Once you create an archive, you can add entries to it at any time. For example, you can save entries to an archive after you create it, close it, and open the same archive later to add new entries.

Smoke creates an HTML/XML and ASCII table of contents for any archive that you open, including archives created in older versions of the application. To open an archive, use either the table of contents on the medium or the OTOC. Opening an archive with the OTOC is faster because the information is read from the hard drive of the computer rather than from the tape. You load entries from an archive using the OTOC. With VTR archives, you can also save and delete entries.

When you open a VTR archive in read/write mode, Smoke performs an auto-test. The auto-test involves checking whether it can write, read, and verify the integrity of the archived material. This auto-test also scans binary and play/record delay information to verify the quality and accuracy of the video signal.

To open a VTR archive:

1. In the Archive menu, select VTR from the Archive Device box.
2. Select the VTR device.
3. Insert the archive tape in the VTR.
4. Select the start timecode by doing one of the following:
   • Select Autostart if you selected this option when you created the archive (the archive rewinds the tape to find the start timecode).
   • Select Manual Start and enter the appropriate timecode if you selected this option when you created the archive.

   
   

   (a) Open Mode box  (b) Auto/Manual Start button  (c) Timecode field  

5. Do one of the following:
   • To use the table of contents on the tape, click Open. Select Open Read/Write or Open Read Only from the Open Mode box.
     NoteWhen you try to open a VTR archive in read/write mode, Smoke automatically checks for machine errors (for example, dirty heads). If any problem is detected, the archive does not open. If the tape is write-protected, the archive opens in read-only mode.
   • To use the OTOC, click the Open Using OTOC button and select the OTOC in the file browser. You are given the option to read slates from the tape. Answer 'Y' if you wish to see clip proxies.

To open a tape archive:

1. Make sure the tape is in the device.
2. In the Archive menu, select Tape from the Archive Device box.
3. Select the tape device.
4. Insert the archive tape in the tape device.
5. Do one of the following:
   • To use the table of contents on the tape, click Open.
   • To use the OTOC, click the Open Using OTOC button and select the online table of contents in the file browser. The OTOC does not contain slates, so archive proxies show up as black.

To open a file archive:

1. In the Archive menu, select File from the Archive Device box.
2. Select the file archive.
3. Do one of the following:
   • To use the table of contents in the archive, click Open.
   • To use the OTOC, click the Open Using OTOC button and select the OTOC in the file browser.
   NoteUse the OTOC if the archive table of contents is corrupted or if you want to use a shortcut. See Recovering an Archive.