Import a file

This article describes how you can import another (non-Q4) document into Q4.

To learn how to insert text or subtitles whilst preserving the contents of the target file, click here.

Use the following procedure to import a (non-Q4) source document into a new target file.

The source document can be in any of the supported import formats.

Create a new file, selecting the customer and language as required. The properties of the new file will be based on the corresponding customer template, though some of these properties may be overridden by the import process
Select File : Import from the main menu
A message is displayed, warning you that any subtitles in the current file will be lost. Click Yes to continue.
Choose the source file to import
Q4 launches the Import Wizard to guide you through the process of importing the source file
Choose the required options from those presented by the Import Wizard. Click Finish at any step to accept your current choices and continue with the import process
Q4 displays a progress dialog as the source file is imported
Warnings may be displayed if Q4 detects that results may not be sensible
The import process is now complete

The import process obeys the following rules:

Any existing subtitles in the target file are deleted
Any GSI information in the source file is imported and the relevant GSI fields populated
The properties (e.g. personality, language) of the target file are set according to the choices made in the Import Wizard
Subtitles/text are imported from the source file along with timecodes, if present
Subtitle-level style and word-level style settings in the source file are preserved where possible. This includes position, justification and colours
Speakers and scene markers are imported if present in the source file. If the target file contains speakers (e.g. from a colour template) they will be merged.
Imported subtitles are automatically word-wrapped if necessary. If this word-wrapping results in extra subtitles being created in a timecoded file, these extra subtitles will be assigned "zero timecodes" of 00:00:00:00 and Q4 will warn you accordingly at the end of the import process.
If the source file contains unformatted (raw) text, Q4 will split the text into subtitles using the settings defined in Configure Import for the active customer

Import Wizard

The Import Wizard is designed to guide you through the process of importing or opening a third-party subtitle file. It displays a series of dialogs that allow you to choose how the incoming data will be processed. The set of dialogs displayed and their sequence will vary depending on the format of the source file and the choices that you make in the Wizard.

Learn more about the Import Wizard options

Import a file

Import Wizard

See Also: