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Importing files from a hard drive into iMovie 09

Hi, I have a question about importing files into iMovie09. I have an external hard drive with a lot of footage on it. When I import some of those files, it re-creates them on my computer’s hard drive. I thought it would only do that if I was importing from a camera since the files wouldn’t exist yet. But if the files are already on a hard drive, why does it need to create the same files again? Am I doing something unnecessary? I’m worried that it’s taking up a lot of unnecessary space. Thanks!
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Bobby

Comments: 7 Responses to “Importing files from a hard drive into iMovie 09”

    13 years ago

    Yes, it puts them into "events" for you to work with them. You can import them into events on any hard drive -- not just your internal one. So you can have it copy them into the events folder on your external drive. That still gives you two copies of them. But you can select "copy" instead of "move" when importing them, so you only have one copy --- just in your events folder instead of in the original location.
    Another technique is to simply take the movies you need at the time to make one video. Copy them into your iMovie Events on your internal drive (which will be faster to work with than an external drive anyway). Then remove those events when you are done with the video.

      Bobby
      13 years ago

      I noticed that when I deleted the event files from my internal hard drive, I was still able to watch my project in iMovie. How is it able to play it? Also, what would happen if I deleted the files from the external hard drive, but left the ones on the internal?

        13 years ago

        Not sure. Were you able to edit it? Perhaps you were viewing the finished project? Hard to tell without seeing it first-hand.

    Eli
    12 years ago

    Recently copied iMovie projects and events to external drive to replace iMac internal failing disk drive. After new internal drive was installed, I connected my external drive to import my projects and events into iMovie. At this point, I can see the content on my external drive, but iMovie will not allow me to import. Please advise!

      12 years ago

      Can you be more specific? What do you mean by "will not allow" -- is there an error message? In what way are you trying to import?

        Eli
        12 years ago

        Sure! When I attempt to import iMovie projects, I the application allows me access to the file, but it the file does not import (it stays shaded in color). Not sure if the files are corrupted or not. Even tried to click on the iMovie projects on the external drive, and it appears as if it is opening in iMovie, but nothing happens.

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