PE7 importing 16/9 files - does the "interpretation rules" file work?

Question

Hello folks,
I'm having the seemingly common problem of importing 16/9 footage which PE assumes is 4:3. I know you can go through the interpret footage malarky but I'd like the process to be as simple as possible - this is for our students to use so any extra steps that can be cut out will be hugely useful.
A big of googling suggested that the "interpretation rules.txt" file in the plug-ins directory could be edited to create new default behaviour. I've added the following line:
720, 576, *, *, * = 64/45, *, *, *
which as far as I can see should set the aspect to be 1.422 (PAL widescreen). But it's made no difference. Is this file just ignored and left over from the full version of Premiere or should PE take notice of what's in there?
The camera is a Canon FS200. Gspot suggests that the file is flagged as being 4:3, which obviously doesn't help matters! It's definately anamorphic widescreen.
Thanks for any advice,
Sheriton

Answer 1

I can confirm that the file does exist for PRE7 in the folder E:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Premiere Elements 7.0\Plug-ins\en_US
This is it's content:
# Premiere pixel aspect ratio rules and names
# note: Premiere only uses the width, height, and pixel aspect ratio information
# adapted from:
# "Interpretation Rules.txt"
# After Effects 4.1 Automatic Footage Interpretation
# lines beginning with "#" are comments
# basic format of a rule: {match requirements} = {set interpretation}
# + for each rule that matches, the interpretation is set; wild-cards ("*") allowed
#   on both sides; wildcard match matches anything, wildcard set sets nothing
# + multiple rules are allowed to match, later matches override earlier matches
# + all rules are scanned in order, one rule per line
# + rules are applied after the automatic setting of D1 pixel aspect and automatic
#    field separation from field-labeled files
# width, height, frame-rate, file-type, codec =
#     pixel aspect ratio/name, field order, conform frame-rate, alpha interp
# width & height are integer numbers
# frame-rate is a decimal number
# file-type is four characters in quotes (4c's)
# codec (applicable for QT & AVI only) is also 4c's
# the pixel aspect ratio is a ratio of integers (e.g. 10/11)
#   optionally followed by a name for that ratio (e.g. 10/11/"My Aspect")
# the field order is a single character, (F=frame, U=upper field, or L=lower field)
# the conform frame-rate is a decimal number
# alpha interp: (I=ignore, S=straight, P=premul/black, W=premul/white)
#    alpha interp is ignored for footage without an alpha channel
# assume ATSC 704x480 in any format is D1 aspect
704, 480, *, *, * = 648/720, *, *, *
# assume NTSC DV is D1 aspect
720, 480, *, *, * = 648/720, *, *, *
# NTSC D1 is D1 aspect
720, 486, *, *, * = 648/720, *, *, *
# PAL D1/DV
720, 576, *, *, * = 768/720, *, *, *
# only adds a custom pixel aspect ratio to the UI
# uncomment the next line to try it out
# 0, 0, 0, "0000", * = 10/11/"Custom Aspect", *, *, *
Quite what you do with it I don't know!
Cheers,
Neale
Insanity is hereditary, you get it from your children