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Forum Discussion
Error when importing .MOV file from DropBox in Adobe apps
Hi all,
I am a Adobe After Effects user.
I keep my files synced to DropBox. Frequently, I get an issue where, when I try to open a project, After Effects should import all the media files lin...
Jay Have just checked one more thing. If I move the file out of Dropbox (i.e. drag it onto desktop) I can then import the file into After Effects, but if I drag and drop it back into Dropbox - I can't import it again (file is green and synced).
Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
Dropbox Community ModeratorIf the file has that green icon on it, and you then quit the Dropbox desktop application entirely, are you able to import it into that app?
Hi Walter did not solve the issue, tried both: fixing hardlinks and fixing permissions. But I think the error message changed after that, it now says:
1) After Effects error: Could not open source file. Please check that file exists with correct permissions.2) After Effects error: file 'filename.mov' cannot be imported - this 'MooV' file is damaged or unsupported.
I am struggling with this also. If I change the name of the file or the location, its seems to lose the error and work - but of course, that's hardly a viable solution for a comfortable workflow ,as we typically work with many video files in every project.... as I imagine most people would.
- Nancy
Hi everyone! I’d like to ask a few more things here, if you don’t mind.
Can either one of you send me a screenshot of the error, so that we may have a visual?
Also, what’s the current location/filepath of the local Dropbox folder on your computers?
Can you try opening the files directly via the Dropbox folder, and then via Adobe After Effects, and let me know if there’s a difference in the error you’re getting?
Nancy error image attached.
current filepath of the Dropbox folder - Users/username/Dropbox
As I mentioned previously, there is no problem opening the files for previews or in QuickTime directly in the folder, only when trying to import to After Effects (doesn't matter if I drag & drop or import it via File -> Import). The files also can't be opened when opening an old project file that has those files in place.
And just to clarify - those files 'break' only after bringing them back from the cloud, and yes they are green and available offline. They work if I change their location or rename them, but once I rename them back to their old names or drag them back into the folder - they don't work.Is there any updates on this? I'm having the same problem with Dropbox and After effects.
Here's a quick summary:
MacOS Sonoma 14.1
Adobe After Effects 24.0.1
I'm not using File Provider - Dropbox file path is in users. (seems like I'm not eligible for FP and I'd rather not do that now since it requires to move all the files to a different location, which will cause a whole lot of missing footage)
I've fixed permissions and hardlinks.
I've given full disk access to Dropbox.
I've cleared cache and restarted the DB app and the computer multiple times.
All the missing footage is available offline and green.
---These are all the solutions I could find online. Tried them and they don't work for me.
The only way to workaround this problem is highly unsustainable for me and my team:
It works when I duplicate and rename the file, then import it separately, then replace the layer inside AE.
Or when I collect the files on After effects (which will duplicate all the assets on a separate location and result in an unnecessary folder size)
But we're collaborating as a team on many project files with a huge number of assets and this workaround is impossible for us to do on a daily basis.
From what I've read online, this is a Dropbox issue rather than an After Effects issue. And I need this to be solved immediately so that we can continue our way of working.
Thanks in advance.- Megan
Hey aecemat, I hope you're doing well!
My first thought, is that this might be related to After Effects, but I'm here in order to do some troubleshooting along with you.
I'd love to know the version of the app that you're using on your end.
You can find it by locating your Dropbox icon on the menu bar, next to your WiFi and hovering your mouse there.
Also, if you quit the Dropbox app, and then try to import the connect, does that give you any errors?
Let me know more!
Hello @Megan Thanks for your prompt response.
My version of Dropbox is v194.4.6267
Also about your suggestion to quit DB and try again- yes I've tried that and unfortunately still no good.- Jay
HI aecemat, it might be best to contact the support team via email directly for them to investigate this matter in more detail on their end.
- Jay
HI PARTNER, have you contacted the support team via email?
- Yes, but have yet to reach a solution
- Jay
In that case, it would be best to continue your troubleshooting with them, since they can investigate more details than we are able to over the Community.
Hey! I've got an update on this actually! I've contacted the Adobe support and they suggested it might be an issue due to the AE version. Now I open the project file with the Beta version and it works well 😊 Normally I don't use Beta on a daily basis but right now it's the only solution until this error can be fixed permanently with a future update. Hope it helps you too!
- aecemat I have just remembered that the files would break on whatever version of AE I tried to open the resynced files first. If I opened the project in AE2023 first - the files would break on it permanently, but I was able to open them in AE2024. So this might be the case why your project now works in beta - because you made a version change. It doesn’t necessary mean that the problem is fixed in beta, only time will tell.
