> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tackstudio.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Troubleshooting

> Common issues and how to fix them.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The dialog shows a message instead of the controls">
    Collect Files Pro checks your license against the Tack Studio app before it shows its controls. You’ll see one of two messages:

    * **"Open the Tack Studio app"**: Collect Files Pro can’t reach the Tack Studio app on your computer. Make sure it’s installed and running, then click **Refresh**. If you don’t have it yet, click **Download the app**.
    * **"Activate using the Tack Studio app"**: the Tack Studio app is running, but no license is active. Either activate Collect Files Pro in the app, or click **Purchase** to buy it, then click **Refresh** once complete.

    See [Installing tools](/the-app/installing-tools) for the full activation flow.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I’m asked to save the project before collecting">
    This is expected. Collecting starts from the saved project file, so unsaved changes (or a project that’s never been saved) must be saved first. Click yes at the prompt; a never-saved project opens the Save As dialog.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="‘For Selected Comps’ or ‘For Queued Comps’ is disabled">
    * **For Selected Comps** needs at least one composition selected in the Project panel.
    * **For Queued Comps** needs at least one item in the Render Queue with **Queued** status; items that are unqueued, done, or stopped don’t count.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The summary says 0 comps will be collected">
    Your current scope matches nothing. With **Regular Expression** selected, check the pattern, since an empty or invalid expression matches no comps. See [Choosing what to collect](/collect-files-pro/choosing-what-to-collect).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="‘Prefix project file name to folders’ is disabled">
    It’s only available when **Collect to folder** is off. A dedicated folder already keeps each project’s files separate, so there’s nothing for the prefix to disambiguate.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Some fonts weren’t collected">
    Collect Files Pro can only copy fonts it can locate on disk. Fonts without a resolvable file location (some system-protected fonts, for example) are listed in the [report](/collect-files-pro/the-report) but can’t be copied.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Collection failed partway through">
    If anything goes wrong during collection, Collect Files Pro cleans up after itself: the partial destination folder is removed and your original project is reopened untouched. Check the error message, fix the cause (commonly a file that’s moved or a full/unwritable destination drive), and collect again.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="My original project was closed">
    That’s the **Open collected project when finished** option. It leaves the collected copy open instead of reopening the original. Untick it if you’d rather stay in your original project. Nothing in the original file is ever modified either way.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Collect Files Pro doesn’t appear in the Extensions menu">
    Collect Files Pro requires **After Effects 24.5 or later**. Check your version (**Help > About After Effects**) and update if needed, then check **Window > Extensions > Collect Files Pro** again. If it’s still missing, reinstall via the Tack Studio app.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>