I’ve just opened a file and some of the text has gone missing. I have a number of folders and documents within this file, and some of the pages are blank. It’s quite important - it’s a book I’m writing and some College work - so am very much hoping it can be recovered.
I’ve tried to use the Support form on the website but when I click submit it gets blocked by the anti-spam filter, so I’ve sent an email but have got the automated reply saying it’ll be 48 hours, and this is time-sensitive. Anyone experienced this before and have any ideas?
You don’t say, but my hunch is that you are using some sort of third party sync service? And the symptoms you report (ad nauseam here on this forum and in Scrivener’s Manual) is incomplete sync, or perhaps if using Apple iCloud to “optimise” disk space, Apple’s iCloud algorithm “decided” to move some of your files off your computer onto their servers. Or something like that. Scrivener expects all files to be available on your computer. Or perhaps anti-virus interfering, but I think that unlikely.
Check your setting for the sync service (if this is what you have). Need to make all files offline (or whatever nomenclature they use).
If these files not available on the sync service, you have a Time Machine backup or something?
Guess No. 1: your Mac is set to be optimised by iCloud, which has moved everything onto its server. A Scrivener project is not a single file, it is a ‘package’, i.e. a folder made to look like a file, potentially including hundreds of interlinked files which must be on the local disk… even though most of them will not be loaded in memory, they must be immediately accessible at all times.
Turn off iCloud optimisation of your drive and wait till the project(s) has/have completely downloaded back onto it.
Ha, thanks so much both! I really appreciate the speedy reply. Yep, the folder is on iCloud and I’ve just checked and realised I’m out of space - about to pay for more storage and hope that fixes the problem…
Good first step. But also make sure disk optimisation not turned on and that you have the Scrivener project folders set for offline (or however Apple iCloud calls it).
Files are initially ON YOUR COMPUTER in a folder synced with Apple’s iCloud. They are not in Apple iCloud. Important to understand that distinction, IMHO.
Once the files are there, Apple iCloud (not Scrivener) takes control and syncs, or optimises, or whatever it is you told iCloud to do.
Is there a reason you have the files in a folder synced with Apple iCloud? Using another mac? If for backup, not really secure and reliable for backup (IMHO) as you might find out as you attempt to recover files. I do hope it all works out.
