Where are my .ac$ autosave files?

[phyllis9007]

I accidently ended a drawing that I had not manually saved. I have autosave set up for every 2 minutes. I thought I had a file designated for .ac$ autosaves, but I can't find it, even using a Windows Search.. I need to make sure I can find my autosave drawings because I have arthritic fingers that seem to hit the wrong keys occasionally and cause weird situations. If they are not saved somewhere now, how do I assign a file to save them to?

[Patchy · Accepted solution]

Options, Files tab, Automatic.....        it's in there.

Only if it crashed, you will not find anything.

Better luck with .BAK file

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Understanding-Auto...

[pendean]

[phyllis9007]

This is as far as it goes. I don't see an \AppData\Local]\Temp or anything beyond that... I think I am looking in the right place, but maybe not? I have even done a windows search for the AppData and the Temp files with no results 

[phyllis9007]

Sheesh. I'm not even computer confident enough to figure out how to reply!  I replied to myself. Apologies for duplicates. I get to here and that's it. No   \AppData\Local\Temp. Tried a Windows search to no avail.

[pendean]

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@phyllis9007 wrote:

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Unless your IT folks locked you out completely on your corporate PC (and if they did, you need to just ask them for what you need), most of us can get into our log-in TEMP folder with this folder address

%TEMP%

 or

[phyllis9007]

YAY! Using C:Windows\temp got me into the temp file but I don't see any drawings in there and nothing with the .ac$ exension. I must need to designate a different file to save them so I can access them. Now I need to figure out where to enter the other file name.

[Patchy]

Use SAVETIME to backup your work to get .bak file, then rename .bak to .dwg to retrieve your work.

ac$ will do nothing.

[pendean]

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@phyllis9007 wrote:
... nothing with the .ac$ exension....

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SV$ is the extension of autosave files https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Understanding-Auto... 

Ensure you have file extensions turned on in File Explorer

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-enable-hidd...

[phyllis9007]

Thanks for the reply... Problem is that I accidentally terminated the
drawing and was asked if I wanted to back up my drawing before quitting
and, not realizing what type of question I was answering, I hit "NO" .
There was no .bak file made. I have reclaimed drawings before from SAVETIME
that had the .ac$ extension. None show up with a Windows search.. I had to
redraw everything.

[phyllis9007]

Voila! Looking for the wrong file extension all this time. But they are
randomly located in the all inclusive "My files" in my computer. How do I
assign them to one certain file to find them easily.. Sorry I am such a
neophyte.

[pendean · Accepted solution]

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@phyllis9007 wrote:
Voila! Looking for the wrong file extension all this time. But they are
randomly located in the all inclusive "My files" in my computer. How do I
assign them to one certain file to find them easily.. Sorry I am such a
neophyte.

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You can't if the filename is not already there created by AutoCAD. Sorry. If I need to recover something, filedate and filesize are my go-to elements to determine which to try first.

[phyllis9007]

Thank you so very, very much. At least I now know where to check first when my not-so-nimble fingers hit the wrong spot….