Jump to content

HELP! Being driven mad!!! (BAK files)


Johnnyfive

Recommended Posts

Please help save my sanity!

 

Everytime my collegue works on my project he produces .bak files like a virus. I open folders in the Mechanical section and there are Electrical .bak files. He is the only one who does this. I am tired of erasing these files. I opened a folder earlier and there was one .dwg and eleven .bak files - some where relevant to the drawing in the folder, most were not.

 

Any ideas how I can stop this!!?

 

Thanks in advance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 29
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Johnnyfive

    6

  • dbroada

    4

  • ReMark

    3

  • Tiger

    3

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

You really don't want to stop that in my opinion.

 

The BAK-file is the second to last save (the last being the dwg) that you made on your dwg, and with AutoCADs history of shutting down unexpectantly, the BAK-file have saved more hides than you would care to count.

 

If there are loads of BAK-files that have no corresponding DWG, now that is a problem, but not a problem with the BAK-files themselves. I would guess that its a nameing problem. That someone renames the files multiple times, but that is more a drawing management problem. Decide from the start what the files should be called, and stick to it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

.bak file reation is controled under Option\|Open & Save|Create backup copy with each save. Untick the box and no backups should be made. HOWEVER, these should be created in the same folder as its .dwg file. If they are being created in different folders then you may have a virus.

 

You can confirm that they are proper backup files by renaming the .bak to .dwg and it should be a usable AutoCAD file.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tiger,

 

I fully understand the concept and use of .bak files and utilise them when crashes occur (IF my autosave had failed also). My issue is not the files themselves, directly, but the fact the other engineer produces so many that are not relevant to the file/folder he is working.

 

For Example:

 

Should he be working on GRD-Power.dwg within the Electrical folder and then open a file in the Mechanical folder, GRD-Vent for instance, he will leave numerous GRD-Power.bak files in the Mechanical folder.

 

Is that clear enough? It seems more complicated when written down :?

 

Cheers

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You really don't want to stop that in my opinion.

 

The BAK-file is the second to last save (the last being the dwg) that you made on your dwg, and with AutoCADs history of shutting down unexpectantly, the BAK-file have saved more hides than you would care to count.

the backup file is not the best line of defence on a sudden shut down - the Recover file (if your version is new enough) or the .sv$ files are more recent than the .bak in most cases.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

dbroada,

 

As I said to Tiger, I am fully aware of the .bak files issues/settings etc in AutoCad but it's the fact that no matter what file (.dwg) he is working on or what folder he is in (Elec or Mech for instance) numerous .bak files are created. They look like autosaves as it is the filename followed by numbers etc. i.e. 1ST- POWER_1_1_6637.bak or 1ST- POWER_1_1_7497.bak

 

The main annoyance is that he does not erase any of them, from any folder. Bad houskeeping I know and I'm getting fed up of doing it.

 

A virus could be the answer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ah, then I see what the trouble is.

 

From Daves recommendation, run a virus scan first then, to be sure.

 

Otherwise I have no idea what would cause BAK-files to be created in another folder than the DWGs homefolder...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tiger,

 

Thanks for the reply. I have worked with Autocad for the last 11 years and have never had an issue like this. It's just starting to drive me mad as I think I have OCD when it comes to folder "house-keeping".

 

I'll let the support team look into it.

 

Cheers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In normal operation AutoCAD should only create (by renaming) one BAK per drawing. The fact that in this instance more than one BAK file is being created is a sign of something amiss. I would not lay the blame solely on the engineer.

 

Are Xrefs involved by any chance?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ReMark,

 

Yes. each drawing has a minimum of 2 Xrefs (Title Block & Building).

 

The "blame" on the engineer is based on the fact that he knows he's doing it, he's aware that they are created yet he does nothing about it - No deleting of additional files or Virus checking.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well the deleting part is up to him but the creation of the extra BAK files may not be directly attributable to him.

 

Was a virus check run on his system lately?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ReMark,

 

If you knew the guy you'd understand my on-going frustration with him. If I suggest a Virus scan he'll reply "nah f*** it. It ain't my laptop to maintain". seriously, the guy's a liability but the bosses do nowt about it. I only started this thread to try and sort it out for my own peace of mind.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

.bak file reation is controled under Option\|Open & Save|Create backup copy with each save. Untick the box and no backups should be made.

 

Just for completeness, if you wanted to change this setting programmatically, (i.e. through use of the ACADDOC.lsp, for example), you can change the setting of the ISAVEBAK System Variable, where available:

 

(setvar 'ISAVEBAK 0)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I too have only experienced one, single .BAK being created for each .DWG during my work.

 

Given that the .BAK files are also numerically sequenced (unless I've misunderstood the file naming convention?), is it possible that the autosave file extension was made to be .BAK, instead of the default OOTB extension? *IF* so, I'm not sure how these files would be placed in (getvar 'dwgprefix) in lieu of the profile's specified temp directory though.

 

... Just a thought.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I too have only experienced one, single .BAK being created for each .DWG during my work.

 

Given that the .BAK files are also numerically sequenced (unless I've misunderstood the file naming convention?), is it possible that the autosave file extension was made to be .BAK, instead of the default OOTB extension? *IF* so, I'm not sure how these files would be placed in (getvar 'dwgprefix) in lieu of the profile's specified temp directory though.

 

... Just a thought.

 

RenderMan - I think you are on to something there. OP, you will have to check on the offending operators computer to see if that has been changed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

RenderMan - I think you are on to something there. OP, you will have to check on the offending operators computer to see if that has been changed.

 

Options > Open and Save Tab

6-13-2011 10-33-08 AM.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BUT the temporary files should be deleted on a clean exit. There should still only be .bak files UNLESS AutoCAD isn't exiting cleanly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BUT the temporary files should be deleted on a clean exit. There should still only be .bak files UNLESS AutoCAD isn't exiting cleanly.

 

Or he has Write but not Erase privileges.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...