Why Does My Revit File Keep Saving and Creating Additional Backup Files?

[qddmonterde]

Right now, my file is at 0.226, and I'm afraid it might affect my other files. Why does it keep saving continuously even though I set it to save only once? It keeps creating backup files.

[Simon_Weel]

Don't know what those screenshots show, but anyway. See this Help | Specify the Number of Backup Files | Autodesk

[RSomppi]

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@qddmonterde wrote:

Right now, my file is at 0.226, and I'm afraid it might affect my other files.

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It won't affect other files but it can chew up storage space. You can delete them as part of your regular computer maintenance.

[SteveKStafford]

For stand alone (one user) models, when a model is first created and the number of backups is defined Revit alters the backup naming as you save. For example, if your file is configured for 5 backup files, the first save produces a backup of MyProject.0001.rvt. The second MyProject.0002.rvt. The third MyProject.0003.rvt, The fourth MyProject.0004.rvt and the fifth MyProject.0005.rvt. Once Revit hits the maximum number of backup files it starts to overwrite the oldest backup, MyProject.0001.rvt is replaced with MyProject.0006.rvt. So it continues so your 226 indicates you've saved 226 times. You ought to see however many other backup files were specified, such as .0225, .0224, .0223 etc...

If you typically save once an hour it could be argued that a file should have at least 8 backup files specified so a discreet backup is created for each save. If you save more often then the number of backups could be set to however many you might wish to revert back to. If you save every 10 minutes and have three backup files specified the furthest back you could recover a version is 30 minutes ago.

[qddmonterde]

I see. I get it, thanks! Is there any way to remove those versions? I think they’re taking up a lot of storage. It keeps creating backups — as far as I remember, I set the backup file to only 1, but it keeps generating more.

[SteveKStafford · Accepted solution]

You can just delete them, the files with the .#### added. I'd keep some of them around just in case you have a crash or PC issue.

[RSomppi]

You're welcome.