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Add Metadata to a Timeline

This is the workflow that turns a filled-in spreadsheet back into something usable inside Resolve — a frame counter track for Shot List to read, and/or FCPXML/SRT files you can import as titles or subtitles.

Before you start

You need:

  • A Clip Inventory spreadsheet with your metadata filled in — at minimum a VFX shot code column, if you're placing frame counters.
  • The same timeline open in Resolve that the spreadsheet was exported from (or one with matching Record In/Out ranges).
  • If you're placing frame counters: a rendered video from Generate Frame Counters.

Steps

  1. Open Workspace → Scripts → Edit → 03 Add Metadata.
  2. Set Excel File to your filled-in spreadsheet. Theia reads the header row and populates everything below automatically.
  3. Check Clip Data Columns — Record In and Record Out should auto-select if you didn't rename those columns. If they didn't, pick them manually; Go stays disabled until both are set.
  4. Decide which operations you need, and enable any combination of the three:
    • Frame Counter — check Add frame counter videos to timeline, point Frame Counter File at your rendered .mov, set Starting Frame Number to match what you used in Frame Counter (default 1001), and choose the VFX Shot Code Column. This places one named frame-counter clip per shot (skipping rows with no shot code) on a new video track.
    • FCPXML Titles — check Export metadata to FCPXML title files, and choose an Output Directory. One .fcpxml file is written per checked column in Metadata Columns.
    • SRT Subtitles — same idea, one .srt file per checked column.
  5. In Metadata Columns, check whichever columns should be exported by FCPXML/SRT (this has no effect on the Frame Counter operation).
  6. Confirm Set Frame Rate matches your timeline.
  7. Click Go.

What you get

  • If Frame Counter was enabled: a new video track on your open timeline, with one frame counter clip per shot, named by VFX shot code. This track is what Shot List reads as its "Frame Counter Track."
  • If FCPXML/SRT were enabled: one file per checked column, in your chosen output directory, named after the column (e.g. VFX Shot Code.fcpxml).

Importing FCPXML/SRT back into Resolve

In Resolve's Media page, import the .fcpxml or .srt file like any other media, then drag it onto a new track in your timeline. FCPXML imports as Resolve title clips; SRT imports as a subtitle track. Either way, the clips will already be timed to match the Record In/Out ranges of the rows you exported.

Next: build a shot list

Once the frame counter track exists on your timeline, head to Export a Shot List.