Ion Effect - Error: No Channels Were Modified

I've fixed this issue in the past but not sure what I did to fix it and now I've run into it again. When trying to program most effect types into my moving lights (2 VL 1100s), I often get a "error: no channels were modified" when I try and add the effect to the channel. Using focus effects as an example, I add pan and tilt into the parameters the focus effect, but nothing. I don't have this issue with intensity-based effects, but I do with color-changing effects.  

I've figured out a sort of workaround from the other show file where I was able to fix this issue. So to get the moving focus effect I want, I went into that show file and into that cue with the moving effect, stayed in that cue while switching to the new show file, and immediately record a new cue. This works just fine and the movers act appropriately, and I can edit their pan, tilt, beam, color, etc., but obviously not a great long-term solution. If I try and input a different effect into that cue, or input that same effect but in a different cue, I still get the "error: no channels were modified" in the command line. Any help is greatly appreciated! 

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