Save As / Autosave file location (Mac)
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Can someone explain to me how SU decides which folder to save to? It feels like it randomly toss files all over the place, and if I'm not paying attention my files end up buried in the wrong folders.
I realize there must be some logic to the current scheme, (though it's a mystery to me what that is)... but why would it not save to the folder that original model was from? Is there some setting I'm missing?
You would think that you could set it under Model Info: File: General: Location — with the default being the current folder (parent of original document) — but that field is display only on my Mac, and shows only the top levels of the file path, i.e. Users/Home/Documents.
Every other software uses the parent folder of the current document as a default, and I only have to intervene in the save dialog if I want to change folder locations, not if I wish to use the same one as the original.
One of many small SU interface annoyances that adds to the friction of using an application that I depend on and otherwise enjoy. Frustrating.
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I find that happens with other Mac apps too. Save as will not necessarily open the folder of the original file, though that folder can often be found in the pulldown menu of the save dialog. Autosave and ~ files, in my experience, have gone to the folder of the open file.
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I don't know whether it is a general Mac OS X behavior or something specific that SketchUp does, but I sometimes notice that it goes to the last-accessed folder even when that has nothing to do with the file at hand. Usually not a problem with Save As provided you pay attention, but can be confusing with AutoSave.
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'Save As' uses a .plist entry:
"SketchUp.DefaultFolder.Models" =last place you used 'Save As'
'Save' usesSketchup.active_model.path
'Save Copy As', 'Save Backup' and 'AutoSave' useFile.dirname(Sketchup.active_model.path)unless 'Unsaved'
'AutoSave' is also written to a .plist entryAutoSave = { AutoSaveFile =list of places you used per model...
if 'Unsaved' AutoSave uses the 'AutoSave' folder in the /Users/Library/... path...clear as mud...
to check a files path, just right click the Title...
john -
@driven said:
clear as mud...
john
Thanks for the replies, and especially to John for the very thorough explanation of the exact reasons for this convoluted behaviour.
No issues with Save, since it uses the proper default location.
@slbaumgartner said:
...I sometimes notice that it goes to the last-accessed folder even when that has nothing to do with the file at hand. Usually not a problem with Save As provided you pay attention, but can be confusing with AutoSave.
I'm trying to do better at paying attention on Save As — but my point is that I shouldn't have to: for an app that prides itself on it's intuitiveness and simplicity, SU should default to the most obvious location.
Autosave file location is just an unmitigated mess. It can make for unbelievably frustrating searches for model versions that should all be in the original model's parent folder, unless explicitly chosen otherwise.
How anybody —read SU developer— could think that the settings for Save As and Autosave produce remotely helpful default behaviour is beyond me. (the only time I can be sure of where the autosave file will be found is when I've yet to save... which I now know why)
Thanks for confirming that I'm not crazy, nor are there gremlins in my Mac randomly flinging files to and fro. Just intentionally programmed SU behaviour —without available settings overrides— acting according to its developer's wishes. [/rant]
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What I left out of the mix is Apple's 'auto restore window' functionality...
I think this can come into play if switching between models in the same session...
I have no hard evidence of when or if this occurs, but it would explain some of the seemingly odd folders that pop up...
Like many, I no longer use 'AutoSave' or 'Save Backup' and prefer 'Save Copy As' over 'Save As' and religiously use S...
even with this I get caught out...
john
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