Flattening tracks sometimes splits contiguous clips into segments

[jminor]

Incorrect Functionality

If a track has adjacent Gaps, then items below the boundary between those Gaps are sliced in an unexpected way.

To Reproduce

Using this test file "bug_before_flatten_redacted.otio"...
flatten_bug_repro.zip

Run this command:

% otiotool -i bug_before_flatten_redacted.otio --flatten video -o out.otio

Expected Behavior

Clips below adjacent Gaps should not be segmented by the flatten operation. In the provided example, Clip #1 should be left as-is.

Screenshots

Here is a screenshot before flattening (note the highlighted Gap on the top track)

Here is the result after flattening (note that Clip #1 has been split in two)

[douglascomet]

Seems related to the behavior outlines in #1430

[praerie]

hi, I'd like to work on this for DevDays!

[jminor]

That would be great @praerie - let us know if you want any guidance.

[markreidvfx]

Hi @praerie, someone on my team has been looking into this issue (and was kinda hoping to work on it for dev days too) but since you claimed it first, happy to share our findings.

Our initial thought is to combine the time ranges of contiguous non-visibile items before the recursively trimming occurs.

[praerie]

thank you, @markreidvfx! I would be happy to collaborate if your teammate still wants to work on this.

[rameshbabuvfxtd]

Hi @praerie, I'm the one looking into this issue. I have an idea for this issue happy to collaborate with you. Thanks for accepting for collaboration.

[talk2mybot]

Hi all, I'm also interested into collaborating on dev days with you on this project, if thats o'right