Maintain folder structures on import
Add an option to preserve empty folder structures on import!
Often I or an assistant editor will create a folder structure in the finder with empty folders to be populated with media later on in the production workflow (i.e. Final mix stems, color files, graphics). Currently if you import empty folders or folders with only one item in them, those empty folders disappear on import and the single item that was inside them is left outside any folder. This prevents planning and proper organization, and I'm not sure what the benefit of it is? Fewer folders? But I wanted those, that's why I made them.
Just leave the folder structures as they are, don't change them. If some users want an option to "automatically remove empty folders on import" then add that, but don't make removing them the default.
Importing empty folder structures is an essential organizational tool for any medium to large scale professional production. I made this same request in May of 2018 and have never gotten a response or seen it addressed, I really I hope I do this time!

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Rob Eggleston commented
Under Review December 6 2022
Would love to see the meeting minutes from that review.
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Michael Conti commented
Doesn't work in Productions either. Please maintain folder structures on import as it is a necessary feature, to turn a folder into a bin, and any subfolders underneath into sub-bins. It does appear broken as I can't replicate any folder import without seeing errors like assets outside their respective bins, and sequentially number folders not imported. This is the same behavior as I see in Projects.
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Ryan Green commented
It seems ridiculous, that import will not bring in a folder with a single file. Instead, it just spits it into the main project view. Please fix this already!! It is backwards in project organization.
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jason kileen commented
Yes please. This is so annoying and should be an easy fix
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Pierre Louis Beranek commented
1000x YES to this request! It never ceases to surprise me how Pr can ***** up even the most basic things.
I organize my footage in folders/subfolders like this:
YYYY.MM.DD - Short description of content
-Camera name (filed with shots from that camera)
-Camera name (filed with shots from that camera)
-Camera name (filed with shots from that camera)EVERY single time I import my footage from a shoot date that only has footage from a single camera, rather than create a bin with the date and description of contents, Pr only creates a completely nondescript bin named 'GoPro 11' or 'Panasonic GH6'.
This is ANNOYING AS F!@#$%!@#$!!!!!!
Pr team, do you take some kind of sick pleasure in messing up every little thing you can at the expense of your users? When will you finally show your users some respect by fixing what needs to be fixed rather than dumbing Pr down with horrible new interfaces that nobody ever asked for (such as the new Import & Export interface abominations).
Please don't let this be another of your 'Under Review' requests that remains as such for years on end. Paying users deserve better than that.
The lack of even the most basic functionality that is being requested here is like a bathroom with no toilet paper. Fixing things like this should take precedence over every pet project your team may have!
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Chris Lyon commented
This always feels so unprofessional. I have folder structures for a reason. Bringing a pre-made structure into Premeire always requires going back to ensure that my structure is maintained because I know that Premiere has been written to assume that I don't really need the folders I've imported.
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Samuel Marr commented
This has been bugging me for ages now as you used to be able to drag+drop folders and their sub folders into Prem but these latest updates it now gets rid of a folder if there's only one file in it. So annoying. Please fix it Adobe!
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Ariel Brener commented
Devs Team: Please add an option under PREFERENCES > MEDIA:
Called: "Maintain file structure on import (including empty folders)"
and it should be checked as default.This way, users will have the option to choose.
When I start working on a project I download \ create the first asset and place it in a folder. For example, I create a folder called "Music", I download the first song (knowing that later I will put in that folder more files as the project progress).
But when I import the Music folder to premiere - it imports only the music file without the containing folder.(!)
So I need to do unnecessary extra steps
1. creating a new bin in premiere
2. Call it Music
3. find and place the song in that folder
Multiply that for all the other folders I create during the project (SFX,VO,AE RENDERS, GFX. 3D renders etc)Do you understand how much wasted time goes on these unnecessary steps?
Please fix that major flow - it is really not a big deal to add this option to the prefs as I suggestedThanks!
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James Beissel commented
How many votes does this need to get fixed?
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Matthew Carlson commented
Please fix this, this is bloody awful.... editing a dance recital, 3 cams across 2 nights - let me keep my raws in the folders where I've named them, arrrghhh!!!
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Colleen Weyland commented
This would be extremely helpful right now as I work to ingest and organize files from multiple cameras, multiple days. PLEASE
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Mark Valentine commented
Yes! Definitely!
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Bennett Killmer commented
Yes this is so essential.
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Jesus Rodriguez commented
I don't understand how Adobe keeps going backward.
Import a folder in 2021 and you keep your folders, now they disappear, why? -
Ben Draisma commented
Yes, either this is a completely silly oversight, or this is a bit of counterintuitive design based on some designer's idea of what's best rather than on how people actually intend to use it. It's irritating, time-wasting and mystifying.
And no, we shouldn't have to faff around with Media Browser. This simple thing should be possible using file>import, and drag and drop import.
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Henry Cakebread commented
I've now started to use Kyno to send the folder structures across to Premiere pro but this still feels like adding an extra step to something that shouldn't even be an issue
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David White commented
Just because I have One file, or I bring in Multiple Folders of media with similar names, DO NOT combine and/or REMOVE the Folder and only import the file. I'm sick of applications creating improvements that create MORE CLICKS for me. Thank you for repairing this "feature".
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eron otcasek commented
Vote Critical. lets get this going Adobe.
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WILLIAM COONS commented
Bert has hit a bug that really bugs me! I would love to be able to import all of my project folders even if they were empty, instead of building them in PP. But any folder imported through the media browser - ESPECIALLY if it only has one file in it, should not discard the folder. I try to mirror my hard drive in PP - other editors in the shop may have to deal with my project. Loose files in the project are the bane of my existence.
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Alex Hauser commented
This is a must fix immediately!