Unrecognized file

[tthompson4]

I am trying to open a VW 2024 file in VW 2022 and I get this error message every time.  I have to have my designer down convert every time just for me to open and tweak if needed.  This has been happening for years with different files from the same designer so it does not seem like it would be a corrupt file every single time.  There must be a way to fix this without buying a new license LOL

[Pat Stanford]

Are you certain that the designer actually Exported as VW2022? Because as you know VW2022 can not open a VW2024 file.

 

If you open the VW file with a text editor the first line should look something like this:
 

	‡î VW24.0.0 VW29.0.4EKXUSN-G03H14‹VectorWorks Y®•ı

 

If it says VW29 in the second position, then it is a VW2024 file.  VW27 would be a VW2022 file.

[tthompson4]

But the prompt states that it will open in an older version first, then it claims it is an unrecognized or corrupt file.

 

Also, why has renderworks disappeared from my previous licenses??

 

 

On 4/9/2024 at 11:41 AM, tthompson4 said:

I am trying to open a VW 2024 file in VW 2022 and I get this error message every time.  I have to have my designer down convert every time just for me to open and tweak if needed.  This has been happening for years with different files from the same designer so it does not seem like it would be a corrupt file every single time.  There must be a way to fix this without buying a new license LOL

 

[rDesign]

3 hours ago, tthompson4 said:

Also, why has renderworks disappeared from my previous licenses??

The last Vw version to offer a separate ‘Renderworks’ add-on package was Vw2016.

In Vw2017 and newer, Renderworks was included with all licenses and hence it no longer shows up as a separate add-on in your license history. Post back if that is not what you were asking about.

[EAlexander]

Just to be clear: A 2024 file will never open in 2022 without being exported as a backsaved version from 2024.

[tthompson4]

So just today I received a file that was in an other version of vectorworks and received the same exact message.  Shouldn't VW be able to open older versions of VW file.  This is getting ridiculous.

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Can you post the problematic file?  Remove any critical info, etc.

[Pat Stanford]

It depends on how old the file is.  I think VW2024 will open and translate back 10 versions.  So if you file was from VW 2013 or before, then no, it probably would not open. Newer than that and it should open.

[Jesse Cogswell]

I don't know if it's different with Designer, but my Spotlight will only backsave to 5 versions (VW2024 can backsave to 2019, VW2019 can backsave to 2014).  As for opening, I just tested opening the oldest drawing I have (Vectorworks 9.  Not 2009, 9 with the old .mcd file extension) and VW2024 had no problems whatsoever opening it.  So I don't think there's a limit to how old the file is aside from maybe needing to be from Vectorworks as opposed to MiniCAD.

[Pat Stanford]

Thanks Jesse,  I was misremembering something I came across yesterday about the 10 versions.

 

Yes, back saving is 5 versions and has been for a long time.

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

I jus opened a 2001 file, no problem.  

[Rob Nykolaishen]

On 6/18/2024 at 5:00 AM, tthompson4 said:

So just today I received a file that was in an other version of vectorworks and received the same exact message.  Shouldn't VW be able to open older versions of VW file.  This is getting ridiculous.

 

@tthompson4 This message appears if you are trying to open a newer version file in an older Vectorworks Version.  If you are running Vectorworks 2022 and you received a Vectorworks 2024 or 2023 version file, you will see this message.  This message also appears when opening very old Minicad files in Vectorworks 2022 and older.

 

Please submit a support request to the Technical Support Team through https://customers.vectorworks.net/support where you can upload one of these files and we can tell you which version it is in.  

 

Alternatively, you can reach out to the person who sent you the file that you cannot open, assuming they are using Vectorworks 2024 or 2023, and have them use File > Export > Export as Vectorworks 2022 to give you the version you can open.