Searching for movie data in file "******.mov"

The last couple of weeks I've been getting dailog boxes that freeze up Keynote with the following message:
Searching for movie data in file "******.mov"
It runs through all the different MOV or MP4 video files I have in that particular Keynote and doesn't allow me to do anything but wait. I've tried moving the file to another HD but this didnt't change anything. Also changing the save settings didn't help.
It happens a couple of times an hour and is getting annoying. Anyone have any clue how to solve this?

I am also seeing this bug and often work on 400mb+ presentations that use larger screen sizes and have lots of video assets for work. On large files I find that autosave is not ideal, and would also like a way to turn it off. The computer that was seeing the issue was running 10.7.5. It was just updated to 10.8.2 so I am keeping my fingers crossed that it works better now. Time will tell.
I also really hope that Apple gives us a real refresh on Keynote on the Mac. As old as it is, it still ahead of Powerpoint. But it wont stay that way forever standing still and nobody else has a better alternative that is as fast and flexible to work with. They are squandering somthing special by letting it gather dust.

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"Searching for movie data in file [filename]" and iDVD hangs.

I have a project I saved and I want to open and make a change to. iDVD loads the project and displays the title. When I click to edit one of the scene selection menus, it goes off "searching for movie data" and hangs until I kill it.
Anyone have any ideas how to fix this? I really don't want to have to re-do my project.
Thanks!
Scott

This frequently helps solve some problems. Quit iDVD. Search for the file named com.apple.iDVD.plist and trash it. (A new one will be created next launch of iDVD.) Or look in: User/Library/Preferences. This may solve project loading errors too. Restart and use Disk Utility to Repair Permissions.
You'll need to reset some Preferences.

Can't open MOV files in FCP: "Searching for movie data in file..."

I know this has been posted before, but none of them seem to match up to what I'm all of a sudden dealing with. I have 4 MOV files that I'm converting to WMV. Movie 1 & 2 exported fine. Now, however, any time I try to open another MOV file, I get an error that it's "Searching for movie data in file..." and the file name is ALWAYS the same. The weird thing is, the file it's looking for is none of the 4 movies I'm working with. So how did the first two work and this pop out of nowhere??
I have cleared out the render cache. Dumped all the cache and prefs files I can find, etc. Restarted the machine. Started FCP with the Option key held down.
I've searched everywhere, but people usually seem to come across this error while opening FCP (I'm running 6.0.6). This only happens when I open a MOV file (oddly, I can open WMV files in FCP without issue).
HELP!

So, I open the movies in QT and the EXACT same thing is happening. So it appears the guy who created the videos did something when he was making them (probably made a reference files along the way). I'm having him re-export the MOV files.
So, it's not a FCP issue.....

Steady Stream of "Searching for movie data in the file..." Error Messages

My iMovie has been crippled by error messages that pop up whenever I try to accomplish anything in iMovie. I always see "Searching for movie data in the file 'healyintro.mov'" for a few minutes, then "The movie file 'healyintro.mov' cannot be found. Without this file, the movie cannot play properly." I cannot actually use iMovie because of these errors.
I've tried everything from reinstalling iMovie to removing application support files to removing my iMovie Events and iMovie Projects folders to creating a .mov file, calling it healyintro.mov and seeing if that'll shut iMovie up – nothing works.
Once in a while, iMovie will ask for a different movie file, with the same problem.
Any ideas?

I am having the same issue. I don't know what the previous poster means by allowing the system to continue, since I'm prompted with a "Cancel" / "Search" dialog after each missing clip. Slight digression: "Search" is not even the correct term here according to UI guidelines ("Choose" or "Locate" might be better choices given the file picker dialog that results).
I'm actually using Aperture to relocate my video masters on removable media, which is a very nice feature of Aperture, but completely breaks iMovie unless it's connected. Seems like a pretty major oversight.... can we just have it fail more gracefully here and allow us to work with new stuff without getting hung up on missing movie clips from the past?

IMovie error 'searching for movie data in file "IMG_4365.MOV"'?

my iMovie goes into a loop at startup with the message "searching for movie data in file IMG_4365.MOV"?
I'm on iMovie 09 (version 8.0.6) and it's driving me mad. Help!

I am also seeing this bug and often work on 400mb+ presentations that use larger screen sizes and have lots of video assets for work. On large files I find that autosave is not ideal, and would also like a way to turn it off. The computer that was seeing the issue was running 10.7.5. It was just updated to 10.8.2 so I am keeping my fingers crossed that it works better now. Time will tell.
I also really hope that Apple gives us a real refresh on Keynote on the Mac. As old as it is, it still ahead of Powerpoint. But it wont stay that way forever standing still and nobody else has a better alternative that is as fast and flexible to work with. They are squandering somthing special by letting it gather dust.

"Searching for movie data... Without this file the movie cannot play..."

I have been deleting old projects from my hard drive (macbook pro) and my external hard drive.
Now, when I go into iMovie '09 to work on another project, the following warnings keep popping up on the screen:
"Searching for movie data"
and
"Without this file, the movie cannot play properly."
I click "cancel" but they keep popping up, prohibiting me from doing anything else in imovie.
If anybody has a clue how I can get rid of these warnings, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Hank

Ive been getting the same crap. Ive since deleted all of my imovie projects. It seems to have the problem when I am trying to pull up the videos in the iPhoto library. My particular file it is getting hung up on was used once in Sound Track Pro, but is not there anymore. Not sure if that rings a bell with you at all.

Searching for movie data in file Name-FIN-00000001

While starting up FCP (6.0.6) gives an error message "Searching for movie data in file Name-FIN-00000001".
After 10 to 20 min FCP will start up.
How do I get rid of this annoying error message when starting up?
Thanks W.

As Jim says, this is a render file. However, simply rendering it won't fix this. What is causing this error is a QT reference movie in the project. When you export a QT movie, and make don't make it self contained, it is a reference movie that references media files and render files. When a render file is deleted (FCP does this automatically when the render file is no longer needed) then the refrerence movie can no longer function... one file it references is gone. Simply re-rendering won't fix it, because it is referencing that SPECIFIC render file.
You need to find and delete the QT Reference movie from your project.
Shane

Searching for movie data in file

Does anyone know how to fix the problem of the "Searching for movie data in file" interruption and annoyance? I can not access my movies to edit - or do anything for that matter - because this thing keeps popping up. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!
Thanks!

Hi
Did You move or alter any folder named
• iMovie Event's - or -
• iMovie Project's
Don't - If done try movien all back excatly.
Moving Event's and Projects must
• be done within the iMovie Application
• to a Mac OS Extended (hfs) formatted external/secondary Hard Disk
(Never to - NetWork Storage or UNIX/DOS/FAT32/Mac OS Exchange formatted devices)
Free Space on Start-Up (Mac OS) Hard Disk. How Much ?
Yours Bengt W

Searching for movie data in file "Untitled.mov"

Ok I have already searched in the forums and none of the solutions have worked. Can anyone help me with this problem?
When I open Final Cut Pro, before the full program opens this error pops up:
Searching for movie data in file "Untitled.mov".
Screenshot - (http://imgs.hnation.org/uploads/714c01ba72.png)
After like 10 seconds this error then pops up:
The movie file "Untitled.mov" cannot be found. Without this file, the movie cannot play properly.
Screenshot - (http://imgs.hnation.org/uploads/8c5564c42f.png)
I have tried pressing the "Search" button and have tried every Untitled.mov file I could find, but none of them worked. If I press "Cancel" then the same thing happens 5 more times until Final Cut Pro actually opens.
Help Please. Thanks!

what if I am unable to get a hold of the footage again to re-import? Is there an alternative way?
There is no alternative. The movie file is missing information. Either you captured footage and it broke it up into smaller segments (-av-0, -av-1, -av-2) and one or more of those files are missing, or you exported a Quicktime REFERENCE movie, and reimported that into FCP...and have since deleted some media that the reference file....references.
Either you have it or you don't. If you don't have it...and cannot reimport it, then you are SOL. The only way to get rid of the message will be to delete the clip in the project that is causing the error.
I have already tried reinstalling 3 times. The same error still pops-up.
This is not an error with the software. You have a clip in the project that is missing something.
Shane

'Searching for movie data in file' glut

I had to move QuickTime (QT) files to another hard drive. Now, when I run iDVD to work on the DVD project, I am constantly bombarded with "Searching for movie data in file..." prompts. Even when burning a Disk Image. Eventually, it finds them (I haven't deleted anything). All the files under "Project Info" are checked off. It eventually stops and the iDVD Project behaves normally. But when I make another change in iDVD, it starts again.
Most of the QT movies used in the DVD are QT Reference Files, with their own links (also on the same drive). So when it's "searching" it's looking for those individual sub-movies in the QT Reference file.
Is there a way to fix this? This didn't happen before I installed the new drive and moved the files.

Hi
Most probably it looks for the parts on the absent drive and has to search to
find them on the new on.
I don't think You can alter this in iDVD.
I think I would ease out by going back to original Mac and now either:
• Re-set scratch disk to the new one (all 4-5 places in FCE/P) - or
• Make new QT.mov files - but tjis time "Self-containing"
(THIS IS MY Guessing - and may be not working)
else (bonus)
*When not knowing what to do.*
• Free space on internal (start-up) hard disk if it is less than 10Gb should rather have 25Gb
• Hard disk is untidy: Repair Permissions, Repair Hard disk (Apple Disc Util tool)
• Delete iDVD pref file - *or rather start a new user/account* - log into this and re-try
• Program miss-match: iDVD 5.0.2, Mac OS X.4.11 AND QuickTime 7.4.1 - is OK - DON’T work under Leopard
• Program miss-match: iDVD 6.0.4, Mac OS X.4.11 AND QuickTime 7.4.1 - is OK (might work under Leopard)
• Program miss-match: iDVD’08 v. 7.0.1, Mac OS X.4.11 AND QuickTime 7.4.1 - is OK (might work under Leopard)
• iDVD (08) v7 Locate theme folder. Move out iDVD1, iDVD 2 and eventually iDVD4 folders to desktop - re-try
iDVD 6.0.4 and iDVD 7.0.1 are compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
iDVD pref file resides: Mac Hard Disk (start-up HD)/Users/"Your account"/Library/Preferences
and is named: com.apple.iDVD.plist
While iDVD is NOT RUNNING - move this file out to desk-top.
Now restart iDVD.
Yours Bengt W

Movie won't play now - searching for movie data in file "Bounce Acros 01"??

I have a movie I made with iMovie (I have v3 or so). I know for a fact it used to play (it's saved as an MPG-2) on my laptop (10.3.9). All of a sudden, when I try to play it, it says "searching for movie data in file "Bounce Across 01"", or "Rolling Credits 05" for another one I have. These are effects I used for the titles, but what could be the problem? I thought once I save it in QuickTime format, it was self-contained - it looks like it's looking for some iMovie files. Why does it need them, why did they disappear (since I know this used to play fine!), and what can I do to fix it (download those data files, and convert the thing to be truly self-contained and not need any external files)?
Thanks,
Mike
G4 17" laptop Mac OS X (10.3.9)

I thought once I save it in QuickTime format, it was self-contained - it looks like it's looking for some iMovie files.QuickTime (MOV) files can be saved as either "Standalone" or "Reference" files. When using the "Save As..." option in QT Pro, you are offered the choice. Other applications like iMovie may make the decision for you. For instance, when automatically sending a file from iMovie to iDVD, a reference movie is used rather than standalone version in order to more quickly open iDVD. In your case, it sounds like a reference movie is being played and that someone has "cleaned out" some of the "rendered" files that were saved as part of the original project. If the project files are still available but moved, you can try to "re-link" them. Or, if the project is still available, you could simply re-export your movie as a standalone file.

Movie won't play now - searching for movie data in file "Rolling Credits"??

I have a movie I made with iMovie (I have v3 or so). I know for a fact it used to play (it's saved as an MPG-2) on my laptop (10.3.9). All of a sudden, when I try to play it, it says "searching for movie data in file "Bounce Across 01"", or "Rolling Credits 05" for another one I have. These are effects I used for the titles, but what could be the problem? I thought once I save it in QuickTime format, it was self-contained - it looks like it's looking for some iMovie files. Why does it need them, why did they disappear (since I know this used to play fine!), and what can I do to fix it (download those data files, and convert the thing to be truly self-contained and not need any external files)?
Thanks,
Mike

.. I know for a fact it used to play (it's saved as an MPG-2) on my laptop (10.3.9)..
iM doesn't offer the export as mpeg2..
sooo, how did you accomplish an 'export' in that specific codec...?
the error you're discribing is usually when you try to play an iM-project file with missing parts....
what is the suffix of that file (Apple-I)..?

Frequent "Searching for Movie Data in File ..." errors

OK, I searched the forums for this but didn't find anything, so don't nobody jump down my throat please ...
I very often find myself, when trying to export a file through QuickTime conversion, confronted with the error message "Searching for Movie Data in File [XXX - 0000000008]" which FCP invariably cannot find. I go to look in my capture drive myself, and sure enough, no file exists of that name. Without the file in question, FCP won't run the conversion. I get around it by exporting directly to QT, opening that file in QT Pro and re-exporting, but what the he11 is FCP doing in the first place? Why is it making all these files then losing/destroying them?
Help very much appreciated. Running FCP 4.5 HD; rest of specs in profile.
Thanks!

Without being able to see your project's history, I can only surmise you have created some copies of some clips and then tossed the originals. Or used reference movies that point to renamed clips. Or you've renamed some clips but used a differently-named copy of it. You may have copied a clip from one project and placed into another and then later discarded the source media.
I get around it by exporting directly to QT, opening that file in QT Pro and re-exporting, but what the he11 is FCP doing in the first place? Why is it making all these files then losing/destroying them? < </div>
That's because the original source media is always required for Compressor's operations. You see copies and renders in the timeline but Compressor will always recreate fresh media so looks for the sources.
This problem is almost always a user error, though it is not easily debugged from where I'm sitting. It is caused by a few subtle misperceptions about nesting and copying clips from one project to another without taking the source media with them.
Sorry not to be more definitive, I'd need to have watched you work for several hours to know what's going on with this.
bogiesan

. . . searching for movie date in file "Clip 03"?

. . . searching for movie date in file "Clip 03".
When I start iTunes, it immediately starts in with a series of messages like this . . . the program is frozen, and the "stop" button cannot be selected. Each message is on screen for a few seconds, then there is another, looking for another clip or photo file. Tis goes on for some time (+/- 10 minutes) until it finally gets to a slightly different message: "The movie file "Bounce Across 01" cannot be found. Without this file, the movie cannot play properly." This time there are two radio buttons -- "cancel" and "search." If I select "cancel" it goes away and iTunes works properly.
I have tried re-installing iTunes, and it has been upgraded at least twice since this started. Any solutions? It has become very frustrating.
Thanks.

Can I be confident that these files are now self-contained, how can I check, and how can I keep this problem from recorring?
Checking to see if the file is self contained is normally very easy. Just open the properties window and ensure the all resource references point to the main file.
NOTE: Remember that some applications can demux "muxed" file content in the form of "elementary" stream files which are paired. (E.g., demuxing "muxed" MPEG-2 files as paired M2V and AIFF files to avoid transcoding the video.)
As to avoiding the problem in the future, you would first have to determine what the original problem was. For all we know your drive could be failing, the system may have timed out while processing some higher priority task, you may have an intermittant connectivity issue, there could have been a one-time read issue, etc.

Freezes - searching for movie data in file "Sequence 1-FIN-00000034"

After importing a movie from a Disc a little while ago - iMovie has been giving me this dialogue box every time I open it.
Usually I can click on Cancel and it goes away and I carry on
Today it just stops responding and I have to Force Quit
searching for movie data in file "Sequence 1-FIN-00000034"
Any ideas?

Hi
So the forum is split into iPhone and Mac - Can't see this on my Mac.
searching for movie data in file "Sequence 1-FIN-00000034"
This indicates to me that the movie is not made in iMovie any version I know of - but in FinalCut Express or Pro as they use to name the raw material this way.
Not finding it - then it probably reside on an external hard disk, DVD/CD or other Mac that's not reachable from the Mac You run iDVD on.
The DVD.project is not 100% self-containing - but has references to where iDVD can find the material to build Your DVD and if this is out of reach then this message use to appear.
Try in iDVD on the Mac that it worked on first - Save as an iDVD Archive and move this to Your Mac.
Yours Bengt W

Searching for movie data in file "******.mov"

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