cm-import reference (20260110)

Import external assets into content-machine artifacts.

Synopsis

cm import visuals --timestamps <path> [options]

Inputs

• --timestamps: timestamps JSON file
• --clips: directory, file, or glob of local clips
• --clip: single clip path (alternative to --clips)

Outputs

• visuals.json (default, configurable via --output)

Options

• --timestamps <path>: input timestamps JSON file (required)
• --clips <path>: directory or glob of clips
• --clip <path>: single clip path
• --mode <mode>: sequence|loop|map (default: sequence)
• --map <path>: JSON mapping of sceneId -> clip path (required for map mode)
• -o, --output <path>: output visuals file path (default: visuals.json)

Examples

# Build visuals from a directory of clips
cm import visuals --timestamps timestamps.json --clips assets/clips --output visuals.json

# Use a glob pattern
cm import visuals --timestamps timestamps.json --clips "assets/clips/*.mp4"

# Map specific scenes to specific clips
cm import visuals --timestamps timestamps.json --mode map --map mapping.json

Notes

• Imported visuals use source: "user-footage" and local assetPath values.
• cm render will copy local clips into the render bundle for reliability.
• Imports validate local clip paths and reject tiny placeholder files; use a real video or transcode with ffmpeg if needed.

See also

• docs/reference/cm-timestamps-reference-20260110.md
• docs/reference/cm-render-reference-20260106.md