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HELP!! Deleted iMovie Project in error!!

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Just made a fatal error & deleted my first IMovie project in error (I wasn't concentrating & thought I was deleting it from iDVD)

I have dragged it out of trash & into a folder in Finder but when I right-click & select "open in iMovie", iMovie open's but the project isn't there. I have worked for months on this project & can't face starting again.....urgent help needed - please:Oops:
 

chscag

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Did you try to open the file with iDVD? (I'm assuming you created the project with iDVD first from your statement above.)

Regards.
 
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chas_m

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Are you using Time Machine? If so, then just activate TM and roll back to before you deleted the project.

This is why I love Time Machine.
 
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I have dragged it out of trash & into a folder in Finder

To which folder?

I'll have to assume you are talking about iMovie 08 or 09. These versions place their projects in to your Movies folder by default under another folder named "iMovie Projects". The associated events are in a folder named "iMovie Events" in the Movies folder. Your chances of recovery of dependent on knowing what you deleted and what folder it was originally in and therefore placed back into.
 
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I do use Time Machine with Mybook & usually back up every week. I was concentrating my time into finishing the project & failed to back up this week. I suppose this is a good idea as a last resort as I will only have lost a weeks worth of work!

I am using iMovie 09. I deleted the Project from the Projects window - the event is still there (obviously unedited). I can't believe I was so stupid after all the hard work I had put in! I have looked in iDVD & although I can open the project file by name - there doesn't seem to anything in it.

I am slightly confused as to why the project couldn't just be restored from trash in the normal way - but I was not given that option - I had to drag it back into Finder to save it!
 
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Phew!!! I found the iMovie Projects file in Finder & pasted the file I had removed from trash into it & ITS BACK!!!!

Thank you so much for the advice - I didn't know the mechanics of the Folders in iMovie - but having looked at the Movies Folder in Finder - I can now see how it is divided.

Going to back up Time Machine - we learn by our mistakes!!!!

Thanks again everyone who helped!
 
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chas_m

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Time Machine is normally set to back up every hour. You might consider going back to that default.
 
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Thanks for that - you are totally right!

As I back up on Mybook portable hard drive, then I have to have it connected for back up to take place. I had better read up about this.
I am still very new to Mac, so its a steep learning curve! I am signed up to One to one & have been learning everything I can - there is always something new to learn! I will sort out Time Machine properly at my next session!

Love my Macbook - I keep asking why I used a Windows PC for so long!!
 

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