Inputting and Outputting Media > Legacy File Import > About Using Import Media >

# Importing and Soft-Importing in the Background

You can import one or more image or video files in the background while you perform other tasks. When soft-importing one or more image or video files, you can generate the proxies in the background.

To perform any of these tasks on several files at once, you can select them and then process them as a batch. You can assign different clip options to each file that you add to the queue. You can also import and export files simultaneously. Background tasks continue to completion even after you exit the application.

When importing files as a background process, you import them to a Destination clip library. The Destination library needs to be unlocked (you must not be currently browsing in it) for the operation to complete. If this library is locked, the new clip cannot be written to it. In this case, it gets placed temporarily in a generated library until the Destination library becomes available.

To import in the background:

1. From the clip library, click Video I/O > Import Media.
2. Select an option from the Add to Queue box.

   This action will add the job to the Background Import/Export Queue.

   Select: | To:
   --- | ---
   Add to Queue | Add the job to the queue.
   Add to Queue & Execute | Add the job to the queue and execute it automatically. If there are any jobs in progress, this job (and any others already added to the queue with the Add to Queue & Execute option) will be triggered upon the completion of its predecessor.

   The progress of the import or export job is indicated in the queue.

   Status: | Indicates:
   --- | ---
   Pending | Job has been added to the queue but not executed.
   Queued | Job has been initialised.
   Running | Job is being performed.
   Done | Job has been executed.

3. Continue building the Background Import/Export Queue:
   - If you are adding import jobs to the queue, you can continue using the file browser to locate other files that you want to import.
   - If you are adding export jobs to the queue, click Exit Export Image to return to the clip library, select the next clip to be exported, and repeat this procedure.
4. To manage the Background Import/Export Queue, see Managing the Background Import/Export Queue.

To generate proxies in the background:

1. From the clip library, click Video I/O > Import Media.
2. Enable Soft-Import Full Res.

   The Generate / Import Proxies button becomes active.

3. Click Generate / Import Proxies.

   The soft-import process occurs in the foreground, while the proxy generation process occurs in the background.

4. To manage the Background Import/Export Queue, see Managing the Background Import/Export Queue.