How to Find and Open ZWCAD Backup Files?

When ZWCAD crashes, how to retrieve drawings that are not saved in time?

ZWCAD, like many CAD software, provides backup and auto-save features to help protect your work from unexpected crashes or accidental data loss. Understanding these backup file location and how to open them can save you hours of work. This FAQ explains the steps on how to find and open ZWCAD backup files effectively.

Understanding ZWCAD Backup and Auto-Save Files

ZWCAD creates two main types of backup files:

· Backup files (.bak): These are copies of your drawing created automatically when you save your .dwg file. They serve as a snapshot of the previous saved state of your drawing.

· Auto-save files (.zw$, .zs$): These temporary files are saved at regular intervals (set by the user) to prevent data loss in case of crashes or power failures. They are stored in a temporary folder on your computer.

The purpose of these files is to provide recovery options if your original drawing file becomes corrupted or is lost unexpectedly.

How to Configure Backup and Auto-Save in ZWCAD

1. Execute OPTIONS command to open [Options] dialog, go to [Open and Save] tab.

2. In the File Safety Precaution section, tick Automatic save option, and specify an ideal time interval between automatic save. 

3. In this way, ZWCAD will generate an auto-saved temporary file periodically for every opened file.

4. Click on Create a backup copy with each save option, so that when users manually save a file, ZWCAD will generate a same-name backup copy in the same directory. For auto-save, it will also generate a same-name backup copy in the auto-save file folder.

How to Open Backup Files in ZWCAD

Opening Backup Files (.bak):

1. Navigate to the folder containing your original .dwg file.

2. Find the .bak file with the same name as your drawing.

3. Rename the file extension from .bak to .dwg. 

4. Open the renamed file in ZWCAD as a normal drawing.

Opening Auto-Save Files (.zw$, .zs$):

1. Execute OPTIONS command to open [Options] dialog, go to [File] tab, and you can check the location of the auto-save file location.

2. Go to the directory, browse the files in Date order, and find the latest .zs$ files according to the drawing name.

3. Copy the desired .zw$ or .zs$ file to a safe location such as your Desktop or Documents folder.

4. Rename the file extension from .zw$ or .zs$ to .dwg

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5. Open the renamed file in ZWCAD to recover your unsaved changes

In some circumstances, the Drawing Recovery Manager will pop up when you start ZWCAD after a crash.  In this case, the next time users run ZWCAD, the Drawing Recovery Manager will pop out, and automatically check the backup or auto-saved files. Users can directly open and recover the corresponding backup file.