Storage, archive, and restore
Two storage roots keep active work fast and completed work movable. Episode metadata remains searchable even when its archive is disconnected.
Two roots, one local library
Primary storage
Active episodes, reusable media, templates, and production assets.
Archive storage
Completed episode folders on a local folder, external disk, or mounted share.
Configure both in Settings → Workspace. Primary defaults to
~/Movies/After2AM Studio. Archive begins unset.
Each episode stores a relative folder path plus its current
Primary or Archive role.
Read storage status accurately
| Status | Meaning | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Online | The expected root and volume are available. | Read and write when filesystem permissions allow. |
| Read only | The root is visible but cannot accept changes. | Inspect files; do not import or transfer. |
| Offline | The configured path or mounted storage is unavailable. | Reconnect it; metadata remains searchable. |
| Wrong volume | Something is mounted at the path, but its identity does not match. | Eject it and connect the configured disk/share. |
| Not set | No root has been chosen. | Choose a folder in Settings. |
| Checking | The monitor has not completed its probe. | Wait for the live status to settle. |
The app remembers volume identity. A different disk mounted at the old path is rejected as Wrong volume instead of being treated as the archive.
Changing a root does not move files
Choosing a different storage root relinks the app to an existing hierarchy. It does not copy or reorganise content. For every episode assigned to that role, the new root must contain the expected folder and a regular, non-symlink manifest with the matching episode identity.
To move a completed episode between Primary and Archive, use the episode’s verified Archive files or Restore to primary action—not the root picker.
Archive a completed episode
- Check both roots. Primary and Archive must be online, writable, and the expected volumes.
- Keep episode links portable. Linked media, script, thumbnail, export, and editing project paths must remain inside the episode folder before archive.
- Choose Archive files. Read the destination and confirmation, then begin the operation.
- Let verification finish. The app stages a complete copy, preserves filesystem metadata, compares the exact inventory, and verifies every file’s SHA-256.
- Wait for final cleanup. Metadata switches to Archive, the destination is rechecked, and only then is the Primary source removed.
A portable storage receipt is written with the archived episode. The episode status becomes Archived. Only one storage transfer can run across the app at a time; edits, imports, deletion, and root changes remain locked during it.
Restore for rework
Restore performs the same guarded transaction in reverse. It verifies the copy back to Primary, switches the storage role, and returns status to Editing. Imported media and file actions can resume once the operation and any cleanup have finished.
Cancellation and Retry cleanup
Cancellation is safe. Before the destination is committed, the source remains authoritative. If destination activation succeeds but removal of the old source cannot complete, the destination stays active and the old verified copy is preserved.
Reconnect both configured storage locations and choose Retry cleanup. The app reconstructs and re-verifies the inventory before removing the old copy. Do not manually delete either folder while this state exists.