Restore iMovie project

[lowski]

Welcome everyone (it's my first post here)!
I have a problem with my iMovie project. Long time ago I moved the project directory, event files and iMovie library to external drive (unfortunately I don't remember the way I did it). I would like to restore that project so I can still edit it. I'm able to import library with all events but the project still doesn't show up - https://www.dropbox.com/s/f9m99q03fgtyo4t/Screenshot%202015-01-15%2007.32.55.png?dl=0

On my hard drive I have those files: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x4bqrr608wcg1zn/Screenshot%202015-01-15%2007.33.54.png?dl=0 I modified folder names in the Proxies directory because they use old file paths which is not accessible any more, right now there are like: '%2FVolumes%2FMySafe%2FiMovie%20Events%2Elocalized%2FThailand%2Fclip-2013-04-13%2012;22;25%2Emov' (where /Volumes/MySafe) is my external hard drive where I keep iMovie files.

Is there any chance to fix the project and be able to still edit it?

 

[Dave Braine]

Why did you not just plug in the external and run the Project from there?

 

[lowski]

The problem is I can not open the project from external drive - it's directory not a project file. When I import that directory to my library, it doesn't work - timeline black without any clips, music, etc. (I showed it on the first screen).

 

[Dave Braine]

Long time ago

OK. Looking at the file name and extension(Thailand.rcproject), that Project was created using iMovie11(v9). From you other screenshot, it seems that you are trying to import it into the latest iMovie; ie, iMovie10. I've just tried and I can't do it, and I don't believe that you can.

Normally when you open iMovie10 for the first time, you get the option to import any old iMovie11 Projects and that's the only way you can do it.

As you obviously had iMovie11 at some stage and you upgraded your OS. If you didn't do a clean install, then you should still have iMovie11. It should be in your Applications Folder in a Folder called iMovie 9.0.9 or similar. Failing that, try double clicking the Thailand.rcproject file an see if iMovie11 opens.

You may find the associated Events(original video footage) in the iMovie Events folder in your screenshot or on the external drive which you can then import into iMovie10.

 

[lowski]

David, thank you for taking your time and answering my questions. I really appreciate that.

I've upgraded my OS from Mavericks to Yosemite but I haven't upgraded iMovie after that. I have iMovie 10.0.6 and I think I had the same iMovie on Mavericks. However I remember I upgraded iMovie once (long time ago.. I think it was just after a upgrade from Mountain Lion to Mavericks) and it upgraded the project files.

Should I upgrade / downgrade iMovie on my current OS?

 

[Dave Braine]

Should I upgrade / downgrade iMovie on my current OS?

The previous iMovie(iMovie11) is no longer available. The only option if you don't have it will be to import the contents of those Events Folders on your external drive.

Did you move all those files from your current Mac or a previous one.

I've upgraded my OS from Mavericks to Yosemite

Did you upgrade to Mavericks from something else or did your Mac come with Mavericks?

 

[lowski]

The previous iMovie(iMovie11) is no longer available. The only option if you don't have it will be to import the contents of those Events Folders on your external drive.

Did you move all those files from your current Mac or a previous one.

That was my first thought so I imported all those events to my external drive (via iMovie) but it didn't help. Clips were already were on my external drive in directories that iMovie expects but without importing iMovie couldn't see them at all (even tough I selected a correct library for it - it was library from my old iMovie). Right now I have all clips in iMovie (after that import), I can built a new project with them but I can not play existing project. It looks like iMovie see that project but it can not find all clips and resources I used - that's why I thought the issue can be with Proxies directory (I suspected it contains metadata about resources and clips I used).

Did you upgrade to Mavericks from something else or did your Mac come with Mavericks?

My MacBook came with Lion then I upgraded to Mountain Lion then to Mavericks then finally 2 weeks ago to Yosemite (which I regret - If I had known there are so many issues [I don't mean the iMovie one] I would have stay with Mavericks).

 

[Dave Braine]

It looks like iMovie see that project

If you are using the latest version of iMovie(iMovie10 which is v10), you can't import the Project Thailand, because it was made with the previous version of iMovie(iMovie11 which is v9).

If your Mac came with Lion, it would have had that previous version if you upgraded to Mavericks then Yosemite by just installing the new OS on top of the old, that previous version of iMovie should still be in your Applications Folder in a Folder call iMovie 9.0.9.

 

[lowski]

Unfortunately I have only the latest version of iMovie (I guess I must have upgraded iMovie using App Store). I didn't upgrade from Lion to Yosemite at one time - I have this laptop for over 2 years.

 

[William Ahearn]

Seems to me that Apple has lost its way. Instead of helping their customers they are making it harder and harder. Maybe its time to tell Apple to to take their money and move to mars. May be some people up there who can be suckered in.