Missing Files Replaced with ".pfl" Extensions After Update

Hi all, I recently updated to DaVinci Resolve 20 Studio Beta and made backups of all my projects beforehand. I have a couple of folders with shared assets (sound effects, overlays, graphics, etc.) that I use across projects. After the update, these folders have disappeared.

The only trace I can find are filenames in the cache folder, now ending in .pfl, which I’ve never seen before. Even unrelated .MOV video files from my camera have somehow been converted into .pfl files. I went through Apple support and they believe this may be caused by the new DaVinci update. All files I am speaking about were stored on my computers internal hard drive.

Has anyone experienced this or know of a way to recover the original files? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Aside from this, really enjoying the new beta.

Thanks!

These files are related to Project Preferences > Master Settings > Working Folders > Cache files location.

The contents of the “audio” folder includes the contents of the “fairlightProfiles” and “Users” folders.

“Users” contains individual folders for source media paths and includes related .pfl reduce files.

Manually trashing .pfl files in the working folders path forces Resolve to rebuild the reduce (waveform) files.

Note that these .pfl files are not source media and are generated by and used by Resolve.

[Shrinivas Ramani]

Hi

• Resolve does not touch source files. Depending on your storage, sharing and other options, you may need to review what happened to your original files.
• As Reynaud mentions, Resolve can create cache and waveform cache files with matching names for its own internal use. They do not have anything to do with the original files.
• When you find the files, you can right click on the media pool clips that show offline and use Change Source Directory to point DaVinci Resolve towards the new location

Hope that helps
Shrinivas