A file will not open

You see: Could not open shot list, saying the file's schema version "is newer than this build of Shotwork supports". Or Could not open reel, saying the reel was made by a newer version. Or either title with Could not read, the file's name and a reason.

Why: Shotwork opens every older file and upgrades it as it loads, but it refuses a file written by a newer version rather than half-read it and lose what it does not understand. Could not read means the file is damaged or is not a Shotwork file: it was cut off while being copied, edited by hand, or is something else with the same extension.

Fix:

1. For a file from a newer version, update Shotwork, then open the file again.
2. For Could not read, open a backup or another copy of the file, if you have one.
3. If Shotwork closed while that file had unsaved work, start Shotwork again and choose Yes in Recover unsaved work?.

If that didn't work: Shot lists and reels are plain JSON text, and the reason in the message names what could not be read, which helps if the file was edited by hand. A template from a newer version is covered in A template will not open or behaves oddly. See File formats.