User Profile Settings – transferring to another workstation
User Profile Settings ("User Settings" for short) are several files that are collected together in a folder (location detailed ahead). When I talk about backing up your User Settings in a moment, it's important to understand that I'm talking about backing up the entire folder, not simply the contents of that folder. Further, it's important to note that you should not rename the User Profile Settings folder. Media Composer requires that the folder name and some of the files inside be named identically.
Your User Settings should be backed up in a few locations so that you can easily access them during the workday. User Settings are notorious for becoming corrupt and then causing any number of strange, unpredictable, and decidedly unpleasant behaviors. Having a backup of your personal User Settings means you can easily replace the bad ones if/when you have to, and quickly get back to editing.
Transferring your User Settings between workstations and between platforms is possible, which saves you a lot of time not having to rebuild your custom keyboard, Timeline Views, Bin Views, and so on. If you are transferring User Settings created with the same version of Media Composer which is installed on the destination system you will be using, then all you have to do is copy them into the appropriate location (see below). However, if your User Settings were created on a different version of Media Composer than what is installed on the new system you will be using, then it's not recommended to simply copy your User Settings folder over. Because of differences in the platforms and across the different versions of software, simply copying User Settings between platforms and/or versions can cause very odd and quite objectionable behaviors while editing. So, Avid provides a very simple procedure, detailed below.
Getting ready
First, it's crucial to know where User Settings are located. They can be found at the locations, as explained below:
Macintosh: Users | Shared | Avid Media Composer (or Avid Symphony) | Avid Users. Your User Settings will be based on the following:
- If you're the only user on that system and have not created any additional User Settings, then your settings will be the folder immediately inside the
Avid Usersfolder - If you're one of several editors who use that workstation, then your settings will be inside the folder with the logged-in user's name
Windows XP: Documents and Settings | All Users | Shared Documents | Avid Media Composer (or Avid Symphony) | Avid Users. Your user settings will be based on the following:
- If you're the only user on that system and have not created any additional User Settings, then your settings will be the folder immediately inside the
Avid Usersfolder - If you're one of several editors who use that workstation, then your settings will be inside the folder with the logged-in user's name
Windows 7 / Windows Vista: Users | Public | Public Documents | Avid Media Composer (or Avid Symphony) | Avid Users. Your user settings will be based on the following:
- If you're the only user on that system and have not created any additional User Settings, then your settings will be the folder immediately inside the
Avid Usersfolder - If you're one of several editors who use that workstation, then your settings will be inside the folder with the logged-in user's name
How to do it...
Now that you have some background information about User Settings and know where they reside, let's go through the import process. Perform the following steps:
- Make your previously saved, original User Settings (the ones you want to import) accessible. So, download them from your cloud storage (for example, iCloud, DropBox, etc.), mount your flash drive, or insert your CD.
- Go to the Project Window and select the Settings tab.
- Directly below the Settings tab is the User Profile selection drop-down menu, as shown in the following screenshot:
- From the User Profile Selection Menu, choose Import User or User Profile.
- The Select User Directory window opens.
- Navigate to your original User Settings folder (on your flash drive, or maybe you've copied them to the desktop).
- Select your original User Settings folder.
- Click on the Choose button at the bottom of the Select User Directory window.
- Media Composer will then create a brand new User Settings Profile and place it within the workstation's currently logged-in user's User Settings folder.