A reel will not export

You see: File › Export… and File › Export Timeline… unavailable, with the tooltip "This reel is not ready to export; see the problems listed on the settings panel." Or Not ready, listing the problems. Or Over budget, asking "Export anyway?". Needs Attention, in the reel settings panel, names what is wrong: a line such as "Shot 052 is no longer in the library", followed by the shot's id, a clip that asks for longer than its shot, or a video that is offline.

Why: Export writes exactly what the reel describes, so anything the reel cannot resolve blocks it: a shot deleted from its shot selects, a hold longer than its shot, a video that has moved. An empty reel has nothing to export. A gap is not a problem: video export renders it as black and timeline export carries it as a gap. Over budget is a question, not a block.

Fix:

1. Read Needs Attention under Reel Details. Each line names its clip, and choosing the name selects the clip.
2. For a shot that is no longer in the library, press Del with the clip selected, or right-click it and choose Replace With….
3. For a clip longer than its shot, select it and choose the full length button, or set Holds for shorter.
4. For an offline clip, right-click it and choose Relink Source….
5. For Over budget, choose Yes to cut the end to fit, or Cancel and shorten the reel yourself.

If that didn't work: Warnings, such as a restricted shot or a clip at a different frame rate, never block export. See Reel Details and Needs Attention, Holds and shortening and Set a length budget.