# Canonical Autosave Question

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/canonical-autosave-question/22470>\
**Category:** Processing.py\
**Created:** [July 8, 2020, 3:08am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/canonical-autosave-question/22470 "2020-07-08T03:08:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![slashwreck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@slashwreck](https://discourse.processing.org/u/slashwreck)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2020, 3:08am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/canonical-autosave-question/22470/1 "2020-07-08T03:08:24Z")

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I use Processing 3.5.4 in python mode. I’ve been unable to find a setting for autosaving files. Almost every week I lose some work to this. I can’t believe there is no autosave available, yet I cannot find a setting, and web searches mostly yield old, old forums posts, etc.

What is the current 2020, modern Processing 3 answer for autosaving?

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**Author:** ![unique\_username](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a88e57/32.png) [@unique\_username](https://discourse.processing.org/u/unique_username)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2020, 3:11am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/canonical-autosave-question/22470/2 "2020-07-08T03:11:00Z")

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[https://processing.org/reference/save\_.html](https://processing.org/reference/save_.html) A line in your code could be used. Otherwise you’re just going to have to remember to save.

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**Author:** ![slashwreck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@slashwreck](https://discourse.processing.org/u/slashwreck)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2020, 5:04am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/canonical-autosave-question/22470/3 "2020-07-08T05:04:48Z")

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I’m saying I want to auto-save the source code of my processing scripts, not an image output from that. This is a common element of every UI of the last 25 years. I can’t imagine why it doesn’t exist in Processing.

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**Author:** ![tabreturn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/tabreturn/32/3697_2.png) [@tabreturn](https://discourse.processing.org/u/tabreturn)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2020, 8:55am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/canonical-autosave-question/22470/4 "2020-07-08T08:55:14Z")

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You could use a different code editor – Atom, Sublime, or any other editor with an auto-save setting – coupled with the [command line version of processing.py](https://py.processing.org/tutorials/command-line/) configured to run your sketches.

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**Author:** ![slow\_izzm](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/slow_izzm/32/5637_2.png) [@slow\_izzm](https://discourse.processing.org/u/slow_izzm)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2020, 4:46pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/canonical-autosave-question/22470/5 "2020-07-08T16:46:46Z")

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Hoping when Processing 4 hits they update the PDE and add this feature …

for now if you loose a sketch you can try to find it in the temp folder. When focused on the PDE hit `ctrl-k`, go up two folders to temp, find the newest folder matching the name of your sketch, should be a .java file inside. Not the best experience but atm I think its the only hope one has who forgets to save often.

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**Author:** ![GoToLoop](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/gotoloop/32/86_2.png) [@GoToLoop](https://discourse.processing.org/u/GoToLoop)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/canonical-autosave-question/22470/6 "2020-07-08T18:00:33Z")

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> [@slow\_izzm](#):
>
> For now if you lose a sketch you can try to find it in the temp folder.

> [@What is the Processing "Temp" folder?](https://discourse.processing.org/t/what-is-the-processing-temp-folder/3097/3):
>
> Processing uses: %TEMP%

> [@My code lost. Help!](https://discourse.processing.org/t/my-code-lost-help/12721/8):
>
> 1st step, type in %Temp% or %Tmp% at Windows Explorer’s “Address Bar”. Inside that folder, right-click at anywhere empty and choose “Sort by” -\> “Date Modified” & “Descending”. If you had successfully saved your sketch previously, let’s say it’s named “Ball\_in\_the\_Chamber” for example, you’re gonna find subfolders named like this: “Ball\_in\_the\_Chamber5248231791290049437temp”. Either they contain “.class” files only or they contain “.java” files. You need to pick the most recent subfolder contai…

> [@slow\_izzm](#):
>
> , should be a .java file inside.

I’m not that sure “Python Mode” leaves “.java” files there like “Java Mode”. 😨

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![slow\_izzm](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/slow_izzm/32/5637_2.png) [@slow\_izzm](https://discourse.processing.org/u/slow_izzm)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/canonical-autosave-question/22470/7 "2020-07-08T18:06:52Z")

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Sorry, yes I meant `%TEMP% ... `C:\Users\System\AppData\Local\Temp`

and, my bad … did not realize it was for .py