So I'm creating an ALE using a script that combined a Resolve project file and an EDL.  The script truncates the tape name, so I'd like to restore it.  Each clip has its own unique tape name for match back.  The clip name should be the same as the tape name.  How do I accomplish this?

Alexa files converted to DNX 36, source TC.

You can either edit the ALE file with a spreadsheet or the bin column, but the best thing would be to fix the script to avoid truncated tape names.

Working on that.  You can bring an ALE into a spreadsheet and it'll go column by column?

Yes You can import the ALE file, edit it to Your likings, and export it in the same format of the imported file, can't remember right now if that's a comma separated or tab delimited file, but the spreadsheet will detect it upon import and tell You what the format is in the import dialogue box, just make sure to export to the same format and change the extension to .ALE before importing into Avid; You can also work on the ALE file with a text editor, google for "column text editor" or similiar for a text editor that can handle columns other than rows.

I only have OpenOffice.  Tried it and Avid rejected the new ALE.

Hi Memel, I'm on OpenOffice too, and Avid imports ALE files manipulated with OpenOffice, if You save them in the correct format; google search for Crimson editor as an alternative to OpenOffice, or use the Windows Notepad instead.

In Open Office you must save the ALE file in plain text mode.  Crimson is good, but I use a very old 32-bit app called PFE32.  No point in changing something that does what you need and it runs fine on W7-64.

Alexa files I have seen, seem to have either 20 or 8 characters in the tape name. So an ALE imported into Avid supports those naming conventions. If for some reason there is a need to go past 32 characters:

If a master clip has 32 or more characters for the "Tape" name metadata, version 8.4 Media Composer displays a prompt that is allowing the user to choose to merge the metadata using the first 31 characters

An Avid imported ALE uses either "Tape" name or "Source File" name as the metadata match needed for the merge of metadata.

as a note
for version 6.5.4 & 8.4 Media Composer 
I am seeing when I import an ALE using the Import Settings "Maintain events as logged". 
If the tape name metadata in the ALE has 32 or more characters, the Avid upon importing the ALE into the Avid Bin is truncating the end of the tape name metadata to 31 characters.


tested with Media Composer ver 8.4 (macintosh os and windows os) & Avid Symphony Nitris-DX 6.5.4 (macintosh)