recent projects list changes when external hard drive not connected

[djmattyz]

one feature which kind of annoys me, is that when i start up Premiere , if i do not have the relevant external hard drive connected to my computer, the recent projects list will change (can even go completely empty), i can no longer see the actual recent projects.

is there a way to stop that?

also is there a way to make the recent projects list longer?  like 50 projects long?

[excited_Genie16B8]

Use external drives only for backup and archiving.  Always work from internal drives.

I believe 10 is the maximum number of entries on the list.

[djmattyz]

why do you say always work from internal drives?  

[John T Smith]

Because, as you have discovered, a disconnected external drive causes problems for the project manager

[djmattyz]

by that logic you could also ask "why use adobe Premiere pro at all then?"

i can think of plenty of programs that do not lose the recent files list depending on which hard drive is connected,  its not helpful.

[Meg The Dog]

You should put in a feature request:

Feature Request/Bug Report Form

I assume Premiere Pro on startup looks to see if the Recent File list is viable - i.e. there is indeed a correctly named file in the correct directory path - and if not, drops that project from the list.

My workflow uses sets of removable drives that are dedicated to particular clients/project that load into multibay thunderbolt enclosures. I keep my project files on those removable drive sets, so when I swap out a set, the previous project does not show in the Recent File list - which in my case is good as if I choose it there would not be a corresponding file for Premiere to load.

MtD

[excited_Genie16B8]

Premiere Pro on startup looks to see if the Recent File list is viable - i.e. there is indeed a correctly named file in the correct directory path - and if not, drops that project from the list.

That is correct.

[excited_Genie16B8]

by that logic you could also ask "why use adobe Premiere pro at all then?"

That makes no sense.

[djmattyz]

"That makes no sense"

Jim, the point i was making is that it is a defeatist approach

working only on internal drives would mean , for me,  that i would have to keep 900GB of data (the current projects im working on this month) on my internal hard disc  all to accomodate for the wierd way that adobe handles the recent files list.

THAT would make no sense , as it would fill the hard drive close to 100%

i guess i could save all the project files into the internal HD (if thats what John T meant)  but it would also cause problems for my workflow as i like to keep the project together with the data.

[Peru Bob]

djmattyz  wrote

working only on internal drives would mean , for me,  that i would have to keep 900GB of data (the current projects im working on this month) on my internal hard disc  all to accomodate for the wierd way that adobe handles the recent files list.

THAT would make no sense , as it would fill the hard drive close to 100%

Use an additional internal drive, perhaps 2 TB, for all of your project files and media.

[Guest]

thanks for the advice

[excited_Genie16B8]

Jim, the point i was making is that it is a defeatist approach

I take a more positive view.  I see my recommendation as an approach pretty much guaranteed to work.

[djmattyz]

haha,  well it is useful advice jim,  but its not practical for me.

my real hope was that there would be a way to get premiere to just have a recent file list a more like other programs (by ticking a checkbox in the menu or something),

no harm in wishing.......

problem i was having is that i have about 5 different external 1TB hard discs with different projects, new and old. and id like to be able to see the order in which i have been working on them at a glance.  the fact that menu was changing was an added annoyance i didnt need.  i can accept however that there can be some benefits aswell. i have learned a couple of things from this thread.

I have upgraded my internal hard disc to 2TB, (im a DJ aswell, so 1TB is already taken with my music viceo collection,  i cant afford to upgrade to (for example) 4TB , because i have more pressing issues to take care of first  such as a new Laptop

[Meg The Dog · Accepted solution]

If you haven't already, you need to file a feature request:

Feature Request/Bug Report Form

MtD

[excited_Genie16B8]

working only on internal drives would mean , for me,  that i would have to keep 900GB of data (the current projects im working on this month) on my internal hard disc

Well...yeah.  That's the norm for video editing.

it would fill the hard drive close to 100%

If you need larger hard drives, get them.  That's also the expected norm for video editing.

i like to keep the project together with the data.

I do recommend a different approach.

C: Windows and Programs

D: Project files, audio files, still images

E: Cache and Scratch

F: Camera media only

G: Exports

This offers both excellent performance and organization.

[Peru Bob]

If you don't have the drive connected and aren't intending to open the file from the recent projects list, you could just create a Notepad or WordPad file listing your projects and update it as necessary.

[killerJules]

I edit a TV program at 1-5 episodes a week. With 6 HD feeds to work with for each episode, and such a quick turnover, editing internally simply isn't an option for me, so I use external drives for my footage - and it works.

I'm also very particular about my drives and having everything set up and stored in a logical system so manually finding any recent project from the last 3 years is very easy to do. I don't rely on Recent Projects very much.

Being fussy about the drives works for me. I just ensure that the drives are up and running first before I open premiere and usually open from my project file. I also name my hard drives sequentially and label them physically with what projects and footage are on them.

I know this doesn't answer your question per se, but it works for me.