Python Script - Select every other clip in Davinci Resolve

I recently made a sort of fancy photo slideshow for someone, and I like using Ken Burns (Davinci calls them Dynamic Zooms, but credit where credit is due) to make everything feel more dynamic. But I also like the direction to be alternating between zoom in and zoom out. So instead of selecting every other clip manually, I wrote a small script to change the color of every other clip to green. Then went to "Timeline > Select Clips > By Clip Color > Green" and swapped the dynamic zoom on them. Very quick, very easy, and I'm sharing that script with you!

#!/usr/bin/env python
# SelectEveryOtherClip.py — tags every second clip with a clip color so you can select them.
# Works on current timeline. Defaults: all VIDEO tracks, start with the 1st clip, color "Blue".
# Notes:
#  • Prints detailed progress to Workspace ▸ Console.
#  • Handles empty tracks safely and reports counts per track.
#  • Catches and reports any SetClipColor errors so failures aren’t silent.

import sys
import os
import traceback
# We'll resolve the proper module name at runtime (DaVinciResolveScript or bmd)

# ---- USER OPTIONS ----
TRACK_TYPE = "video"          # "video" or "audio"
TRACKS = None                 # None = all tracks of TRACK_TYPE. Or set like [1] or [1,3].
START_WITH_FIRST = True       # True = tag 1st, 3rd, 5th...  False = tag 2nd, 4th, 6th...
COLOR_TO_SELECT = "Green"      # Use a common built‑in color name like "Blue", "Green", "Red".
DRY_RUN = False               # True = print what would happen, don't change colors.
# -----------------------

def _get_bmd_module():
    """Return the Resolve scripting module as `bmd`, trying common fallbacks and paths."""
    try:
        import DaVinciResolveScript as bmd  # When running outside Resolve with proper PYTHONPATH
        return bmd
    except Exception:
        pass
    try:
        import bmd  # When running inside Resolve, `bmd` is injected
        return bmd
    except Exception:
        pass
    # Try adding common install paths then re-import
    candidate_paths = [
        "/Library/Application Support/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve/Developer/Scripting/Modules",  # macOS
        "C:/ProgramData/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve/Support/Developer/Scripting/Modules",       # Windows
        "/opt/resolve/Developer/Scripting/Modules",                                                  # Linux
    ]
    for p in candidate_paths:
        if os.path.isdir(p) and p not in sys.path:
            sys.path.append(p)
    try:
        import DaVinciResolveScript as bmd
        return bmd
    except Exception:
        return None

def set_color_safe(item, color):
    """Set clip color with error handling. Returns True if successful."""
    try:
        ok = item.SetClipColor(color)
        # Some Resolve versions return bool, others None; treat None as success if no exception.
        return True if ok is None else bool(ok)
    except Exception:
        traceback.print_exc()
        return False

def main():
    try:
        bmd = _get_bmd_module()
        if not bmd:
            print("Could not find the DaVinci Resolve scripting module.\n"
                  "If running from outside Resolve, set PYTHONPATH to the 'Developer/Scripting/Modules' folder.\n"
                  "If running from Workspace ▸ Scripts, 'bmd' should be available; try restarting Resolve.")
            return
        resolve = bmd.scriptapp("Resolve")
        if not resolve:
            print("Could not acquire Resolve scripting app.")
            return
        pm = resolve.GetProjectManager()
        if not pm:
            print("Project Manager not available.")
            return
        project = pm.GetCurrentProject()
        if not project:
            print("No project open.")
            return
        timeline = project.GetCurrentTimeline()
        if not timeline:
            print("No timeline open.")
            return

        # Which tracks?
        if TRACKS is None:
            count = timeline.GetTrackCount(TRACK_TYPE)
            tracks = list(range(1, count + 1))
        else:
            tracks = list(TRACKS)

        print(f"Track type: {TRACK_TYPE}")
        print(f"Tracks to scan: {tracks}")

        total_items = 0
        total_tagged = 0

        for track_index in tracks:
            items = timeline.GetItemListInTrack(TRACK_TYPE, track_index) or []
            print(f"Track {track_index}: {len(items)} item(s)")
            total_items += len(items)

            toggle = START_WITH_FIRST
            for idx, item in enumerate(items, start=1):
                # Only handle real timeline clips; ignore generators that sometimes lack color
                # capability by trying and catching errors.
                if toggle:
                    name = getattr(item, "GetName", lambda: "clip")()
                    msg = f"Tagging {TRACK_TYPE} T{track_index} #{idx}: {name} → {COLOR_TO_SELECT}"
                    if DRY_RUN:
                        print("[DRY RUN] " + msg)
                    else:
                        ok = set_color_safe(item, COLOR_TO_SELECT)
                        print(("[OK] " if ok else "[FAILED] ") + msg)
                        if ok:
                            total_tagged += 1
                toggle = not toggle

        print(f"Done. Considered {total_items} item(s). Tagged {total_tagged} with '{COLOR_TO_SELECT}'.")
        print(f"Now use Timeline > Select Clips With Clip Color > {COLOR_TO_SELECT}")

    except Exception:
        print("Unexpected error:\n" + traceback.format_exc())

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()