AutoCAD 2009

[#1]

I have my Autosave set to 5 min. If I Save does the timer start then and Autosave 5 min for the time a Saved? Or does it Autosave every 5 min from the time I open AutoCAD?

Thanks

Matt

[#2]

I recommend turning Autosave off and then developing the habit of saving yourself (I mean that both literally and figuratively).

Just search around here to see how many thought Autosave was going to save them.  They come here just after losing hours of work.  File managment is your job.

[#3]

DO NOT USE THE AUTO SAVE FEATURE AS A REPLACEMENT FOR QSAVE.

The auto save feature is used to recover a file after (when) the program crashes or

the computer accidentally looses power.

Establishing good drafting habits include frequent Qsaves!

To answer your question, the auto save timer resets when Qsave, or when the last

auto save is executed, whichever is later.

[#4]

While I agree with performing regular manual QSaves, I think it's both foolish and inefficient to completely disable AutoSave.  It is a fact that AutoCAD crashes, as do Operating Systems, so it's impossible for the OP to achieve the same level of "crash insurance" unless literally QSaving 12 times each hour.

[#5]

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nestly wrote:

 I think it's both foolish and inefficient to completely disable AutoSave. 

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Hmmm, the other CAD programs I use don't even have Autosave.

And these programs are fairly new compared to AutoCAD.

The reasons have been discussed at some length on various CAD forums.
Bottom line - I've learned to save my work.
I don't accept OS crash or power out or other excuses. 
But that is just me.

[#6]

Right, I've got a reactor hooked into the save operation which creates indexed copies on the users hard drive.  Even if its just the auto-save firing, they still get another indexed copy which beats trying to recover and *really* beats having to pull from tape back-up (yes, it DOES happen).

Plus certain third-party applications which include database connections react in a similar manner to keep the drawing and database synchronized.

[#7]

Resets, yes. But you should never rely on AutoSAVE, it's not like it's silly name implies an does not work like the same function in MSWord for example, it's just there to help if you crash with no option to save (and it's always one save back from where you leave the file in case you don't know).

Don't be a software patsy: if you don't like spending your life redrawing stuff QSAVE on your own regularly.

[#8]

I certainly wouldn't set it on a short time like 5 min.

If you really want it on set it for something more reasonable like 30 or 60 min.
Then save yourself and only have Autosave for the backup it is.  Ideally it would be a rare event when it has to kick in.

If you think you need to save every 5 min then you better save every 5 min.

I save after a burst of work.  Value the work in how long it would take to recreate or would it be difficult to even remember exactly what you need if you had to recreate.
When you start taking responsibility for file management - you seldom lose any work.
On the other hand, in my 25+ years of experience those who tend to rely on things like Autosave seem to be mysteriously loosing work all the time.  They always seem to be blaming the software for all sorts of problems besides lost work/files.

[#9]

I'm curious why you hold the opinion that it's better to disable autosaving, or at least greatly increase the default interval?

If someone is banging QSAVE after every "burst of work" anyway, AutoSave will never actually execute.... so it's not like it's causing unnecessary hard drive writes, or interrupting other commands/operations.   Removing the safety net beneath a tight-rope walker doesn't make him fall off less, it just means he's going to get hurt worse when does slip.

[#10]

Go back and read my response - you must have missed something.

There are additional reasons, but they are more complex than the simple reasons presented here.

The complex reasons have been covered here and other forums at great length in the past.

A search might turn up threads on the topic (be sure to include other CAD programs in the search).