Hello
Can someone explain concisely and in layman's language what all the files do and how they work both in the Users and Project folder?
I ask as I can't find anything in the AXP docs and I often read that one should throw away some of these files but I don't understand what they do and what their correlation is with the rest of machine, particularly when on a server.
Many thanks

The project folder contains the bins, project file and settings files that control the various components of that particular project. i.e, project type (30i, 1080i,25p etc.), audio type (48k, 44.1k, 32, etc.). The project settings file can be deleted but it is not usually recommended. All other files in this folder should not be touched.

The User folder contains elements pertaining to a particular user's setting. Keyboard layout, interface style, import/export setting, etc. The only file that should be deleted in this folder is the MCState occasionally.

Project Folder = each invidual bin for a project and a file that stores 'project based' settings (like sample rate and project type). There are folders for each project you have.

User folder = settings that is user based such as keyboard mapping, various bin views, timeline views, workspace layouts, etc. Each user has it's own folder.

Settings = stores settings that is neither project based or user based. Site Settings for example stores your deck configuration. The only files you should be concerned about is MC State, Site Settings and Site Attributes. If you ever get unusual software behavior that cannot be fixed by a new project (corrupt project settings), a new user (corrupt user settings) you can try deleting these 3 files. Avid will generate them at startup using default values.

There are three main folders, one for the application, one for Avid Users, and one for Avid Projects.  Some diagnostics suggest you delete several "settings" files.

The application folder contains most of the program parts, other than drivers & dll's.  It also has sub-folders with various additional components.  One such folder is Settings.  The three files that are typically deleted for diagnostic purposes are MC State, Site Settings (.avs and .xml), and Site Attributes.  These will rebuild as needed.

Note:  With OS's released after the original post, the location has changed.  Under Windows 7, it is located here:

C:\Users\Public\Documents\Avid Media Composer\Settings

The Avid User folder contains each individual users settings, with each user in a separete folder..  For diagnostics, I usually recommend just creating a new User Profile.

The Avid Project folder contains your various projects, within their own folders.  Within each project folder is your project data, settings, Bins, etc..  Media is stored separately.  In each project folder there is a project settings file.  It has the same name as the project, followed by "settings", and an extension of .avs.  You can delete this file for diagnostics.  In a shared storge environment, e.g., Unity or ISIS, your settings are in a folder that matches your computer name.  This is how each system can maintain their own unique settings.  This folder is inside the Project Folder.  You can delete either the single .avs file, or, some prefer to delete their entire settings folder.

Because all these settings are loaded into RAM during launch, they are all subject to corruption.  Therefore, for diagnostics, it is best to delete all the files at the same time.  Otherwise, a new settings file may become corrupted by one that wasn't deleted.  Not deleting all 4 files, and creating a new User Profile, doesn't provide a pure scientific result.

To summarize:  In the Settings folder, delete MC State, Site Settings, and Site Attributes.  In the Project folder, delete the Project Settings file (.avs).  For the User, just create a new User Profile as you launch Avid, after deleting the other 4 files.

If things are running well, you can go back and try your original User Profile.

Note:  If your facility has onsite support, you should check with them prior to attempting this process.

>>rlr

Thank you very much for your very concise responses. I can now reply to fellow editors with confidence. I must confess that there is more than its fair share of 'voodoo' around the avid, partly because I don't find the manuals that well conceived but mostly because very few of us have ever read them.
Thanks you again.

 Christopher:

Here's an Avid document Settings and You that you may find useful.

Does anyone know if this "settings and you" still exists? and where? it sounds interesting. My screen, timeline etc are messed up. I fix them, but I don't remember how to save them. Some windows open so high up on the screen that you can't get to the top bar to move them.

You can use "toolsets" or "workspaces" to customize the size and position of your project window, tools, composer and timeline windows. In the case of toolsets, choose one of the 6 presets and customize it to your liking, then "save current" to lock in the changes. Further, you can link a specific timeline view to a specific toolset or workspace using the "link to current..." dialog.

And if you have a particular window that's gone slightly out of range, click on it and choose "home" from the windows pulldown to restore it to default position.

Thanks much Larry, I will Check the toolsets or workspaces to make the fix stick. I had tried the "home" thing and it also took the window up too high too :p

That was both surprizing and annoying.

 

thanks again

Prueng,

The actual link to the knowledge Base "settings and you" is here:

http://www.avid.com/cgi/kbase-redir.aspx?p_faqid=75266

Then from there is a pdf file you can download with the information in it and IMO it is great stuff. Veryu informative.

Marianna

http://www.avid.com/cgi/kbase-redir.aspx?p_faqid=75266

does not work any more...

I also don't find an article no. 75266 in the knowledge base, i.e.http://avid.force.com/pkb/LegacySearch?DocId=75266 has no content.

Google "avid settings and you":

http://cdn.pinnaclesys.com/SupportFiles/attach/Settings_and_You_R2.pdf

 

:)

Thanks for that heads up, Tenorsax. I've updated my bookmarks accordingly.

Randall L Rike:

To summarize:  In the Settings folder, delete MC State, Site Settings, and Site Attributes.  In the Project folder, delete the Project Settings file (.avs).  For the User, just create a new User Profile as you launch Avid, after deleting the other 4 files.

If things are running well, you can go back and try your original User Profile.

>>rlr

So, where are these four folder/files that I need to delete?