Importing With the Read File Node

To import images into Batch or Batch FX using the Read File node:

1. In the I/O node bin, select the Read File node and drag it to the schematic.

   The Read Files browser appears.

2. Optional: Set General and Format Specific Options for the files to import.
3. Optional: For each file, set In and Out points using the Preview panel.
4. Select the clips to import.
5. Click Load.

   The file appears in the Batch or Batch FX schematic. If more than one file is imported, a Read File clip is created for each file. The clip name appears in pink to help differentiate from other schematic clips.

Note: Whenever a Batch or Batch FX setup is opened which uses Read File clips that have been updated, Flame Premium asks for permission to update the setup with updated versions of these clips (when updates exist). Updating the setup replaces the current Read File clips with the latest found versions. This ensures that the correct versions are used and Flame Premium maintain the appropriate schematic connections.

To Expand a Read File Clip

1. Select the Read File clip.
2. Press Shift+C.

To Replace the Current Read File Clip With Another One

1. Double-click the proxy of the Read File clip.

   The Read Files browser appears.

2. Optional: Set General and Format Specific Options for the files to import.
3. Optional: For each file, set In and Out points using the Preview panel.
4. Select the clip to import.
5. Click Load.

   The Read File clip is updated with the selected file in Batch or Batch FX. The Schematic is also updated, using a channel matching strategy that preserves the links between the clip's channels and the linked nodes.

To Load a Clip as a Version

1. Double-click the proxy of the Read File clip.

   The Read Files browser appears.

2. Optional: Set General and Format Specific Options for the files to import.
3. Optional: For each file, set In and Out points using the Preview panel.
4. Select the clip to import.
5. From the Load drop down menu, select Load as Version.

   The Read File clip is updated with the selected file in Batch or Batch FX and the Read File clip is updated with the selected file. The previous clip is now available as a version from the Clip Versions box. There is no limit on the number of versions.

To Switch Between Versions of a Read File Clip

Note: Only possible with Read File clips loading clips with versions, or after loading a clip as a version.

1. Double-click the Read File clip.
2. Select a Clip Version using the Clip Version box.

   The Read File clip now uses the selected version and the schematic is updated accordingly, using a channel matching strategy that preserves the links between the clip's channels and the linked nodes.

To Check for New Versions of Clips

Note: The Check for Updated Versions button is only available if at least one Read File clip in the schematic has been updated.

1. Open the Batch or Batch FX Preferences menu.
2. Under Read File Nodes in the Preferences section, click Check for Updated Versions.

   Every Read File clip in the schematic is checked for updated versions of their clip.

To Edit a Batch Setup Included with a Read File Clip

Note: Only available to Read File clips with clips that were created using the Include Setup option.

1. Double-click the Read File clip.
2. Click Append to current Batch.

   The Batch setup that created the open clip for the displayed Clip Version is added to the schematic as a Group Node.

Modifying the appended setup does not modify the open clip imported with the Read File clip. But since the original Write File node is included, a new open clip can be exported with the exact same settings. This allows a user to create a new version of the open clip, and then use the Check For Updated Versions button to update the current open clip.

A high-level workflow could be as follows:

1. A Flare user processes a Batch setup to export a clip with the following options enabled:
   • Create Clip Data
   • Include Setup
   • Version (set to version 1)

   This creates an open clip with a Batch setup and versioning enabled.

2. A Flame user imports the open clip and starts using it in a separate Batch setup.

   Looking at the Read File clip, the user can see that there is only one version of the clip (in the Clip Versions box) and that the Batch setup that created this open clip is included (the Source Setup field shows the name of the setup).

3. In the meantime, the Flare user touches up their own Batch setup. Before processing it, the user also updates the Write File node's Exports Settings (from JPEG to DPX), but makes sure to not change any of the Clip Data, Path, and Naming fields (the Flame updates the version automatically). The user then processes it.

   The Write File clip updates the open clip file with new information: a new version which points to updated media files.

4. The next time the Flame user opens the separate Batch setup, there is a prompt to check for updated open clips. The user agrees, and the clip imported in a previous session is updated and set to the current version.

   Alternatively, the Flame user could use the Check for Updated Versions at any other time during the Batch session.