"Unable to Open Model" - Support files are corrupted

[ChristopherHinkley]

I was working along creating a storyboard for a presentation.  The model froze and I had to do a hard boot with the computer.  Once restarted I got an error message.  I am using version 2018.2

I attached the error message and log file.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I have a presentation tomorrow.

Thanks

Chris Hinkley

[Karsten.Saenger]

Hi @ChristopherHinkley ,

the model database got corrupt either when the program froze or you restarted the computer. This happens if InfraWorks has no time to write back some files in the database.

If you can share the model with me, I can try to recover it, without guarantee that it will work.
For sharing, please create a zip file (.rar or .7z format) of the "model.sqlite" and the "models.files" folder and upload it to the OneDrive folder I shared with you.

Regards,

Karsten.

[ChristopherHinkley]

Karsten, 

I uploaded the project to the One Drive location you specified.

Thanks for the help.

Chris H

[Karsten.Saenger · Accepted solution]

Hi @ChristopherHinkley ,

a model recovery can result in a certain data loss in the model.

I was able to recover the model so that it can be opened again, please double check if much data is missing and if it's in state you can work with. I have uploaded the model to the same OneDrive folder.

Regards,

Karsten.

[Karsten.Saenger]

Hi @ChristopherHinkley ,

just wanted to quckly follow up with you and see if you were able to download the recovered model.

Is it in a usable state for you?

Regards,
Karsten

[ChristopherHinkley]

Karsten, 

Apologies for the delay.  Thank you for taking the time to recover the model.  I was able to open the model use it,  nothing seems to be missing, all data is intact!

Chris Hinkley

[Surabhi.HebbarBGFYE]

Unable to open the model due to corrupted support files in 2020.

[Karsten.Saenger]

Hi @Surabhi.HebbarBGFYE ,

would it be possible to send the InfraWorks log files from path %appdata%\Autodesk\Autodesk InfraWorks\logs
?

Usually, if a model is closed suddenly, for example with a computer crash, InfraWorks doesn't have time to write data into the model database. Then it could happen that the model looks corrupt.
In such a case it should be possible to recover the model, but the latest changes in the model might be missing.
You can try the solution mentioned in this post yourself - otherwise I suggest you share the model with me and I try it: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/infraworks-forum/model-recovery-tool-available-for-beta-testing/td-p/...

Regards,

Karsten.

[arlA7WKU]

Is the only current reliable way to resolve this issue to send the file to an Autodesk member to fix? This has happened to me too many times and I need a reliable way to fix this issue without having to wait and send it to someone. 

[Karsten.Saenger]

Hi @arlA7WKU ,

it depends on the type of corruption in your model.

There are many reasons why a model cannot be opened and shows as corrupted. It's strange that you experienced a corruption many times.

You can also try the Model Recovery Tool that is mentioned here: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/infraworks-forum/model-recovery-tool-available-for-beta-testing/td-p/...

Regards,

Karsten.

[arlA7WKU]

@Karsten.Saenger

Thank you for your quick reply, when duplicating our models the .git repositories did not copy.

Unfortunately that tool looks to no longer exist, and another commenter posted ‎02-14-2022 08:48 AM that he was also unable to find that tool. He never received a reply. If there is still access to that tool I would love to try it.

If you have a solution for this problem my IT manager and I would love to know!

[Karsten.Saenger]

Hi @arlA7WKU ,

the tool still exists. It's only available if you install the InfraWorks Rolling Sandbox (beta) from the Feedback Portal.

You need to run AIM_ModelRecover.exe from the installation path: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\InfraWorks Rolling Sandbox

If the git repository doesn't copy on your machine regularly, it sounds if something is blocking it from being created. Does the download from the cloud work for you, for example the sample models or a Model Builder model?

Regards,

Karsten.

[arlA7WKU]

@Karsten.Saenger

I will see if I can find it.

This issue occurred after duplicating our models to our network server as a backup (hence why it is a problem for multiple models). For each model the .git folder and the gitignore file weren't created or copied. Our computer needed a fresh install of Windows so we used the only available storage to us (the server). I copied the existing model files, as well as duplicated the model through Infraworks onto the server and this happened for both methods.

I haven't had an issue generating a model using Model Builder.

[Karsten.Saenger]

Hi @arlA7WKU ,

thanks for the information, it explains why your models got corrupted. The network server most likely cannot handle some of the git files (for example files without extension or files without filename and extension only). This happens with many servers and also for cloud storage services such as OneDrive and GoogleDrive.

The result is a corrupted git database. 

If you use such drives for backup, create a zip file of the model.sqlite file and model.files folder and upload the single zip file.

Regards,

Karsten.

[arlA7WKU]

@Karsten.Saenger

I am guessing that trying to store our models on our server might have just deleted all of our projects from the last year?

Would now be a really good time to plug an advertisement for the benefits of cloud storage through Autodesk?

[Karsten.Saenger]

Hi @arlA7WKU ,

if the git repository is to heavily damaged, it cannot be recovered.

Use the option "Recreate model for fatal error" to create a new git repository for the model.
All model history will be gone. But the model will also be much smaller. Please give it a try.

Regards,

Karsten.