This page describes what happens when a cue refers to a file that is no longer there, and how to correct this before the show. If you are in the middle of a problem, the shorter page a file is missing in part 14 takes you through the steps.
How you find out
The program warns you in two places.
When you open a list, a message with the title Missing files shows how many cues refer to a file that does not exist.
In the list, each affected line has a warning mark, and its tooltip shows the full path that the cue is looking for. The path usually shows what happened: the file was moved, the drive letter changed, or the network share is not connected.
Common causes
| What you see | Usual cause |
|---|---|
| Every cue in one block is marked | A folder was moved or renamed |
| Every cue from one drive is marked | A network share is not connected, or the drive letter changed |
| One cue is marked | That file was renamed, moved or deleted |
| Every cue is marked in a list from another computer | The media is not on this computer. You need a bundle |
How to correct it
What you do depends on the cause.
If the files were moved, put them back where the list expects them. You can also add the file again and delete the old line.
If the list came from another location, you usually need a bundle instead of a list. A .playout file contains the rundown and refers to the media in its original location, but a .playoutbundle contains the media itself. So ask the sender for the bundle. See part 9.
If the file no longer exists, add a replacement and delete the old line. You can also move the line to the archive, so that it is no longer in the running order.
What a missing file does during a show
A cue with a missing file shows no picture. The playout does not crash and the list does not stop, so the show continues with a black screen for that item.
The program checks the files when you open the list, and not when you press GO.
A useful habit
Open the list for the next show one day in advance, on the computer that will run it, and read the message that appears when the list opens. This takes ten seconds, and it leaves you enough time to correct the most common cause of a black screen.