<p>This isn't the right answer, but it's what I do:</p>
<p>Keep everything for your project in a single folder.  Everthing.  Even if it means duplicating things from other projects or from templates that you use all the time.</p>
<p>Regularly back up the folder to another drive.  Use <a href="https://www.econtechnologies.com/chronosync/overview.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Chronosync</a> to do this.  It works very reliably, and can do incremental backups intelligently.</p>
<p>When you're done, keep your backups somewhere sensible and delete from your working drives.</p>
<p>This isn't the most space-efficient way to work, but it means you reliably never lose anything.</p>
<p>Collect files takes forever and is complicated.  Chronosync means pressing a single button then forgetting about it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-23T16:25:04.307Z
2023-03-23T16:25:04.307Z
tomh
<p>I have a question about optimizing my workflow in regards to archiving. I feel like there must be a better way method to what I’m doing at the moment. What I currently do, after I’m done working in a .aep file, is clean up my project, organize my Project panel, get rid of any unused or redundant compositions/files etc., and finally use <em>File &gt; Dependencies &gt; Collect Files…</em>, to put everything in one place, and have everything linked up in a concise, local location.</p>
<p>This works great imo. I was wondering however whether it was possible to, say, when working from this new .aep file – adding new files/directories to it, maybe removing some – ‘update’ it in such a way that the directory setup doesn’t change, but all the additional files get added to this directory.</p>
<p>Am I using the <em>Collect Files…</em> function wrong? Is it something only used for preparing files for passing them on? Is there a way of working that comes close to what I’m describing? Very curious to hear your guys input or workflow advice. I feel like there’s a better way of working that I’m not utilizing.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance, and kind regards,</p>
<p>Armand</p>

<after-effects><workflow>
After Effects: Workflow advice, working from/updating archived projects
Namrad
# After Effects: Workflow advice, working from/updating archived projects

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-03-23)

I have a question about optimizing my workflow in regards to archiving. I feel like there must be a better way method to what I’m doing at the moment. What I currently do, after I’m done working in a .aep file, is clean up my project, organize my Project panel, get rid of any unused or redundant compositions/files etc., and finally use *File > Dependencies > Collect Files…*, to put everything in one place, and have everything linked up in a concise, local location.

This works great imo. I was wondering however whether it was possible to, say, when working from this new .aep file – adding new files/directories to it, maybe removing some – ‘update’ it in such a way that the directory setup doesn’t change, but all the additional files get added to this directory.

Am I using the *Collect Files…* function wrong? Is it something only used for preparing files for passing them on? Is there a way of working that comes close to what I’m describing? Very curious to hear your guys input or workflow advice. I feel like there’s a better way of working that I’m not utilizing.

Thanks in advance, and kind regards,

Armand

**Tags:** after-effects, workflow


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-03-23. Score: 0

This isn't the right answer, but it's what I do:

Keep everything for your project in a single folder. Everthing. Even if it means duplicating things from other projects or from templates that you use all the time.

Regularly back up the folder to another drive. Use [Chronosync](https://www.econtechnologies.com/chronosync/overview.html) to do this. It works very reliably, and can do incremental backups intelligently.

When you're done, keep your backups somewhere sensible and delete from your working drives.

This isn't the most space-efficient way to work, but it means you reliably never lose anything.

Collect files takes forever and is complicated. Chronosync means pressing a single button then forgetting about it.


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