BAK Files ?

Michael Mayer

I do automated backups in a custom temp folder.

What is the use of additional BAK files beside the working file ?
Can I deactivate them ?

Michael Mayer

BAK files are duplicate backup copies of your file.
They contain the file state you previously saved manually.

Robt Deans

Can be deactivated in SETTINGS.
Search for "bak", you'll find:
"Incremental Save Backup". Uncheck "Create BAK file"

Michael Mayer

Yes, I did deactivate them initially because they disturbed me,
but I was not sure if I will miss something by doing so.

But still am not completely sure about Back-upping procedure
in Bricscad in general.

In every other App I activated Auto Backup copies in case of crashes.
I set number of versions, time or number of commands and of course Paths
inside a common local fast SSD folder where I can look for them or clean up
from time to time if needed.
So if a file crashes and I missed to manually save sufficiently, I will find my
last saved file state there, open it manually and if ok, Save As working file.
(overwriting current working file)
Fine.

In Bricscad I set my Save Path and it looks ok, *.BAK and *.SV$ are there.
(BTW what is that numbering scheme that does not sort in time order in Finder ?)
I decreased back up time to a reasonable value.
(expected it would be seconds, not minutes, when defaulting to 60 !)

But how to recreate the last file state in Bricscad after it crashed and I missed
manual saving ?

1.
Will it automatically care about *.SV$ when I reopen my working file ?
(looks like it will not)
2.
Should I manually open the *.SV$ and overwrite working file manually ?
3.
Should I open *.SV$ by "Recover" command ?
or better
4.
Should I open my working file by "Recover" command ?
(That Bricscad will consider the last *.SV$ ?)

Robt Deans

To recover a dwg saved as a .SV$, simply change file extension (from .SV$) to .dwg.
Same applies to .bak files.
You can check times of creation to find which file is the most recent.
Search help for .SV$, .bak which will help explain options re: system variables and user preferences.

Michael Mayer

Thanks Robt,
so if I got it right,
when I saved my drawing at 2 pm and Bricscad crashes at 4 pm
and I know reopening my work file would lose 2 hours of work,
the recommended way to reduce the damage would be :

to go directly to the *.SV¢ files and open the latest and manually
overwrite the work file with it (?)

Yes, It needs to search through file creation dates, to find the
most recent *.SV$ file, as it currently is. That doesn't necessary mean
that there couldn't be more convenient solutions, in my opinion.

Robt Deans

I've found Bricscad to be very stable (possibly more so that AutoCAD), but nevertheless crashes CAN occur.
One thing I ALWAYS do (especially when working with .dwg s from others) is run AUDIT, PURGE before commencing.
If you do experience a crash, search for the latest file (.SV$ or .bak).
I would rename them i.e: drawing(1), drawing(2) so you can open them simultaneously and compare them.
Get in the habit of manually saving every so often (We've all been frustrated finding out that we forgot to save & lost ~30 minutes work).
May want to reconsider creation of .bak files.
Change SAVETIME variable to a more conservative value.

Michael Mayer

Thanks Robt, now I know how to deal with (*.VS$) backups.

My crash experience may be slightly different, but I am
a) on macOS
b) using mostly latest 3D and BIM technologies available
c) Am new to Bricscad so may tend to use tools in a creative unforeseen way
that no one tried or tested before.

But it is not that bad.
So far no need to add a _qsave after each command

Robt Deans

Cheers
We're all in this together...