Bug 471082

More generally, the vocabulary around guides/markers/repères (I do not know what the English term for repère) is confusing. I thought that was a problem in the French translation of the interface (and it may be too), but reading this bug report, I fond the problem is deeper.

Here what I experienced as a new user (of Kdenlive and of video editing in general).

The (French) interface seems to be using *guide*, *repère* and *marqueur* interchangeably.

To add a *repère* for a given clip, I can use the context menu from this clip in the timeline and select *Ajouter un repère* from the *Repère* submenu. To add a *repère* that is bound to the timeline, I can use the *Ajouter/supprimer le guide* entry in the context menu from the time scale at the top of the timeline.

To manage existing *repères*, the most efficient way seems to be : activate the *Guides* panel in the View menu, then select either the sequence or a given clip in the Project sources panel (not in the timeline, this does not update the view). The *Guides* panel will then display what the *repères* for the selected object are.

It is also possible to modify a *repère* for the timeline in the same context menu as described above, by selecting the *Modifier un guide* entry. However, for modifying a clip-bound *repère* from that clip context menu in the timeline, one would presumably have to use the *Modifier un **marqueur*** entry in the *Repères* submenu — would, because by me, this just gives an error pertaining to not being able to find the clip (WTF ?).



I agree with the proposal to use the terms Timeline marker and Clip marker (and Marker as a roof concept).

(In reply to Gabriel Gazzán from comment #0)
> Even so, because usually on image related programs, a guide is almost always
> some kind of visual aid you expect to find overlaid on the image, to help
> you in aligning or distributing elements.
A guide is fixed to the position in the timeline where it was created. It doesn't move with any of the clips. So from that perspective I think it serves the same purpose you described for an image related program: It helps to align other clips across tracks. For example, I could put a guide in all the places where I want SFX to be added, or where there is a change of scenery and the music has to change. The color coding helps with quickly identifying those
A marker on the other hand, because they are linked to the clip they were created in/for and hence move with it, can be used when skimming through the footage to indicate a future cut or to mark the start of the scene (camera is rolling already but the director hasn't said "Action!" yet - just as an example). Or it can be used to mark a section that requires reviewing.

> Another place of confusion is that currently the panel where the user
> manages the markers is named "Guides".
I agree with you on this one: The user interface could be a lot better. Also, when creating a guide, the default text says "Marker" - it should be "Guide", of course.

> For all of this, I would find more intuitive (and standard) to refer to
> these guides as "Timeline Markers", as opposed to "Clip Markers" (like other
> video editing programs, as Premiere Pro, already do).
Just because other video editing programs call them markers is no reason to do the same. I find the use of "guides" and "markers" as identifiers for two different things (with, granted, the same concept or intent to indicate something important) quite useful as it avoids confusion: When I tell someone to set a marker they know immediately what I mean (of course, under the premise we are all working in and referring to Kdenlive). I don't have to specify to set a timeline marker or a clip marker.

> As a bonus, options like "Add Marker/Guide quickly" would simplify to just
> "Add Marker quickly"
I give you that, it would indeed shorten that menu entry ;-)

A few things have changed between the 23 and 24 releases of Kdenlive. Can you check whether the functionality around guides and markers has improved for your purposes and workflow? Do you want to keep this wishlist item alive? If so, please set the status of the report to CONFIRMED and change the version to 24.12.0

Thank you very much!

Thanks for your comments on the subject.

You know, in the end it will always be a matter of points of view/personal preferences, so I see yours as valid as mine.
I was just voicing my views about that topic.

I don't see it as a "bug", and if there is consensus among developers that this is the right way to present it to the users, then it's totally fine.