10.1 XML Import Test – Appears to be DOA

[Bret Williams]

I think they would have mentioned backward compatibility had they achieved it. But only cnet seems to think that.

[Andrew Richards]

From Apple’s update page:

“Now you can import and export Final Cut Pro X project and Event information via a rich XML format. XML interchange enables a wide range of third-party workflows, including high-end visual effects, color grading, and media asset management. Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve, Square Box System’s CatDV, and many other third-party applications will offer XML-based workflows with Final Cut Pro X. (emphasis mine)

This is an all-new XML shema (AXEL), so it isn’t going to import FCP7 XML. Any third parties like they mention will need to develop a new parse for this flavor of XML.

Best,
Andy

[James Cude]

Hmm- I’d imagine if that feature were enabled Apple would tout it on the updates page but they don’t. So it’s not really ‘DOA’ so much as ‘never promised.’

Instead it says:
“Now you can import and export Final Cut Pro X project and Event information via a rich XML format. XML interchange enables a wide range of third-party workflows, including high-end visual effects, color grading, and media asset management. Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve, Square Box System’s CatDV, and many other third-party applications will offer XML-based workflows with Final Cut Pro X.”

Sounds like this is still a third party opportunity for now.

[Craig Seeman]

But it does seem like something may eventually be done to get FCP7 to spit out the new XML format. Let’s just hope it’s not a $500 “quacker”

[Erik Lundberg]

But now at least, since FCPX is now using the same basic way of communicating , there should be a viable way to get someone to make a translation from a FCP7 flavoured XML to a FCPX flavoured XML.

Erik Lundberg

Technical Director, Media Technology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

[Andrew Richards]

[Craig Seeman] “Let’s just hope it’s not a $500 “quacker””

I bet there will be several of varying levels of sophistication with a range of prices.

Best,
Andy

[T. Payton]

The whole point of XML is so that different systems can read and write data. Therefore as long as this new XML format is documented, it will be an easy task to make a translator.

I started creating a translator that would take a FCP 7 to iMovie project (which is XML) and therefore FCP X and while I was able to get it to work on simple items, the iMovie XML is not a documented format, therefore I hit a wall.

The new XML format will be documented (Apple said Blackmagic, etc. will be creating import/export capabilities) so just give it some time, maybe even just a day and there will be translators. 😉

——
T. Payton
OneCreative, Albuquerque

[James Cude]

I”m guessing an FCP 7 translator will not be impossible. If you do a quick export of your XML from an X project you’ll see the XML is very understandable- as XML generally is. It’s wide open for an enterprising (no pun intended) developer to take it a step further.

[David Roth weiss]

[Andrew Richards] “This is an all-new XML shema (AXEL), so it isn’t going to import FCP7 XML. Any third parties like they mention will need to develop a new parse for this flavor of XML.
“

Interesting! One would think that in the interest of fairness in marketing that information should be coming directly from Apple rather than from you Andrew.

If FCP 10.1 only imports XMLs from FCP 10.1, Apple should have spelled that out loud and clear. Every press release I’ve read today implies simply that XML Import/Export has been added to the 10.1 release. Nowhere is there any mention that it only supports special FCP X XMLs.

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
https://www.drwfilms.com

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[Simon Ubsdell]

To be fair, Apple are talking about it as “a rich XML format” acknowledging that there is some difference – though they haven’t exactly flagged up its limitations vis-a-vis legacy XML.

Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com