sv$ files versus ac$ files

[JamesPowell7164]

Hello

easy question today!

What is the difference between an sv$ file and an ac$ file?

Many moons ago I seem to recall that AutoCAD would produce both these types of files. We are running AutoCAD LT 2017 and in the options ac$ files are mentioned but they are stored in hidden folders on my computer (not trusted to look at these by our network administrator).

[pendean · Accepted solution]

SV$: autosave files.

AC$: are temp files the program uses, they are not meant for user access.

[JamesPowell7164]

Dean

Leading on from this, when does AutoCAD produce bak files? Is it when a drawing is opened or when a drawing is saved? (I know that the dwg is updated when a drawing is saved).

[steven-g]

When manually saved. Autocad first creates a copy of the drawing called "Filename.Bak" without saving any changes so that you can always go back to the original if you have inadvertantly made any mistakes, and then it saves the drawing with any changes. https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Understa...