Renaming and Joining Clips

Question

The instructions in iMovie Help clearly state it is possible rename clips in the Clips Pane, not just the Clip Viewer. In iMovie 3.0.3 which I am using, it lets me rename them in the Clip Viewer just fine by selecting and retyping the name. Once in the Clips Pane, though, I have tried both this and double-clicking and retyping. The new title appears but iMovie won't save the change!
Also, I've been trying to lock together a group of clips by selecting them all, creating a blank title under "Centered Multiple" of the same length, and applying it to the entire selection. Other people say this works fine for them, but when I try it, if it's in Timeline view it shows a circle with a line through it, then applies the title only to the first clip. If in Clips View, it deselects the rest of the clips and applies the title only to the first clip. I'd like to be able to
1. Move the entire selection, anywhere I want in the timeline once it's edited the way I want, without having to keep each individual clip in order (the only way I've found is by selecting them all but it would be nice if there were a better way) and
2. If I CAN'T lock, fuse, or otherwise join the clips together, AT LEAST be able to rename them so I am SURE they remain in the proper order when moved!
I think perhaps some setting is wrong, not allowing me to do what has worked for others, but can't figure out what it might be. Anyone have a clue? Thanks for any help or assistance.

Answer 1

It may bear repeating, I'm using iMovie 3.0.3. (I know, I'm probably posting in the wrong forum, but this one is so much better-trafficed and I do want people to see my posts!) This is what it says in iMovie Help 3.0.3:
"My effect stopped rendering before it was finished
If your effect stopped rendering before it was finished, you may have clicked in a text field during the rendering process. To resume rendering, click outside the text field."
(I swear, to my knowledge, I didn't click on anything once the red line started across! It deselected the remaining clips by itself!)
"About rendering
The process of creating new elements (such as titles, effects, or transitions) in a movie is called "rendering." It happens any time video is modified, such as when you create a transition between scenes or add title text over video.

You can continue editing your movie while your change is rendered. Rendering takes a few seconds or minutes to complete."
Okay, this is what it says in iMovie 6.0 Help:
"About rendering
The process of creating new elements (such as transitions, titles, or effects) in a movie is called "rendering." Rendering happens any time a video clip is modified, such as when you add a dissolve between scenes or scroll text over video. During the rendering process, iMovie HD makes the appropriate changes to each frame in a clip. As iMovie HD renders a clip, you'll see a small red line progress along the bottom of the clip.
If you apply effects or transitions to more than one selected clip, iMovie HD renders all the clips at once, which can save you a lot of work. You can continue editing your movie while your change is rendered. Rendering takes from a few seconds to a few minutes to complete."
Notice the difference? iMovie 6.0 specifically talks about applying effects or transitions to more than one selected clip. iMovie 3.0.3 never mentions it. Is this an inadvertant omission corrected later, or could I be trying to do something which is actually not allowed in iMovie 3.0.3?
As for renaming clips, I still have not the slightest clue as to why there would be a difference between the Clips Pane and Clips Viewer and why it works in one place and not the other! I don't think it's that you're allowed to rename a clip only once, as one of the clips still has a name iMovie made, so I obviously didn't rename it.