This article explores options for salvaging DWG files from auto-saved data and avert data loss.
Design professionals put a lot of energy and time to produce quality drawings for their projects. It can be very frustrating when DWG files crash unexpectedly and force experts to repeat all unsaved work. The good news is that AutoCAD comes with an AutoSave feature that holds unsaved work temporarily as .sv$ files.
Important details about AutoCAD auto-saved files
When you open a DWG file, a corresponding .sv$ file is created. This file buffers all changes you make on the target file until you save them. This deletes the .sv$ file. If you continue editing the file, a new .sv$ file is created for the new session. The auto-save file is also deleted when you close the DWG file normally. However, when a session ends abnormally, the file is not deleted and can be used to recover DWG files.
1. Use a manual method
This approach involves locating the .sv$ file and changing its extension to .dwg. To achieve this, open an AutoCAD window and go to the ‘File’ tab. Tap on ‘Options’ and expand the ‘Automatic Save File Location’ option. This reveals the path where the auto-saved data is on the computer. Normally, this should be in the ‘Temp’ folder under local ‘AppData’.
Once you locate the target file, open it to confirm whether it has the details you are looking for. If you are satisfied, close it and rename accordingly. Don’t forget to change the document extension to .dwg. It is important to note that the AutoSave feature works only when it is activated.
To be on the safe side, always make sure that the feature is always on. Unfortunately, .sv$ files are not immune to corruption. When this happens, you can try to repair the files using AutoCAD’s recovery utility. But if the recovery process is unsuccessful, it’ll be impossible to open them. This is where automated recovery tools come in handy.
2. Use a specialized DWG repair and recovery software
The advantage of using a specialized DWG repair software such as DataNumen DWG Recovery to recover .sv$ files is that the software not only repairs any damaged items but also outputs the recovered files in .dwg format. This means you do not have to rename the output file manually.
To use this software, download and install it on your computer. Also, purchase a user license to access the full version of the software. Now launch the program. On the ‘Recovery’ tab, select the damaged .sv$ document to be the source file. Specify the output parameters including where the recovered file will be stored and click ‘Start Recovery’. Monitor the progress bar to know when the recovery process is completed. You get a pop-up message when the file is recovered.
Final Thoughts
When working with AutoCAD, it is wise to activate its AutoSave feature. This ensures that every time you open a DWG file, the edits you make of the document are not lost. In the event of a sudden closure of the program, you can still salvage your document using the auto-saved files. Should this file get corrupt, a specialized DWG recovery software such as DataNumen DWG Recovery will come in handy.
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