How to Autosave in SolidWorks?

Understanding the Autosave Feature in SOLIDWORKS

SOLIDWORKS includes an autosave feature designed to minimize data loss by automatically saving your work periodically. This function is particularly useful when working on complex models, as it ensures that you have recovery options available if the software crashes or if there’s a power failure. The autosave function retains temporary copies of your active parts, assemblies, and drawings, thereby protecting your progress.

Steps to Configure Autosave in SOLIDWORKS

Setting up autosave in SOLIDWORKS involves adjusting the settings to determine how frequently and where the auto-recovery files are stored. Follow these steps:

1. Launch SOLIDWORKS.
2. Navigate to the top menu and select Tools, then choose Options.
3. In the Options dialog box, find and select the Backup/Recover tab.
4. Under this section, you can specify the number of minutes between autosaves in the Autosave interval field. A common setting is every 10-15 minutes.
5. Choose the folder location for the autosave files. Ensure this location is easy to access, such as a dedicated folder on your desktop or in your documents.
6. Confirm your choices by clicking OK to save the settings.

Accessing Autosaved Files in SOLIDWORKS

When SOLIDWORKS autosaves your work, it creates a temporary file that you can access in the event of an unexpected interruption. To retrieve these autosaved documents:

1. Open SOLIDWORKS after a crash or interruption.
2. In the Document Recovery section that appears, you will find a list of autosaved files.
3. To open an autosaved document, click on Open All next to the Document Recovery list, or right-click on a specific file and select Open.
4. Once the file is open, you can save it normally by using Save to overwrite the original file or Save As to create a new one.

Disabling Autosave in SOLIDWORKS

For those who prefer to turn off the autosave feature for any reason, do the following:

1. Start SOLIDWORKS and go to Application Menu.
2. Select Preferences or simply type Options in the command line.
3. In the Options dialog, click on System Options.
4. Expand the Auto-save & Backup settings.
5. Uncheck the options related to autosaving to disable the feature completely.
6. Click OK to apply the changes.

Locating Backup Files in SOLIDWORKS

When autosaving is enabled, SOLIDWORKS creates backup files in a designated folder. You can find these files by following these instructions:

1. Open the SOLIDWORKS Options dialog as mentioned previously.
2. Go to Backup/Recover settings.
3. Check the folder path specified for backup files, ensuring that you know where they are stored.
4. You can navigate to this folder using your file explorer to review or retrieve previous versions of your work.

FAQs

What happens to autosaved files when I save my work?

When you manually save your work, the autosave file is deleted, and the current model in memory is the same as what is saved on the hard drive.

Can I retrieve autosaved files after closing SOLIDWORKS?

No, once you close SOLIDWORKS, the autosaved files are generally not accessible unless they were previously saved manually before closing the program.

What should I do if my autosave isn’t working?

If you find that autosave is not functioning, check the settings in the Backup/Recover options to ensure the feature is enabled and correctly configured. Restarting SOLIDWORKS may also help in resolving temporary issues.