer? It still doesn't work even if the raw footage is on the same computer. Does the raw footage have to be in a special folder? Is this happening because of a version update? Will I ever get this .prel to open again.

Thank you.

[Steve Grisetti]

From the error code on the second illustration it appears you may have tried to open the .prel by clicking on Add Media rather than File/Open.

From the illustration in the third illustration, yes, it looks like you deleted all the media you used in the project.

Finally, are you saying that you began this project in a different version of the program than you're now using? That can also cause problems.

So if you can give us details -- like how you tried to open the file and if the .prel was created in an earlier version of the program -- we can help you figure out what's up.

[Task1]

Hello,

   I used File/Open Project.

   I made this project a few weeks ago, so the version of Premeire should be the same. 

   So can I never delete the raw footage files for a Premeire project? What if I want to move the project from computer to computer? Does the raw footage have to travel with the .prel file?

Thank you. 

[Steve Grisetti]

The source footage will move with your project file if you use the Project Archiver, under the File menu.

[Task1]

Hi Steve,

   I used the project archiver on a new video which had all of its source files. This made a folder called trimmed video. When I moved this folder on a flash dive to a new computer, the issue which I have outlined above occured. That is, none of the media could be loaded.

Thank you. 

[Steve Grisetti]

I know of no reason you would have this issue, Task. 

Are you saying the Trimmed Video folder is empty, except for your .prel file?

[Task1]

No, the trimmed folder has other items in it but the .prel does not open with media on the new computer. 

What is the difference in the project archiver between "archive project" and "copy project"? 

Thank you.  

[Steve Grisetti]

Copy project copies the .prel file only. Archive project copies the media and the project file.

What "other items" are in the folder? Are they the media clips for your project?

[Task1]

Hi Steve,

Yes, the other files ae media clips. I will let you know if I encounter this issue again. But I have moved all of my projects over to the new computer. In order to get them to play, I had to right click on each media file in project assets and select replace media. Although the media was on the new computer, the .prel file did not associate it with its project assets until I did this. 

Thank you. 

[Steve Grisetti]

The first time you open a .prel in this new location it should ask you to locate a media file. Locate that one file and the program will see the other media files in the folder and automatically re-link them. There should be no need to manually replace each video clip.

Unless you saved your .prel before you located the missing media and let the program relink to the clips.

[Task1]

I see, thank you very much Steve.