Warning - Orphan Block Files

Block files: Audacity stores the audio data in multiple short sections or block files (normally six seconds long) for details please see Structure of an Audacity project.

This warning message will be shown when you attempt to open an Audacity project which has audio data missing for some reason.

The warning dialog in project context

Your options

You have three options offered to you at this stage:

• Continue without deleting; ignore the extra files this session (default):
  • Choosing this default option will cause Audacity to abandon the opening of the project.
  • Audacity will leave your data exactly as it was prior to you attempting to open the project.

• Close project immediately with no further changes):
  • If you choose this option Audacity will treat the missing audio data as silence, but only while it is open
  • If and when you subsequently Save the project Audacity will just leave the gaps, so the next time you Open the project you will get this message again.
  • However if you Export the project or part of it the gaps will be exported as silences.

• Delete orphan files (permanent immediately):
  • If you choose this option Audacity will immediately and permanently replace all the missing sections with silence (not gaps).
  • The next time you open the project you should no longer see this warning, Audacity will just open the project.

Once you have made your choice, simply click on the OK button.

The Log file

If you want to see further details of the orphan block files click on the Show log for details button.

The buttons

Clicking on the command buttons in the log file dialog give the following results:

• Save gives you the option to Save the current Log file to a named location.
• Clear clears the current Log file
• Close closes this log file dialog and leaves the Log file as is.