When a cue refers to a file that is no longer there, the program warns you as soon as you open the list. This page explains the warning, the usual causes and how to solve them 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, or 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 cues and refers to the media where it was stored, while a .playoutbundle contains the media itself. Ask the sender for a 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 program does not stop and the list continues, so the show goes on 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 a day in advance, on the computer that will run it, and read the message that appears. It takes ten seconds, and it leaves you enough time to solve the most common cause of a black screen.