opened project is blank

[Guest]

After creating an .mswmm file in MM2 and saving it, when I later attempt to
open it, the Storyboard is blank. However, the title of the Project is
displayed in the title bar of the MM2 window as though it actually opened,
the "Checking Project File" box displayed and appeared satisfied, and the
overall MM2 window "flickered", as though something had happened. There are
no red X's displayed. The Storyboard is blank and there is nothing listed in
the Collections pane.

Please note that this has happened before, and it seems to me (I'm not 100%
sure of this) that it occurred after I had responded "No" when asked to save
any changes to a prior "project" or "movie" that had been opened and cleared
from the Storyboard. I replied "No", because although I had opened that other
file, I had only looked at it, and not made any changes to it. I had cleared
that previous file by using Edit > Clear Timeline.

I am finding this very frustrating, as I had spent quite a bit of time on
these .mswmm files. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, drg247

 

[Wojo]

In all likelihood the project file is unfortunately no good.
But if it happens the way you think then you could try creating a new
project and saving it then opening the bad project file to see if it works.
Longshot but if it is a memory issue then it just might work.
-Wojo

 

[Guest]

Dear Wojo:
Thank you for your response, however, I need a bit of clarification.

When you suggest "creating a new project and saving it then opening the bad
project file to see if it works", are you implying that I use the same name
as the original file that would not open ? What is the relationship between
this "new project file" and the "bad project file" ?

Secondly, when you say "if it is a memory issue", are you implying that I
might not have enough "page file" memory, as it appears to me as though I do.

Finally, how common is it that MM2 saves project files imcorrectly (i.e. "no
good"), and is there a way to avoid or minimize that from happening ?

On a personal note, your Wojo's Web site for MM2 is excellent and helped me
very much.

Thank You, drg247

 

[Wojo]

To be honest I am just guessing on this one as it isn't a common problem (to
answer one of your questions)

I am not saying use the same filename when creating a new project, that
would overwrite the original leaving no chance of fixing the problem, but of
simply creating a whole new project. Since you said that the problem occurs
when you sat no to saving the one you had opened I just decided to think out
of the box and suggest that. As I said I don't expect it to work.
As far as memory goes the paging file is using your harddrive as "virtual
memory" not the same thing at all and since XP is telling you your virtual
memory is low then it is possible that the issue lies there. It is equally
possible that when XP interrupts the rendering process to warn you and then
increase the paging file size that the actual problem is occurring at that
time. So my thought was that if you increased it manually before rendering
or saving the project so you don't get the XP interruption it may work. As I
said before this is an unusual issue so it takes some guess work and trial
and error to try to figure it out especially since nobody else has chimed in
with a similar experience and solution.
-Wojo