topic Re: Saving file in FormIt Forum

Saving file

markgr1105 — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 13:55:18 GMT

I am having issues with saving files, I can only save to download folder and cannot 'save as' so end up with countless copies of same file. Any ideas please? I use web version.

Re: Saving file

lucdoucet_msdl — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 15:49:18 GMT

I can't seem to reproduce your "save as" problem with https://app.formit.autodesk.com/ running Chrome Version 80.0.3987.87 (Official Build) (64-bit) on Windows 10. FormIt "Menu|Save Sketch as|Locally" opens a dialogue box allowing me to give the sketch a new name, sets that new name as the active sketch and downloads the file to the download directory Chrome points to (ie the default C:\users\myuser.name\downloads).

If the "save" function is still working, you can do the equivalent to a "save as" by:

1. Changing the name of the active model by double clicking the model name at the top left of the window,

2. Save the file the normal way "Menu|Save Sketch|Locally" and the downloaded file has the new sketch name as its file name.

Of course, if you want to save the changes to the original sketch, do a regular save first, then a save as.

Good luck,

Re: Saving file

markgr1105 — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 12:27:47 GMT

Thanks for the reply. Not sure what I am doing wrong, if anything. I change the file name to match the file in directory but it still adds a number in brackets so I end up with numerous copies. Seems to be ok on ipad though? Is there a way to save the file direct to job folder?

A bit of a puzzle

Re: Saving file

lucdoucet_msdl — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 14:36:03 GMT

I understand that you are trying to overwrite the existing sketch file in your download directory with the Web version of FormIt. The appended number showing up in each "downloaded" sketch is added by Windows automatically when the same file name is copied to a folder.

My hunch is that when FormIt runs in a web browser, it doesn't have read and write permissions like the Windows version. It therefore "uploads" a file when "opening locally" and "downloads" a file when "saving locally". So each save downloads a new copy of you sketch which Windows renames and increments the number in the file name. Your most up to date sketch files is therefore the file with the highest number (also the latest date/time).

I don't think the Web version of FormIt allows you to save in specific folder because of the "downloading" versus "saving" issue. I think you're stuck with manually copying your latest saved sketches when closing FormIt from the download directory to your project directory then erase the multiple sketch files left over in the downloads directory.

This is a problem in that you expect to have the same functionality for the same operations whether you are in the Windows, iOS or Web version.

In answer to your questions:

- Ipad: I know that "saving locally" overwrites the previous save as expected but this means you have to "save as" to make your own backups/archives then reload the original saved sketch to continue with the original name.

- Windows save location: I don't recall having been able to save locally other than the automatic download directory.

Re: Saving file

markgr1105 — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 16:32:00 GMT

Thanks for taking the time to give a considered reply, it’s appreciated. I will live with it as is, just hope that one day a stand-alone version of Formit pro is released.

Re: Saving file

josh.goldstein — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 17:31:43 GMT

Hi @markgr1105,

This could be a browser setting. FormIt does not limit what you can download, or where. But your browser may.

For example, if you're using Chrome, you can change a setting (scroll to bottom of page) to ask each time you where you want to save downloaded files, instead of always in the Downloads folder.

Let us know if this helps.

Re: Saving file

markgr1105 — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 17:36:36 GMT

Fantastic, thanks Josh that solves it, I can even save over old file.

Cheers