Data Loss? Latest file missing work.

[gtprototype]

I have experienced this phenomenon at least 3 definite times now.  When I open a file the latest work is missing.

At first I thought this may have been my error although, now I'm not so sure.  My normal workflow is to save regularly and save before closing a file.  If I try to close the file without saving I get the friendly reminder to save.  If I close Fusion right after a file save the program waits for the cloud upload before completing the shut down.  

Regarding this latest occurrence:  while working I recall several times that the save icon was grayed out when I expected otherwise.  Additionally, when I closed Fusion, right after closing the file, I didn't get the expected cloud upload delay.

Perhaps there is a versioning problem or a problem with the upload to the cloud?

[Phil.E · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Thanks for posting. One thing you can use to verify a save is if the version number goes up. Each design will show the version number in the data panel and in the design window.

The next time you save, watch the version number. If it does not go up after at least a minute, please collect your log files and post here. Glad to take a look.

[gtprototype]

@Phil.E  Thank you for responding, I did create a log file but I can't seem to find it on my computer.  When I experience it again I will certainly create a log file and attach it.

[Phil.E]

Please do. When you create a log file from the Help menu tool a dialog will appear with a link to the folder it sits in.

Also don't forget to keep an eye on the version marker label. It appears in 4 places in the interface. If you save the design, this should increment up one version.

[gtprototype]

@Phil.E 

It happened again today!  Opened a previous file, made required edits, saved as a new file so that I didn't disturb the previous file; just in case the edits didn't work.  When I closed the new file it asked to save, knowing I just saved and the fact that I could see the new file in the document window, I clicked not to save again.  When I restarted Fusion the file was gone!

BTW I PM'd you the log file.

[Phil.E]

Here is what happened:

1. Because you could see the file in the document window that means Fusion created a new design locally which is nearly instantaneous if the file is not large.
2. But Fusion needs time to upload the new design. This is why you were asked to let Fusion close after the file was done uploading.
3. You said no.
4. That means the locally created design (that happened immediately) was not given time to upload to the cloud.

The same thing happens when you do this.

• Open Fusion
• Create some new geometry, make a design.
• You can see the design on the screen at that point. So it exists.
• Click save, name it
• While it's saving, close Fusion
• Say no to the prompt that asks if you want the design to be saved before Fusion closes.

Despite all this, I cannot reproduce the issue entirely because when I try both workflows above, Fusion does what it's designed to do and uploads the design after restarting Fusion. The design data is never lost, and Fusion is designed to upload unsaved data in the workflow you describe using. When Fusion is restarted, after a few moments, look for a message in the data panel the unsaved design data is now ready.

Just a suggestion or two to help avoid this:

1. Wait for Fusion to save things completely before shutting down the application.

2. Trust the Fusion version numbering system. If you make an edit that you don't like, promote an older version of the design and start again. 

Thanks for the logs.

[gtprototype]

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@Phil.E wrote:

Here is what happened:

1. Because you could see the file in the document window that means Fusion created a new design locally which is nearly instantaneous if the file is not large.
2. But Fusion needs time to upload the new design. This is why you were asked to let Fusion close after the file was done uploading.

• When I closed the document I received the standard save window with the option to add a comment to which I replied no since the file was already in the document window from the previous save a minute or two prior.
• When I subsequently closed Fusion I didn't receive the wait notice.

[Phil.E]

Okay thanks for the correction.

Just to be clear going forward, if you try to close Fusion and see a dialog asking you to save, it's best to save the document at that point. That dialog is only triggered if there are changes that need to be saved. 

When you did this step, what commands did you use? "saved as a new file" Can you describe the workflow and tell me what steps and commands you used?

[gtprototype]

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@Phil.E wrote:

Just to be clear going forward, if you try to close Fusion and see a dialog asking you to save, it's best to save the document at that point. That dialog is only triggered if there are changes that need to be saved. 

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In my experience, it pops up when Fusion "thinks" there has been a change.  For instance, if I open a file and look at a feature in the time line by right clicking and selecting edit and cancel the edit fusion thinks the file needs to be saved even though nothing actually changed.  This behavior makes sense to me however, your suggestion to always save makes all of the linked files and versioning of saved PDF drawings out of date.  

When ever I have a complex design and want to make some significant edits or create a derived part I save the existing design as a new file. (Save As)  With the new file I'm free to re-arrange the timeline and make edits; when something breaks in the timeline I can open the original file find out what that feature was and make the needed adjustments.  When I'm working like this I save the new file at logical landmarks and I never, never make changes to the original file although fusion thinks I have because of the exploratory activity.  When closing the original file, I'm prompted to save although no actual changes were made. Since no actual edits were made, I don't save the original file again to avoid the linked file versioning updates.

Sometimes I edit the original file first and save as new before opening the original file again to explore the broken timeline.

[Phil.E]

Thanks again.

The logs you gave us should show what happened, but the name of the file is essential. Do you recall?

[gtprototype]

I can get you most of the way to the lost file name; the original file was "LlamaGrips_.010shift", the lost file would have been named --"LlamaGrips_.010shift_.###????" (I think .### was .013, .030, or .200 followed by some text)

I've noticed that quite frequently when accessing the data panel to change projects that Fusion hangs and I get a black vertical bar. I suspect Fusion is re-establishing a connection with the cloud.  Conservatively, I think the longest I've waited is about 90 seconds.  During this time the program is listed as not responding in both the task bar and task manager.  With that in mind, perhaps when I closed Fusion it was in the middle of re-establishing a connection to the cloud thus the wait dialog wasn't triggered.