Cosmo Project File Index Action

Important changes from version 4.6.0 onwards

Changes in Cosmo Project File Index Action from V3: starting with v4.6.0 and onwards

With the introduction of the V3 file index action, it is now possible to assign the indexing to either the client or server, depending on the host type of the stream.

===> Replacing the old one should be consider as soon as possible! <===

We advise checking the streams for all Cosmo Project File Index Action, especially in the following product triggers:

  • FX: Post_Create_Project, Unlock_Project and Custom_FX [(Re)-index Project]

  • HK - depending on your existing profile-workflows

Please consider that an unlock project trigger should not be executed by a client, as the indexing might result in an issue if the user closes the Helmut3 website or client connection before it has finished the task.

Node description

With the help of the Project File Index Action, it is possible to index a project file (Premiere Pro or After Effects).

This implies, the project file will be read and it's structure (bin, assets and sequences/compositions) will be forwarded to the Cosmo project, to highlight a virtual duplicate of the project*.

*This requires an appropriate configuration of the indexing workflow / node.

It is recommended to index projects only those are closed.

Indexing an opened project might end up in a wrong result - if the project has been saved 5 minutes ago but eg in the meantime new bins and sequences have been created, those informations would be ignored, as Premiere Pro / After Effects is working form the RAM until a manual or automatic save trigger (from Adobe) will be executed.

The indexing extracts all information from the project.

These information include:

  • Bin structures and bin names

  • Assets and dedicated asset metadata

  • Sequences or compositions

All changes that are detected during indexing compared to the status in Cosmo are changed/reflected in Cosmo.

Configuration / parameter of the Cosmo Project File Index Action

The configuration of the node is highly dependent on your workflow requirements. Using the three options: advanced mode, INDEXED_ASSET, and UNINDEXED_ASSET should be checked in alignment to meet the expected result.

Setting all three options to 'enabled' should not be considered the default choice.

Advanced indexing

Within the node, it is possible to define advanced indexing for the project file. Indexing a project in advanced mode will take more time to finish because more information will be extracted.

If checked, the following information about sequences will also be extracted:

  • Source and destination time code of all assets on the timeline

  • Track that was used per asset

  • Metadata of the assets

This information is not visualised in Cosmo but is available in the database.

An example use case for this advanced index mode would involve utilizing the Cosmo Asset Report Action or Cosmo Sequence Report Action.

INDEXED_ASSET

It is possible to specify that the "INDEXED_ASSET" trigger is activated for newly discovered assets.

This function might be helpful if assets haven't been added to the project using the Cosmo Add Asset To Project Action action, or if the Helmut4 panel was not running/connected or when an asset was imported by another 3rd-party API (bypassing the Autoimport profile).

If the switch for this option is disabled, the asset will be registered with no further actions.

By setting the switch to enable, it is possible to trigger an event-based stream for new/unknown assets; this stream can be configured in the Cosmo Streams section using the INDEXED_ASSET trigger.

Keeping this option disabled will prevent triggering any additional logic.

Newly added assets (bypassing the Cosmo logic) will be forwarded to the Cosmo project, but the Cosmo trigger endpoint will be skipped.

UNINDEXED_ASSET

In addition, the "UNINDEXED_ASSET" trigger is activated for assets that have been removed from the project.

If the switch for this option is disabled, the asset reference will be removed with no further actions.

By setting the switch to enable, it is possible to trigger an event-based stream on removed assets; this stream can be configured in the Cosmo Streams section using the UNINDEXED_ASSET trigger.

As an example within this stream, which is triggered by this event, it is possible to check whether the removed asset is still referenced/used in other projects. Every asset that is removed from a project and is no longer available in any other project is recorded in the database as an orphaned clip.

This designation means it will be delisted and can't be accessed anymore via Helmut4!"

Keeping this option disabled will not trigger any additional logic.

Removed assets (bypassing the Cosmo logic) will be passed on to the Cosmo project, but the Cosmo trigger endpoint will be skipped.