Projects
A Drift project is a .drift file: your timeline, clip settings, and references
to media. You can also save a shareable copy that packs media into the file
for backup or hand-off.
Create, open, and save
Click the project pill in the header (or use shortcuts):
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| New project | Initialize new project (Ctrl+N). Drift may ask you to choose a layout again. |
| Open | Open project… (Ctrl+O) — filter Drift project (.drift)*. |
| Save | Header save button or Ctrl+S. |
| Recent | Listed under Previous projects in the project popup. Missing files show (missing). |
The pill shows whether you have All changes saved or Unsaved changes.
Unsaved changes
If you try to create a new project, open another, switch to a recent one, or quit with unsaved work, Drift asks:
“‘Project’ has unsaved changes. Save before continuing?”
(The dialog shows the actual project name in place of Project.)
| Button | Result |
|---|---|
| Don't Save | Continue without writing the file. |
| Cancel | Stay on the current project. |
| Save | Save, then continue. |
Shareable package (Save with media…)
Save with media… creates a portable .drift that includes the media your
project needs — useful for sharing or archiving. Drift shows progress while it
prepares the copy (Preparing shareable copy).
Use a normal Save for day-to-day work; use Save with media… when you need a self-contained file.
Project properties
Project properties… edits metadata:
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Title | Display name for the project. |
| Author | Creator credit (also settable as a default in Settings). |
| Description | Optional notes. |
| Created / Modified | Read-only timestamps. |
Crash recovery
If Drift closes unexpectedly, the next launch can offer:
Unsaved work from last session — with the project name, Auto-saved time, and original path.
| Choice | Result |
|---|---|
| Restore | Reopen the auto-saved work. |
| New session | Discard the recovery snapshot and start fresh. |