HELP! I've been working on a project on and off for weeks. It was fine yesterday, but this morning when I tried to open it, I got a message window saying "This project is invalid or corrupt and cannot be opened. It may have been created in an earlier version of Storyline.' The latter is certainly not true since this is the only version of Storyline I have.
Are you using Windows 7? If so, try right clicking the folder, select properties, click the previous versions tab, and select a folder from before the corruption. See if that works.
Is there any way you can ask your IT dept to implement a backup tool for future use? If not, can you install something yourself, e.g. EaseUS Todo Backup Free. It may be free but it handles both incremental and sequential files perfectly well - and does a lot more too. E.g. I've had a couple of files get accidentally deleted or go missing (sadly it happens with Win 7) but using Todo I can go extract any given file on any given backup date - then pick up as I left off. V handy.
And I just heard from Storyline support that once the file is invalid, it's not recoverable. We're still in evaluation mode on Storyline, and this doesn't impress me. The only suggestion I got was to work locally instead of on a network. But I WAS working locally.
I haven't heard this being a widespread issue, and I certainly haven't experienced it myself. The unfortunate thing about corrupt files is that there are almost an innumerable amount of reasons it can happen, at least half of which have nothing to do with the program. This makes it difficult to figure out what caused it. I think Simon is right in that the best thing you can do is backup or use a recovery tool.
I'm sorry that this happened to you! I've certainly been there.
Can you import/copy any portion of it into a new file? I had this happen once, and I was able to salvage part of it. Keep working with support; if they can't solve it, they should escalate it.
Sorry Karen ... I guess that's another reason to invest in some backup?
I also get through a lot of "version saves", e.g. project_name_v1_1 ... v1_2 ... v3_4 etc and probably make a new one every hour or two. This became a habit when using PowerPoint but even more so given the instability of SL's undo (still a major gripe). So having access to versions that are maybe 1, 3, 4, 6 etc hours old is always handy, but then so is backing up your data!
Karen, have you tried opening the project on a different computer, may sound daft but it was switching from working onto a different computer that highlighted my project corruption issues.
Thanks for the suggestion, Karen M. Unfortunately, it didn't work - when I tried to use the Import feature, I got a "Could not open Project" message.
Jeff C., I don't have access to another computer with Storyline.
Here's the message I got from the Support Team. Not too helpful since I was already working locally.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for contacting Articulate Support!
Really sorry to hear about your Storyline file. Unfortunately, once a .STORY file becomes unusable, it's no longer recoverable.
When creating, editing, or publishing a Storyline project, we recommend working from your local hard drive (typically your C: drive). Working from a network drive or a USB drive can cause erratic behavior, such as file corruption, an inability to save changes you've made to your project, and loss of resources. Here's a helpful article for you:
I am sorry to hear about your file. Matthew Graham has made some good suggestions on why you can get a corrupt file. Unfortunately, sometimes corrupt files are never recoverable whether they are Storyline or Microsoft Word. That's where having a backup and versioning system comes in handy.
Sometimes you can import the file into a new project and will be able to recover a portion of the file as Karen Mixon mentioned.
Karen, when working remotely, are you connected to your company's network? I know you said you were working on the file locally, but the best we can do is diagnose what may have caused the file to become corrupt and help keep you from having the issue again down the road.
Sure. It's actually intended as an internal course on how to use Storyline, not all that long, probably 30 slides or so. Thanks for the offer, Matthew.
Hmm, I tried to upload the file, and it appeared to work, but I don't see it attached. I'll post this message and see if it shows up...
Phil, I don't understand what you mean about right-clicking the file to see if WIndows has another version. Where and how would it do that? I'm using XP...
Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. To be honest, I'm not sure I'm going to use Storyline any more. I used it for one project and it looked pretty good, though I found some of its quirks annoying (like not placing the cursor in the right part of the text when editing text boxes). So I was putting together a quick training piece for co-workers who might use it for new projects. But with the file becoming corrupted, I would have to start over, and I don't know that I would recommend the software now, so the whole thing may be moot.
I will mention that Storyline files becoming corrupt are not a common occurrence. When clicking on a text box to edit, where does the cursor appear for you?
43 Replies
Good Morning, Karen.
Ugh--not a good way to start your Tuesday!
I would recommend submitting a Support Case and including a copy of your .story file. Thanks!
Does a Windows system restore rollback files as well?
Matthew, Windows Restore is not supposed to do roll back files, only operating system stuff.
Are you using Windows 7? If so, try right clicking the folder, select properties, click the previous versions tab, and select a folder from before the corruption. See if that works.
Nope. Using Windows XP, it's our corporate standard.
Is there any way you can ask your IT dept to implement a backup tool for future use? If not, can you install something yourself, e.g. EaseUS Todo Backup Free. It may be free but it handles both incremental and sequential files perfectly well - and does a lot more too. E.g. I've had a couple of files get accidentally deleted or go missing (sadly it happens with Win 7) but using Todo I can go extract any given file on any given backup date - then pick up as I left off. V handy.
I work remotely.
And I just heard from Storyline support that once the file is invalid, it's not recoverable. We're still in evaluation mode on Storyline, and this doesn't impress me. The only suggestion I got was to work locally instead of on a network. But I WAS working locally.
Grrr.
So....... we are all beta testers!!!
I haven't heard this being a widespread issue, and I certainly haven't experienced it myself. The unfortunate thing about corrupt files is that there are almost an innumerable amount of reasons it can happen, at least half of which have nothing to do with the program. This makes it difficult to figure out what caused it. I think Simon is right in that the best thing you can do is backup or use a recovery tool.
I'm sorry that this happened to you! I've certainly been there.
Karen,
Can you import/copy any portion of it into a new file? I had this happen once, and I was able to salvage part of it. Keep working with support; if they can't solve it, they should escalate it.
Sorry Karen ... I guess that's another reason to invest in some backup?
I also get through a lot of "version saves", e.g. project_name_v1_1 ... v1_2 ... v3_4 etc and probably make a new one every hour or two. This became a habit when using PowerPoint but even more so given the instability of SL's undo (still a major gripe). So having access to versions that are maybe 1, 3, 4, 6 etc hours old is always handy, but then so is backing up your data!
Karen, have you tried opening the project on a different computer, may sound daft but it was switching from working onto a different computer that highlighted my project corruption issues.
Thanks for the suggestion, Karen M. Unfortunately, it didn't work - when I tried to use the Import feature, I got a "Could not open Project" message.
Jeff C., I don't have access to another computer with Storyline.
Here's the message I got from the Support Team. Not too helpful since I was already working locally.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for contacting Articulate Support!
Really sorry to hear about your Storyline file. Unfortunately, once a .STORY file becomes unusable, it's no longer recoverable.
When creating, editing, or publishing a Storyline project, we recommend working from your local hard drive (typically your C: drive). Working from a network drive or a USB drive can cause erratic behavior, such as file corruption, an inability to save changes you've made to your project, and loss of resources. Here's a helpful article for you:
http://articulate.com/support/kb_article.php?product=st1&id=cw6rhkr2xpxr
Just reply to this email if you need more help.
Regards,
Miker Ang
Customer Support Engineer
Articulate Support - http://www.articulate.com/support/
If you're okay with posting it, we can test it on our comps. Not sure if it will make a difference, but worth a try.
Hi Karen,
I am sorry to hear about your file. Matthew Graham has made some good suggestions on why you can get a corrupt file. Unfortunately, sometimes corrupt files are never recoverable whether they are Storyline or Microsoft Word. That's where having a backup and versioning system comes in handy.
Sometimes you can import the file into a new project and will be able to recover a portion of the file as Karen Mixon mentioned.
Karen, when working remotely, are you connected to your company's network? I know you said you were working on the file locally, but the best we can do is diagnose what may have caused the file to become corrupt and help keep you from having the issue again down the road.
Always Happy to Help,
Adrian
Sure. It's actually intended as an internal course on how to use Storyline, not all that long, probably 30 slides or so. Thanks for the offer, Matthew.
Hmm, I tried to upload the file, and it appeared to work, but I don't see it attached. I'll post this message and see if it shows up...
Thanks Adrian. I was not connected to the corporate VPN while working on the course, since I didn't need to be.
You could also right click the file and check if windows has another version of it.
I save everything on dropbox this is because dropbox has automatic version control
Sorry, Karen. It says corrupt for me too.
Phil, I don't understand what you mean about right-clicking the file to see if WIndows has another version. Where and how would it do that? I'm using XP...
Hi Karen,
Here is an outside article that goes over a lot of reasons on why a file can become corrupted. I hope this helps.
Adrian
Thanks for all the suggestions, folks. To be honest, I'm not sure I'm going to use Storyline any more. I used it for one project and it looked pretty good, though I found some of its quirks annoying (like not placing the cursor in the right part of the text when editing text boxes). So I was putting together a quick training piece for co-workers who might use it for new projects. But with the file becoming corrupted, I would have to start over, and I don't know that I would recommend the software now, so the whole thing may be moot.
Thanks for trying, Matthew.
Hi Karen,
I will mention that Storyline files becoming corrupt are not a common occurrence. When clicking on a text box to edit, where does the cursor appear for you?
Adrian