AutoCAD is a powerful software used by professionals in various industries for creating detailed drawings and designs. However, there may be instances when the software crashes or closes unexpectedly, leading to the loss of unsaved work. This can be frustrating, especially if you have spent hours working on a complex drawing.
Fortunately, AutoCAD provides a built-in feature called the Drawing Recovery Manager that can help you recover your unsaved work.
The Drawing Recovery Manager is located in the status bar at the bottom of the AutoCAD window. It appears as a small icon with a drawing sheet and pencil. You can access it by clicking on this icon or by typing “RECOVER” in the command line.
Using the Drawing Recovery Manager
When you open the Drawing Recovery Manager, you will see a list of recently saved and recovered drawings. The drawings are displayed with their file names and timestamps. The recovered drawings are indicated by an asterisk (*) next to their names.
To open a recovered drawing, simply select it from the list and click on the “Open” button. AutoCAD will then open the drawing, allowing you to continue working on it.
Note:
- If your recovered drawing is not listed in the Drawing Recovery Manager, it may have been automatically saved to a different location. In such cases, you can use the “Browse” button to locate and open your drawing manually.
- If multiple versions of your drawing are available for recovery, AutoCAD will display them as separate entries in the Drawing Recovery Manager. You can choose which version to open based on its timestamp.
In addition to recovering drawings, the Drawing Recovery Manager also allows you to manage recovered files and purge unnecessary ones. To do this, click on the “Manage” button in the lower-left corner of the Drawing Recovery Manager window.
The Manage Drawing Recovery dialog box provides options to save, delete, and purge recovered files. You can save a recovered file to a specific location on your computer or delete it permanently. The purge option allows you to remove all recovered files from the list, freeing up storage space.
Conclusion
The Drawing Recovery Manager in AutoCAD is an invaluable tool for recovering unsaved work after a software crash or unexpected closure. By accessing the Drawing Recovery Manager and using its features, you can easily retrieve your drawings and continue working on them without losing valuable progress.
Remember to make use of this feature whenever you encounter an issue with AutoCAD to minimize any potential data loss. Happy designing!