FINDABYTESUPPORT / MACOS 14+ / LOCAL BY DESIGN
Nothing left behind.
Know where every asset in your project lives, before you move it.
Findabyte requires macOS 14 or later and supports Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
Check a project
Add a project
A Premiere Pro, After Effects or Final Cut Pro project, or a saved session.
Add the main folder
Optional: the folder everything should live in. Without one, Findabyte works out the most likely folder.
Scan
See the percentage of assets in the folder, by count and by size, every location they come from, and what needs attention.
Collect
Copy the strays into one place.
Which project files work?
Premiere Pro
.prproj
Scan, collect and a relinked project copy.
After Effects
.aep .aepx
Scan and collect. Relink the copy in After Effects.
Final Cut Pro (exports)
.fcpxml .fcpxmld
Scan and collect only for now. Relink in Final Cut.
Final Cut Pro (libraries)
.fcpbundle
Best effort. Exporting an FCPXML (File › Export XML) gives the complete list.
For Final Cut Pro, exporting an FCPXML (File › Export XML) gives the most complete list.
What do the colours mean?
In folder: inside the main folder. Elsewhere: on another drive, server or project folder, or in a cloud-synced folder; probably deliberate, but it won’t travel with the project. Risky: on the Desktop, in Downloads, loose in Documents, in the Trash, in iCloud Drive or in a temporary folder. Missing: not found. No access: macOS hasn’t let Findabyte look there yet.
It says “Drive not connected”.
The file was on a drive that isn’t plugged in, and Findabyte names it, for example “Drive not connected: SHOOT_SSD_B”. Connect the drive and press RESCAN. A saved session keeps the results in the meantime.
Why do some files need access?
Findabyte runs in the macOS sandbox. macOS lets it see that files exist, and their sizes, so the colours and percentages are always right. Reading a file to preview or copy it needs your permission. Dropping a folder in, or choosing a destination, grants it. “Allow Access…” in the sidebar grants a whole drive or folder. Files that still need permission are tagged NEEDS ACCESS.
Grants are remembered. Remove one with the × next to it in the sidebar’s DISK ACCESS list.
What does Collect copy, and where?
Only the assets outside the main folder, or the whole project, to any destination you choose. Pick one of three layouts: all in one folder, keep each file’s enclosing folder, or keep the full folder structure. You can also include render files and a copy of the project file with its version number bumped (_v07 to _v08).
Nothing is overwritten or deleted. Identical files already at the destination are skipped, free space is checked first and every copy is verified. Each collect writes COLLECTION_REPORT.csv, listing where every file went.
Will my project be changed?
No. Your original project is never changed. For Premiere Pro, Findabyte can save a relinked copy that points at the collected files. After Effects and Final Cut Pro copies are plain copies; relink those in After Effects or Final Cut Pro.
Why are some files missing from a Final Cut library?
Reading a .fcpbundle library is best effort. For the complete list, export an FCPXML from Final Cut Pro (File › Export XML) and add that instead.
What about render and preview files?
Render, preview and proxy files, such as Premiere’s Video Previews, are kept separate and hidden by default. Switch them on to see them, and choose whether to include them in Collect.
What is a session?
A saved scan, as a .findabyte file. It keeps the scan results and remembers the project and main folder, so you can reopen it later to review or collect without scanning again. Open it from Findabyte, or double-click it in Finder.
Does Findabyte delete files?
Never. It reads your project and copies files only when you choose Collect. It never overwrites, moves or deletes anything.
Contact support
Email info@wearemachine.co.uk with your macOS version, the app version and a description of the problem.
Remove private paths and client names from any screenshots, reports or session files before you send them.