Changing Attributes in Multiple Text Clips

[Bret Williams]

By hand I’m afraid.

[Bouke Vahl]

You can export your work to XML, do a search/replace in a text editor and swap out with params you want.
Quite fast, but do copy out the subs to a fresh sequence first, or your XML will be quite large.

But, IMHO, you’re nuts doing this in FCP.
Using a dedicated subtitle tool you will be way faster.

And i’ve written one, see here:
https://www.videotoolshed.com/?page=products&pID=12

This thing allows you to import XML, and export again with custom settings. (you need to provide it with a template of how you want the subs to look)
This also gives you the opportunity to switch to another title generator, or render to bitmaps (eg for DVD subpictures), and all sorts of output formats for internet. (note that uploading subs to YouTube is way better than burned in subs, as YouTube will translate it for every user.)

Bouke

https://www.videotoolshed.com/
smart tools for video pros

[Sascha Engel]

Thanx for the tip. Can you explain the XML Export way a bit more clear. I think, I did not get it.
And yes, I am nuts, but in the case of the WorkFlow I did not have much of a choice – the program you posted is just compatible with FCP 7 – I still own 6.
Your app looks very nice & professional. Chapaeu!
But even if I’d own FCP7 – 200.-$ too much for me right now with an Israeli income 😉
If I upgraded my FCP and my bank account I will get back to you 😉

Greetz,

Sascha

[Bouke Vahl]

Sacha,
Didn’t know you’re from Israel.

In that case, Subbits works as a conversion tool, but it does NOT support right to left languages in the text editing field, so that is not your best bet. (unless you are translating to a left to right language of course)

The XML part is easy, export a sequence with just one title as XML, open it in a text editor and study it.
Then you’ll know the unique text strings you need to find / replace.

It’s not that hard, XML is very well human readable.

If it is too hard, i can do the conversion for you (for a small fee), but first toy with it yourself and see where it gets you.

Again, make a sequence with just the subs first, and work on that.

hth,

Bouke

https://www.videotoolshed.com/
smart tools for video pros

[Bouke Vahl]

(oh, and yes, Subbits works with older versions of FCP as well…)

Bouke

https://www.videotoolshed.com/
smart tools for video pros

[Sascha Engel]

Actually I do translate it from Hebrew into English, and I really like your application.
So, when I will have 200.-$ on the side, ,I will definately think about a purchase.
Text Editor? You mean the ordinary Text Editor program that is standard on the MAC? And then you can make an adjustment to all the Subtitle Clips at once.

I will try and update you if I succeeded.

Thanx.

Sascha

[Sascha Engel]

I tried it, and when I opened the XML in Text Editor, I get this endless text document, which looks like it is just understandable to some Computer Geek who never saw the light of the day.
What and where do I have to adjust in this doc to change Text Font & Size?
Thanx for your help, cause this looks like written hebrew to me when I first came here 😉

Sascha

[Andreas Kiel]

Hi Sascha,

I’m a bit late on this thread.
It’s not that complicated with those XMLs. First do not export the whole project as XML just the sequence.
In TextEdit (or way better – because of Hebrew – in TextWrangler, TextWrangler is free) open the XML.
Search for your font name for example Helvetica. Then replace all '>Helvetica<‘ with for example with ‘>Arial Hebrew<'. The brackets do help to replace exactly what you want to replace.
Font size is a bit more complicated. If you want to change for example font size from 24 to 21 there probably will be many XML entries which contain 24 and might not be related to font size.
So to understand and figure out what ’24’ you need to replace, create a new sequence and drag 1 of your subtitles into it. Then export the sequence as XML. Open it in the text editor. Now look for ‘generatoritem’. From there you can scroll down until you find the XML entry for the size might look like:

Now copy the above into the 'Find' entry of the 'Find and Replace'. Change the 24 with the 21 in this example, copy all and paste into the 'Replace' entry of the 'Find and Replace'. Now activate your 'real' sequence and replace all.
If you got several different kinds of text generators within your sequence you have to do it for each kind of generator.

Another thing you can do is to use TitleExchange
https://www.spherico.com/filmtools/TitleExchange/

Andreas

[Sascha Engel]

HI Andreas,

ich denke vom NAmen her bist Du Deutsch? Danke, ich werde es probien und Dich wissen lassen wie das fuer mich funktionirt hat.
Vielen Dank fuer den Rat – ich werde auch Title Exchange herunterladen.

Greetz,

Sascha

[Andreas Kiel]

Hi Sascha,

Yes I’m german. 🙂
Just saw that my reply missed some part of the code.
I’ll try again:

<parameter>
<parameterid>size</parameterid>
<name>Size</name>
<valuemin>0</valuemin>
<valuemax>200</valuemax>
<value>24</value>
</parameter>


Andreas