Bug 510305

Summary: Cross platform editing of kdenlive projects always needs recovery of files
Product: [Applications] kdenlive Reporter: emilia.mueller
Component: Project Bin & ImportAssignee: Jean-Baptiste Mardelle <jb>
Status: REPORTED ---    
Severity: normal    
Priority: NOR    
Version First Reported In: unspecified   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: unspecified   
OS: All   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description emilia.mueller 2025-10-06 15:50:03 UTC
SUMMARY
If a file which was saved on windows is opened on a different device (specifically a linux device) the project files are not found. They have to be recovered before being able to work with the project.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
File structure:
Project folder
  - Kdenlive project
  - Some project files (videos, ...)
  - Subfolder
      - Some more project files (videos, ...)

1. Create a project on a device A (in my case on windows 10)
2. Add some files (video, audio, images, glaxnimate animations)
2. Copy the project folder to a different device B (in my case on kubuntu 24.04
3. Open the project on device B

OBSERVED RESULT
Project files can not be found on device B since the absolute filepaths are different.
They have to be recovered using the dedicated menu (that works). 

Also: Files that are used inside Glaxnimate are not recovered (See [bug filed at Glaxnimate](https://gitlab.com/mattbas/glaxnimate/-/issues/682)).

EXPECTED RESULT
Project files should be found if the relative path stays the same. 

Maybe an option to define how project files are stored is needed to do this (relative to the project file or in a folder that is the same for all projects).
This would allow to seamlessly transition between different devices and continue working on the same project.

Another way to handle it would be to store the absolute path of the kdenlive project file so that the relative paths of all other files can be recovered and used to find the files if the absolute path doesn't work.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Windows 10
Linux: Kubuntu 24.04
Kdenlive on Linux: 25.08.1
Comment 2 emilia.mueller 2025-12-22 04:18:08 UTC
WORKAROUND:
The manual says that archiving would be the solution to this problem.
https://docs.kdenlive.org/en/project_and_asset_management/file_management/archiving.html

This workaround does not fully solve the issue since the UI/UX problems remain:
When I save a project I expect to be able to open with it on another machine without problems. The UI didn't communicate that this wouldn't be the case.
Also "Archiving" is not what I what I'm looking for if I want to open the project on a different device.

RELATED DISCUSSION
https://discuss.kde.org/t/version-control-and-sharing-of-project-files/32677/3