Have you ever found yourself in a panic after accidentally closing or losing an unsaved AutoCAD file? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there!
Losing hours of hard work can be frustrating, but fortunately, AutoCAD has a built-in feature that can help you recover those unsaved files. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the steps to recover an unsaved file in AutoCAD.
AutoCAD’s Automatic Save Feature
Before we dive into the recovery process, it’s essential to understand AutoCAD’s automatic save feature. By default, AutoCAD automatically saves your work every few minutes. This feature ensures that even if your file is not saved manually, you still have a backup in case of unexpected events like power outages or system crashes.
Note: The automatic save feature is enabled by default, but it’s always a good idea to double-check your settings to make sure it’s active. To do this, go to the Options menu (type ‘OPTIONS’ in the command line) and navigate to the ‘Open and Save’ tab. Ensure that the ‘Automatically save’ option is checked.
Recovering Unsaved Files
If you’re working on a project and encounter an unfortunate event like a program crash or accidental closure without saving your work, fear not! AutoCAD has a simple and effective method for recovering unsaved files.
Step 1: Launch AutoCAD
To begin the recovery process, launch AutoCAD on your computer. Once the program is open, you’ll notice a prompt at the bottom right corner of the screen indicating that an unsaved drawing was detected.
Step 2: Click on ‘Drawing Recovery Manager’
To access the Drawing Recovery Manager, click on the prompt that appears at the bottom right corner of the screen. This action will open a new window displaying a list of all unsaved files available for recovery.
Step 3: Select the File to Recover
In the Drawing Recovery Manager window, you’ll see a list of unsaved files along with their respective time stamps. AutoCAD automatically assigns names to these files based on the date and time they were last saved. To recover a specific file, simply select it from the list.
Step 4: Click ‘Open’ to Recover
Once you’ve chosen the file you want to recover, click on the ‘Open’ button located at the bottom right corner of the Drawing Recovery Manager window. AutoCAD will then open your selected file, allowing you to continue working from where you left off.
Conclusion
Accidents happen, and losing an unsaved AutoCAD file can be frustrating. However, with AutoCAD’s built-in recovery feature, you can quickly restore your work and minimize any potential losses. Remember to regularly save your files manually as well and take advantage of AutoCAD’s automatic save feature to avoid future mishaps.
Note: It’s crucial to note that AutoCAD’s automatic save feature only creates temporary backup files in case of program crashes or accidental closures. It does not replace regular manual saving practices. Always make it a habit to save your work frequently using Ctrl + S or by clicking on the ‘Save’ icon in the toolbar.
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By following these steps, you can easily recover unsaved AutoCAD files and get back to work without losing valuable progress. Remember to save your files regularly and make use of AutoCAD’s automatic save feature for added peace of mind!