I am on the final days of my Beta version of storyline and I was working on a project which Storyline will now not open. I keep getting an error saying that "The Project cannot be opened. It is not a storyline project". Have I just lost everything that I have been working on?
I tried your import suggestion and that didn't work. The program said that the file is being used by a different process or I don't have sufficient permission to access it. I appreciate the suggestion though.
I did save a backup in a different location but that file also can't be opened. I think something happened to the file as it was being saved.
I too have recieved this message for a module Ive been working on, Is there any hope for recovery or is it now just a 681,624 KB file of garbage? (yes, I have tried rebooting,importing etc.)
Well, this is a wild stab in the dark but you might want to try and right-click on the Story file and check out its properties. Compare them with a Story file that does open fine. Might be some file setting or permissions issue. Probably not but might be worth a check.
I've had this happen with other program files and it has been because server had it locked for whatever reason.. Usually it will resolve itself, but there have been the vary rare times I've had to reboot my server..
I had this happen some time ago as well. It wound up being a Windows User profile issue. I had to create a new Windows profile and could open the Storyline software and file without difficulty (have to copy the storyline build file in a place where new user ID can access of course).
Just out of curiosity: What kind of computer are you using?
It my case, and it sounds like maybe in yours, it is not the Storyline that is corrupt. It was my Windows user profile. Since I was on my personal laptop at the time, I created a new user ID on my laptop, opened Windows with the new user ID, then opened Storyline and my storyline file was fine. I am a bit anxious for your new file, because I also started to recreate the eLearning under my old profile and began having the same error message appear again - so more time wasted.
I tried a lot of different things: Uninstalling and reinstalling the software, virus scans, BIOS scan,...the list goes on. HOURS of troubleshooting. I finally gave in and created a new user profile in Windows and it completely resolved my issues.
Potential options for you:
1. Have your IT folks create a new user profile for you and copy all your files to new user profile (Was tricky for me because I am no IT guru!)
OR
2. Download Free 30 day trial on another PC (like personal PC) and open the file there.
its a local file on a dell laptop running windows 7, saved a copy renamed the file, repeated under a new user profile..same result.....this is one of four files the other three open with no issues...this particular file is the only one to generate the error this project cannot be opened it is not a storyline project...tried instaling storyline on different machine same result.
I've had this error. I was saving a project and Storyline froze, I left it 10 minutes and had to task manager it. Tried to launch the file again and it is not recognised, tried importing the file and Storyline says the file is being used by another process.
Thankfully I have a backup but it's a bit concerning Storyline cannot retrieve corrupted files.
I tried Krista's didn't work. I tried to import the .story file into a new project. Didn't work. I'm now stuck with a large garbage file. I luckily found an old version from months ago that I can work with, but I didn't document well enough the changes from then to now as it was minor. At least in the fall when it's time to re-edit and update the course I have something to work with.
Oh--I'm concerned that this has been a known issue for almost 3 years and there is no solid solution offered. I have been a user of Storyline since before it was released. This is the first time I've had a file give me this error. The project "Storyline" cannot be opened, it is locked by another process. All of the suggestions above do not work. Help!
yes it was user error for me...I've had that error message when I have been uploading my published files to say Dropbox and I try and go in and work on the source file - SL locks it.
Use the latest update of your version of Storyline
Look for a copy of corrupted files in the temp folder
Here's how to check:
1. Open this folder in Windows Explorer:
%Appdata%\Articulate\Storyline
2. Scan the contents of this folder for a file that starts with the name of your project. If you find one, copy it to your desktop. If you find more than one, copy the latest version to your desktop.
3. Change the file extension of the copy on your desktop from *.tmp to *.story.
25 Replies
You can try importing into a new file. That might work.
Do you have a backup?
I tried your import suggestion and that didn't work. The program said that the file is being used by a different process or I don't have sufficient permission to access it. I appreciate the suggestion though.
I did save a backup in a different location but that file also can't be opened. I think something happened to the file as it was being saved.
This happenede to me when I pulled out a usb stick before it had finished saving broke both files
Did you try rebooting the PC when you got that message?
I've gotten that a couple of times and rebooting the PC did the trick. Almost like there was a lock on the file that got removed with the reboot.
If only Gerry. You should have seen my colleagues face
I tried rebooting and that didn't help. I'm open to any other suggestions. In the meantime I have started to rebuild the project.
I too have recieved this message for a module Ive been working on, Is there any hope for recovery or is it now just a 681,624 KB file of garbage? (yes, I have tried rebooting,importing etc.)
Well, this is a wild stab in the dark but you might want to try and right-click on the Story file and check out its properties. Compare them with a Story file that does open fine. Might be some file setting or permissions issue. Probably not but might be worth a check.
Nope, thats one of the first things I did after trying to import the file said it was open or in use....
Couple of things to try..
Make a copy of the file and try to open that.
rename (original or copy) and try to open.
Is the file local or on a server?
I've had this happen with other program files and it has been because server had it locked for whatever reason.. Usually it will resolve itself, but there have been the vary rare times I've had to reboot my server..
I had this happen some time ago as well. It wound up being a Windows User profile issue. I had to create a new Windows profile and could open the Storyline software and file without difficulty (have to copy the storyline build file in a place where new user ID can access of course).
Just out of curiosity: What kind of computer are you using?
In my case I saved a local copy to my computer and another copy to the server. Neither one works. I am using a Dell with Windows XP.
It my case, and it sounds like maybe in yours, it is not the Storyline that is corrupt. It was my Windows user profile. Since I was on my personal laptop at the time, I created a new user ID on my laptop, opened Windows with the new user ID, then opened Storyline and my storyline file was fine. I am a bit anxious for your new file, because I also started to recreate the eLearning under my old profile and began having the same error message appear again - so more time wasted.
I tried a lot of different things: Uninstalling and reinstalling the software, virus scans, BIOS scan,...the list goes on. HOURS of troubleshooting. I finally gave in and created a new user profile in Windows and it completely resolved my issues.
Potential options for you:
1. Have your IT folks create a new user profile for you and copy all your files to new user profile (Was tricky for me because I am no IT guru!)
OR
2. Download Free 30 day trial on another PC (like personal PC) and open the file there.
its a local file on a dell laptop running windows 7, saved a copy renamed the file, repeated under a new user profile..same result.....this is one of four files the other three open with no issues...this particular file is the only one to generate the error this project cannot be opened it is not a storyline project...tried instaling storyline on different machine same result.
I've had this error. I was saving a project and Storyline froze, I left it 10 minutes and had to task manager it. Tried to launch the file again and it is not recognised, tried importing the file and Storyline says the file is being used by another process.
Thankfully I have a backup but it's a bit concerning Storyline cannot retrieve corrupted files.
Just tried Krista's solution, and it worked, thank you Krista!
I tried Krista's didn't work. I tried to import the .story file into a new project. Didn't work. I'm now stuck with a large garbage file. I luckily found an old version from months ago that I can work with, but I didn't document well enough the changes from then to now as it was minor. At least in the fall when it's time to re-edit and update the course I have something to work with.
'REMEMBER TO SAVE TO HARDRIVE ONLY"
Oh--I'm concerned that this has been a known issue for almost 3 years and there is no solid solution offered. I have been a user of Storyline since before it was released. This is the first time I've had a file give me this error. The project "Storyline" cannot be opened, it is locked by another process. All of the suggestions above do not work. Help!
Hi Rebecca! This thread is a bit dated, but it looks as if all of the issues were user/computer/file specific.
If it's just one file giving you the error, did you try the solution shared here by Tracy?
You are welcome to work directly with our support team here if you wish.
Hi Leslie
yes it was user error for me...I've had that error message when I have been uploading my published files to say Dropbox and I try and go in and work on the source file - SL locks it.
Thanks for sharing Wendy :)
I'm having this problem on a file too. Is there a solution?
Hi Tamara!
This this is older, so let's start fresh. Can you help me with a few details, please?
I have this problem right now and two band-aid solutions have worked for me:
1. If possible, open the file from the "recent" bar in story line. For some reason it usually works if I open the file from there.
2. In windows explorer, right click and create a copy of the file with a different name. The copy will open without issue.
I have no idea why it is happening but these workarounds have been working for me.
Glad those two steps are working for you, Megan and thanks for sharing here! Some other tips I recommend are:
Here's how to check:
1. Open this folder in Windows Explorer:
%Appdata%\Articulate\Storyline
2. Scan the contents of this folder for a file that starts with the name of your project. If you find one, copy it to your desktop. If you find more than one, copy the latest version to your desktop.
3. Change the file extension of the copy on your desktop from *.tmp to *.story.
4. Double-click the file to open it in Storyline.
Let us know if you run into any other trouble!
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