Disaster! Help! My file won't open!

I need help! I saved a file I was working on about a year ago. Life got in the way of my writing. I decided to work on the book again. Scrivener prompted me to update the app when I opened it to Scrivener3. I didn’t have a choice so I let it update so that I could open the app. To my surprise, a screen in Scrivener says the app says " By default, when compiled (File > C[WildaSilvaBook2e](file:///Users/aajmagic/Desktop/Desktop/Nameofmynarrative.scriv/Nameofmynarrative.scrivx)ompile), this project will generate a document in the standard manuscript format for novels…" When I clicked on the name of the file, it won’t open. WTH happened and how can I open my file?

That sounds incredibly frustrating! It seems like the project might need to be re-linked or converted to work with Scrivener 3’s format. Have you tried checking if the original .scriv file is intact or opening it with the older version of Scrivener?

Sometimes updates mess with compatibility but the file should still be recoverable. Double-check your backups too!

I don’t even know how to access an older version of Scrivener. I don’t know what it means to re-link something. I’m just a writer. I have very little tech background. I only used Scrivener because it was recommended to me by another writer as the most professional place to write my books.

Which file did you click on?

It sounds like you’re feeling a bit lost with all the technical details! Re-linking usually refers to connecting files or folders in Scrivener, but I totally get how it can be confusing if you’re just focused on writing.

I clicked on the name of my file.

Is there a way to go back to the version of Scrivener before the update?

Go here:
Release Notes - Literature & Latte

There’s two files with the name of your file, the .scriv project which you click on on Mac, and inside that, the .scrivx you click in Windows. I assume you are clicking on the .scriv, which was the purpose of my question.

It shouldn’t make any difference, unless you have a dual boot Win machine, in which case it would try to launch Win if your click on the .scrivx (at least it does on my Mac)

1 Like

Maybe… if backups exist or time loops are real? Could try reinstalling an older version, but updates have a way of sticking around, don’t they?

Thanks for trying to help, everybody. I’ll try to find an old version of this software.

As @RevoTiLlor stated above, see

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/release-notes

The release notes page will only get you so far (typically only one release back). If you want to downgrade then the legacy download page is the place to be.

3 Likes

The linked page goes back to Scrivener 1.54 22nd March 2010. But in any event, perhaps put your legacy link on Where can I download older versions of Scrivener and Scapple? / General / Knowledge Base - Literature and Latte Support ?

1 Like