topic Re: Recover after "don't save" in Modeling

Recover after "don't save"

jankubacka — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 07:28:12 GMT

Hello there. Please is there any option to recover autosave file if I quitted the ArchiCAD correct way but accidentally I pressed "Do not save". In autosave folder, there is no .fdb file (I assume .fdb file is deleted when AC is shut down propertly).

In Log folder, I see .log file for every oppened instance for about 2 months back. What information is stored in those .log files? Can it be used for recovery?

Thanks

Re: Recover after "don't save"

Lee Hankins — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 07:34:15 GMT

Oh this has happened so many times in our office. We’ve actually added a wish for a double warning when choosing don’t save.

I didn’t think the auto saves were deleted until Archicad was launched again. If the auto save folder has no files then I’m afraid I don’t think there is a way to recover the file. Which OS are you running?

Re: Recover after "don't save"

Barry Kelly — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 07:37:13 GMT

If you have pressed "Do Not Save", then Archicad will assume that is what you meant, and will shut down the file.

As it was shut down correctly, the autosave file will also be deleted - these autosave files only remain if Archicad crashes without a proper save (or don't save).

Unfortunately you have lost back to your previous successful save.

The log file can not be used for recovery.

Barry.

Re: Recover after "don't save"

jankubacka — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 07:48:20 GMT

Thanks for fast response guys. So I will repeat my work 🙂

Tip for others: Now I set the autosave folder to back up to my external drive every half an hour.

Tip for Graphisoft: Pls do not delete the autosave file eg. until next save. Or as Lee mentioned - double warning.

Have a nice day.

Re: Recover after "don't save"

Barry Kelly — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 08:06:27 GMT

@jankubacka wrote:

Tip for others: Now I set the autosave folder to back up to my external drive every half an hour.

If you mean you have changed the time and location of the recovery files in the Work Environment - Data Safety, then that will still delete the autosave file when you successfully close Archicad (or say don't save).

It doesn't matter where your recovery files are saved, Archicad will still clear them when Archicad is shut down.

The only true save is when you save and as extra safety make sure you have the backup copy set to On.

Barry.

Re: Recover after "don't save"

jankubacka — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 08:19:11 GMT

I mean that I have external backup hard drive permanently connected to my PC and set to backup files from selected folders every x minutes if those files are changed. So I added the ArchiCAD autosave folder so everytime, there will be the latest autosave file even when AC will be correctly shut down. But I know that from today's experience I will never happen to me again.

Thanks, Jan

Re: Recover after "don't save"

Barry Kelly — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 08:40:17 GMT

Problem is if your external backup just happens to run after you don't save the file.

Archicad will delete the autosave and then your backup (if you don't stop it in time before it next runs) will assume it needs to backup the now deleted file, and hence will delete it from you backup copy too.

Unless you set your backup to archive the files rather than overwrite them.

Now you will be accumulating many copies of the files, which can be confusing and also use up a lot of disc space.

Maybe you can set it to just archive the last 2 or 3 backups - I guess it depends on the capability of you backup software.

Barry.

Re: Recover after "don't save"

jankubacka — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 09:03:30 GMT

Yes you are absolutelly right, I have set backup plan, so there will be a new copy every 30 minutes (if changed). Since my projects are not huge, it will be enough to delete archive every month or so to save space.

Easiest and most user friendly would be, if ArchiCAD acts as improperly closed when user do not save the file. And after each do not save closeup, autosave recovery option window will appear on the next start.

Re: Recover after "don't save"

Barry Kelly — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 09:14:21 GMT

@jankubacka wrote:

Easiest and most user friendly would be, if ArchiCAD acts as improperly closed when user do not save the file. And after each do not save closeup, autosave recovery option window will appear on the next start.

My logic for that would be, I did not want to save the file, so why would I want it to appear as an auto recovery file when I next open Archicad?

To each their own I guess.

The ultimate solution is the simplest.

When you have done some changes you are happy with, hit save.

then there is no excuse you do not have what you want.

And if you get in the habit of doing this every 20 or 30 minutes at least, then that is all you can lose.

Barry.

Re: Recover after "don't save"

jankubacka — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 09:25:32 GMT

Yes, you are right, but we all are humans so sometimes it can happen.

I use ArchiCAD for at least 10 years and this is the first time it happens to me. Not a tragedy, but it could be super annoying, even it is completely my fault. But still I think there could be some option to recover this user fault.

Thanks and have a nice day,

Jan

Re: Recover after "don't save"

jared — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 04:11:12 GMT

So with this we can say that ArchiCAD has "NO" auto save feature.

The logic seems quite flawed, why even save regularly to a location automatically if that save is not kept.

ArchiCAd can be quite buggy on an apple with multiple instances and twice this week have closed files that I was only copying items from only to realise I had closed my main working file without saving. "No worries" archiCAD has an autosave.......

Re: Recover after "don't save"

Barry Kelly — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 04:52:13 GMT

Why would Archicad save a file that you just clearly said you do not want to save?

You are in complete control.

The more often you save, the less data you can lose.

And if a dialogue pops up asking if you want to save before closing, think to yourself, "did I make any changes that need saving?".

If in doubt cancel and then 'save as' the file, so you will have the original as well as a new copy.

The 'Autosave' feature is only there if you have a program or equipment failure.

You have to manually save the file when you are happy with your progress.

Barry.

Re: Recover after "don't save"

Frillex — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 09:57:49 GMT

I just did it. First time in 5 years I think. Man it's annoying.

Why haven't Graphisoft implemented your wish? I'm sure this happens every day all over the world.

Please Graphisoft! Make a double warning!!

Re: Recover after "don't save"

Lee Hankins — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 13:48:50 GMT

Hi,

If you can find the wish then vote it up and hopefully it naught be implemented. I’ll have a look on the new system and if it’s gone, I’ll add it again.

Re: Recover after "don't save"

Frillex — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 07:51:41 GMT

Unfortunately, I can’t find your wish. But please to let me know if you create a new one.

I could have done it as well, but I think it will carry a bit more weight if you do it.

Thanks

Felix

Re: Recover after "don't save"

Lee Hankins — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 08:17:17 GMT

I’ve just re-created the wish.

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Wishlist/Double-Warning-when-Selecting-Don-t-Save/idi-p/677360

Re: Recover after "don't save"

jl_lt — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:11:57 GMT

stating the obvious here, but we never rely on the autosave feature of any software, taking an active approach to saving files instead, with multiple versions and backups; this habit going back to the days of floppiness and moody pcs, where you were always one wrong move away of losing everything.

the modern autosave being a nice feature to recover your very last clicks IF and WHEN it works. If it doesnt, always make sure that the most work you could lose would be 30min at most by implementing the aforementioned active saving habits.

having said that, i agree with everyone: telling archicad you dont want to save a recovered file, intentionally or not, doesnt MEAN you actually want it to delete it PERMANENTLY and inmediately after saying no. Another case of obedience before convenience

Re: Recover after "don't save"

Frillex — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:45:08 GMT

Re: Recover after "don't save"

Frillex — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:46:49 GMT

Thank you very much!

Re: Recover after "don't save"

parvink — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 07:04:09 GMT

Unfortunately, once you’ve closed ArchiCAD properly and chosen “Don’t Save,” the autosave and backup files are deleted, so recovery isn’t possible through ArchiCAD itself. The .log files only contain session or error log information for troubleshooting and can’t be used to restore lost project data. If you don’t have manual backups or external recovery software, the data is likely lost.