Unrecognized file

[LucieDutt]

Has anyone had an issue opening a file with the following error message and managed to resolve it without losing the entire file (i.e. weeks of work in this case)? It was created in VW 2021, moved to a new computer via Dropbox and I get the same message whether i open it from my desktop or dropbox. I have also tried opening it in a newer version of VW but have the same issue. I've also tried opening earlier versions of the same file but no luck.

This is an unrecognized file. It may be a Vectorworks file created by a newer version of the application, it may be a very old MiniCad file, it may have been created by another application, or it may have been corrupted by a hardware or system error. 

 

 

Edited December 1, 2022 by LucieDutt

[Benson Shaw]

Welcome to the forum!

couple things:

1.  If not proprietary, isolate the file in a Dbox folder and post here a link for download. Forum folks will try to open and find problems. If proprietary, contact tech support. 
 

2.  This or similar message might show up if the file name or location is changed while the file is open.  Something to try - Quit Vectorworks, duplicate the problem file on your local drive, move the duplicate (eg to new folder or desktop), change the name of the duplicate file (eg orig_name_test.vwx), launch Vectorworks and try to open the file. Moving or renaming also breaks any references. 
 

3.  Add a signature via your forum account settings. Troubleshooting is much easier if our posts show vwx version, and a bit about OS and hardware. 

 

 

-B

[Pat Stanford]

Also, is this and Educational or Professional license?  Most of us have Professional Licenses and can't open files from Educational version.

[ThreeDot]

I get this error if I try to open a VWX file that has not been downloaded (synced) to the local drive. Right click the file in Dropbox and select “Make available offline”. I can post a screenshot when I’m back at my desk.