Recovering auto-save files

From TED Notepad
(Redirected from Control:Feature:Auto-save)
This section is up to date for TED Notepad version 6.3.1.0.
Control page Control:feature:Recovering auto-save files
This section is up to date for TED Notepad version 6.3.1.0.
Control page Control:feature:Recovery file
This section is up to date for TED Notepad version 6.3.1.0.
Control page Control:feature:Auto-save

If the Save recovery file setting is turned on, TED Notepad creates recovery auto-save files periodically whenever the current document is unsaved. The recovery file name is created by appending .$ to the original file name and can be hidden from standard Windows Explorer view. Whenever the document is saved or closed, such recovery file is automatically removed. However, if the computer crashes, the recovery file is kept intact and might contain a newer version of the document.

Upon loading a document, TED Notepad checks, whether an auto-save file exists. If it founds one, a dialog is displayed, asking whether to recover the document from the auto-save file. There are three options to choose in that dialog:

  • Yes — loads the document from the auto-save file instead of the original file, and marks the document as modified as a reminder that a manual Save is required to actually save the recovered version into the original file. The user may continue working with the document as if the crash never happened.
    • Important: It is important to mention, that if the user closes the document without saving it (e.g. by opening another document or by closing the application), the recovered version is discarded and lost (as if the crash never happened). The user must save the document after recovery. Don't worry though, the auto-save file is not simply deleted right after recovery, but upon saving the document or closing the document without saving. Thus if the computer crashes again before the user has a chance to decide, the auto-save file is still kept.
    • Note: Save As should be used if the user is unsure whether the recovered version is better than the last properly saved one, or if the user wishes to manually compare the two versions.
  • No — loads the document from the original file. The auto-save file is ignored, but not immediately deleted. It is therefore possible to review the original file without loosing the auto-save file for later recovery.
    • Note: If the user starts to edit the document now, the old auto-save file will eventually get overwritten by a new one, thus loosing the pre-crash version. There is only one recovery version available at any given time and it is not expected to be able to recover an old version once some new editting takes place.
  • Cancel — cancels the loading altogether. The user might choose to use external comparison services or viewers to examine the files.

Note: In order to get rid of the autosave file (and discard the autosaved version), the user should choose Yes to recover the document and then close the document without saving it. The recovery file is removed upon closing the document.

Alternatively, the user can choose No and then edit the original document version. After a while, the old autosave will be replaced by a new one. However, until such overwrite, the old autosave will linger on, even after manual saving or closing the document. This is because choosing No means ignoring the old autosave, as if it never existed.

Recovering of Untitled documents

Untitled documents can be auto-saved as well, and their recovery files are stored in the Temp path. The user must recover from these files manually after a crash or power loss, since no automated search for such files is performed now to notify the user about their presence.

File names of the auto-saved untitled documents try to resemble the opening lines of those documents, making it a bit more feasible for the user to locate them within the Temp path. Please note, that there may be other temporary files in the temp folder.

Tip: If you experience a power loss and need to recover a lost Untitled document, open the Settings:Save/Load page of the Settings dialog. There, use the Explore button next to the Temp path to open the temp path, where the recovery file can be easily found.