Saving and skb

ocd · 18 Feb 2012, 16:07

Hi,
I am really green. I have spent many hours working through Lang's DVD (it's all I had). Still, I feel really frustrated.

When in a drawing, and I make a component(s), then when I shut down, the computer wants to save my work. Great. When I come back, I can't find my "document", or the computer can't find it, or it has been converted to an "skb" file, that the computer can't open. I spent hours making a bookshelf for my niece, and now it has disappeared. Please help, or tell me where to go (for help). How does saving work? Is there a sure-fire way to save my work? Once I save my work, aren't all the components saved within the main "document"?

rodrigonotor · 18 Feb 2012, 16:18

Hi, I personally "save as" my work in path I choose, then is easy to find de files.

In your case, I assume your work is saved in my documents folder. If not, you can change the .skb to .skp extension before trying to open whit sketchup.

Regards

TIG · 18 Feb 2012, 17:41

Your Sketchup model is saved as a .SKP file.
You must save it regularly to avoid loss of info.
Why would you want to shut down your computer without first saving your work - in ALL applications ?
By default [set under Preferences] Sketchup saves a 'backup' file every time you save.
This is the model as it was the last time it was saved; these are the .SKB files.
If you have indeed lost your SKP then renaming the .SKB as .SKP will at least revert to the last-but-one version...
All of the components within a .SKP are indeed saved inside it.
When you saved the model's .SKP file which folder did you choose to put it into ?
Do you have access rights to this folder etc etc ?
Try again with a small SKP and see where it prompts to save it...
Then look in that folder...
Also Sketchup lists recently used [SKP] files in the File menu - can you reopen the original file from there?
If you are unclear where a SKP is saved, use 'save_as' which 'starts' in the same folder as the current SKP - note the folder path - then cancel the 'save_as'...

It sounds more like an issue with the way your computer is configured rather than the way Sketchup is working...

ocd · 18 Feb 2012, 19:18

Hello,

Maybe I ought to change my name to "green"

I was saving my files in the "save as" manner. Is the skb from the auto backup?

I dug up this from Google (below):
This person proposes a permanent fix, option #3. But, I don't understand what he is doing, would you mind explaining what I need to do to effect #3? And, this manuever has to be done with every file, right? Thanks very much for your patience, ocd

Here it is:
xxxxx.skb is just a backup for an skp file. The skb may not be the
latest version you want? Several things you can do; 1) Look for the
file you saved by the same name except the skp extension;2) drag and
drop the skb file on the SU icon and it should open;3) Change the file
association ( PC) and associate an xxxx.skb file to open with SU;4)
change the file name to xxxxx.skp. The best fix is #3 so you will not
have this problem again.

Dave R · 18 Feb 2012, 20:46

I think you've got things sorted now. Option 3 is interesting but under normal conditions you won't need to ope the SKB file and as discussed you can rename it if you need to open it. Now that you can see the file extensions, you should have less difficulty with those files.

ocd · 18 Feb 2012, 21:04

Dave R, a Global Moderator, is The Man. Thanks, Dave, for the lesson-he is truly a generous person.

Here's what "we" did. Went to Control Panel, then to Folder Options, then View, then unchecked the box that said "hide known folder extensions". Seems like Windows 7 automatically hides folder extensions. With that done, my problem was solved. I still had a couple of things happen that I don't understand, but I'm sure they fall under "operator error".

I appreciate everyone's responses-the folks on this forum are really great.

ocd

Gaieus · 18 Feb 2012, 21:08

@ocd said:

Dave R, a Global Moderator, is The Man.

And here is "The Man" live

Dave R · 18 Feb 2012, 22:12

OCD, I'm happy that we were able to get you sorted out.

Csaba, that picture makes me look fat. And why is my hat crooked?

Gaieus · 18 Feb 2012, 22:23

You should see my pictures! (I don't just lookfat on them)

Rich O Brien · 18 Feb 2012, 23:00

I miss that pub

Dave R · 18 Feb 2012, 23:06

Me, too. We should go there again.

Gaieus · 18 Feb 2012, 23:35

That was indeed a fine joint.

(And remember guys how Mike enjoyed the staff there?)

Dave R · 18 Feb 2012, 23:39

Yeah. What was her name?

Gaieus · 18 Feb 2012, 23:47

There were several. (I do not want to link pics here now...)

Dave R · 18 Feb 2012, 23:57

I don't blame you. Besides, we've hijacked OCD's thread enough.

Gaieus · 19 Feb 2012, 00:11

Well, I tagged Mike on a photo and it turned out that G+ automatically posted it.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/116030646877186188585/posts/Gn1Uejbe17x

(I guess OCD's topic is solved so hijacking is not a biggie hopefully)

ocd · 19 Feb 2012, 16:45

Hi

I'm glad that horsing around is allowed on this forum.

OK--Isn't it true that to begin the "saving" process that I have to FIRST do the "Save As..."? Just like a regular document?

Then, while I am occassionally hitting the "Save" button, the program is doing an "Autosave" for me?

And, I can create a file anywhere to "save" my work/document, but the "autosave" is always in the same pre-destined place?

Are cynicism and sarcasm allowed on the forum?

Thanks, ocd

Dave R · 19 Feb 2012, 17:10

@ocd said:

OK--Isn't it true that to begin the "saving" process that I have to FIRST do the "Save As..."? Just like a regular document?

You don't have to do a Save as... It can be just a regular Save. Save as... would allow you to save a file with a different name than the current one. So if you drew a shadowbox, for example, you might save it as "Shadowbox." Then you might modify it to make a new version. If you use Save, you won't get an opportunity to give it a new name and your modified shadowbox file would just replace the original. If you want to keep the original, however, use File>Save as... and type a new name.

@ocd said:

Then, while I am occassionally hitting the "Save" button, the program is doing an "Autosave" for me?

Autosaves will occur whether you hit Save or not. On your SketchUp install that should happen every three minutes.

@ocd said:

And, I can create a file anywhere to "save" my work/document, but the "autosave" is always in the same pre-destined place?

Autosave will create the SKB file in the same directory in which you save the SKP file. This can be anywhere on your computer but by default is the Documents folder unless you change the location under Window>Preferences>Files.

@ocd said:

Are cynicism and sarcasm allowed on the forum?

Not only are they allowed, they will be graded.

ocd · 19 Feb 2012, 23:58

Do I get extra points for being able to laugh at myself?