how to find a previously saved version of a workbook Worked all day on a massive
ID: 3564287 • Letter: H
Question
how to find a previously saved version of a workbook Worked all day on a massive spereadsheet. Hit the save button regularly, it's a vital document. Needed to insert 60 rows of neew data - kept them on a separate sheet until I was sure of the formatting etc. Copied these rows, then pasted them into the main sheet, thinking I was inserting them. Realised immediately that I'd overwritten the existing rows, not inserted the new ones into their own space - UNDO not available, aaargh!! How can I find the workbook aas it was yesterday/last time I opened it? Seem to remember that autosaved files are in a library somewhere?! Very grateful for any ideas, pacing the floor now and trying to breathe....
Explanation / Answer
PMFJI, but I just wanted to make sure that misinterpretation of your experience didn't have an adverse affect on your work habits :-) Saving as you work most definitely is a good precaution, so I encourage you to keep doing so. Your downfall is neglecting to maintain a current backup of what you consider to be a "vital file". Jim already has referred to using Time Machine, but there are other options available. The simplest is contained within Excel, itself... When you go into Save As [either on initial Save or by using File> Save As in an existing file] click the Options button, then check the box for Always create backup. NOTE: When you use the Always Create Backup option in Microsoft Excel, you automatically create a backup file for the file that is currently open when you save the file. You must select the option in each file that you want to back up. Just to be clear, I want tto emphasize that Alwaays Create Backup is completely separate & distinct from the AutoRecovery feature you referred to originaally. AutoRecover does not, nor is it intended to, make backup copies. It maintains a temporary version while working which can be regained [usually] in the event of a critical failure of the program or the computer. However, that temporary AutoRecovery Data file is instantly disposed of when closing files normally. IOW, an AutoRecovery Data file is retained only if the workbook file to which it pertains is caused to quit unexpectedly before Excel has an opportunity to delete its autorecovery file. A file created by Always Create Backup is actually written to the same foolder as the original & is perpetually maintained 1 Save/version behiind the working copy.
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