Hello,
I've been using inkscape for years and never had this happen: In the last 2 days, I saved 2 different files that ended up saving under different file names than their original, thus overwriting my other files. The first time I thought it was my mistake. but 2 times in 2 days? plus I usually check the file name just to be safe. has anyone else experienced this?? I mean maybe I made a mistake twice here but seeing as I never have before I am thinking probably not.

Never happened to me, but that doesn't mean it can't happen to you. Can you provide some more details, like, Inkscape version, operating system, file names etc.?

Do you mean you think Inkscape changed the name you typed in the "Name of file" field?

Have there been any recent crashes, where Inkscape might have saved a backup file? If you open one of those backups (usually the date is appended to the file name, when that happens) and continue working there, unless you specifically change the name, Inkscape will keep on saving it under the name with the date appended.

If your file names are very similar, that would seem to make it easier for mistakes to happen. Especially if they have similar names, on top of similar contents.

For me, while I might have files with very similar names - maybe the same letter characters, but with different numbers (poster1, poster2, poster3, etc., for example) the contents are usually drastically different, so that if I accidentally open the wrong file, I know it immediately, because the content is not what I expected. But if you have files with similar names AND similar contents....maybe you could try making the file names more different?

Yes, as Moini suggested, give us details so we can investigate further.

hi Brynn
no I am pretty sure that Inkscape didn't change the file name, b/c when I save I always 'save as' and it automatically brings up the file name it's already under. I then take a quick glance at it (usually) and press save. I could swear to you it was the same file name. so when I open that file later.. it's fine (new version is saved). *but it ALSO saves that particular (new version) under another random file. I was working on ie Mothers Day file and it saves the new version fine. but later I open up Bride file and it ALSO has the new version of Mothers Day file saved. (meaning my bride file is gone).

I will look into backups thanks for the suggestion. my inkscape version is quite old(??) as it never prompts me to upgrade and I never think about it. (wait..it's 0.91 version). there haven't been any crashes. well, rare times the program will just close for no reason, but I assumed it was my computer settings. my operating system is windows 10, PC.

So just to be clear. You had a file named "MothersDay.svg" and a file named "Bride.svg". And when you saved MothersDay.svg, it did save that, but it also overwrote Bride.svg with the MothersDay.svg contents ? And was Bride.svg open at the time? Or not?

Was there a message box asking if you wanted to replace that file? I know Windows always asks if you try to overwrite a file. I guess I don't know for sure about Windows 10, since I'm still on 7. But I assume it still gives that message box to ask if you want to replace it.

I've never seen this happen with Inkscape. Which doesn't mean it doesn't happen, just that I haven't seen it. I have SO, so many SVG files by now, if a file did get overwritten, I might not know it.

Was Bride.svg in the same folder as MothersDay.svg? Or in a different folder? I'm just trying to think how Inkscape could save a file that wasn't even open. Very strange!

Do you have any clues or suspicions that we could use to try and reproduce this?

Brynn: yes, in reference to your first question that's correct. no the bride file wasn't open, which is why it's so weird!! It's like it just overwrote random files. And I don't think the bride file (ie) came up in the save box 'replace file as' b/c the original file I was working on wouldn't have saved the new version.

I'm not too worried about it, I back up my files to usb every couple of weeks. just in case someone else has this problem.. let this be a lesson.. always back up your files! lol

but yes I think downloading the newest version will probably help matters. thanks everyone!

Moini wrote:Aha. I think there was an issue with Inkscape crashing on close in some version ... on Windows. Which might create a backup file.

Can you update to Inkscape 0.92.3 (uninstall, then install latest version from https://inkscape.org/releases) and see if the issue persists?

I'm not sure how to reply to a specific person here, but @Moini - should I uninstall inkscape before installing the new version? And then my files will open up normally in the new version? thanks

It's not going to restore anything that was lost, but it might provide a fix for your obscure problem - I think it's worth a try. Meanwhile, make a backup of your files, if you worry about losing their content.

Yes, unstalling first is recommended on Windows. Not doing so may result in a broken Python installation (and possibly other issues). When you uninstall, also look into your Inkscape installation directory, to see if anything was left afterwards. Delete that. Then download the latest version from the Inkscape website.

No promises, though, I've never heard of this problem before, and it might have reasons outside Inkscape.