# Error: "Problem while trying to get the sketchbook"

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/error-problem-while-trying-to-get-the-sketchbook/6956>\
**Category:** Processing\
**Tags:** homework\
**Created:** [December 28, 2018, 4:41pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/error-problem-while-trying-to-get-the-sketchbook/6956 "2018-12-28T16:41:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hillskiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@Hillskiller](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Hillskiller)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 4:41pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/error-problem-while-trying-to-get-the-sketchbook/6956/1 "2018-12-28T16:41:03Z")

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Hi im getting error when I ever open Processing 3.4 and its saying:  
The messege title is: No sketchbook  
What the messege says: Problem while trying to get the sketchbook  
Here is a pic of the messege: [https://imgur.com/a/cnTDXCg](https://imgur.com/a/cnTDXCg)

i hope u help me and find me a solve i will be really thankful if u helped me and im really on need to fix that cuz im learning new on processing and all my friends on school is getting way much better than me on it cuz they train and i need to train and we get homework so i have to fix this really fast  
thanks.

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**Author:** ![Kevin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/kevin/32/2297_2.png) [@Kevin](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Kevin)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/error-problem-while-trying-to-get-the-sketchbook/6956/2 "2018-12-28T18:09:36Z")

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Have you tried uninstalling Processing and then installing the latest version? Have you checked that the sketchbook directory exists and has the correct permissions?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hillskiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@Hillskiller](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Hillskiller)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/error-problem-while-trying-to-get-the-sketchbook/6956/3 "2018-12-28T19:48:26Z")

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yea i unistalled it and reinstall again and i dont know what u mean by Have you checked that the sketchbook directory exists and has the correct permissions  
and can u send me your processing version so i test if works with yours

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**Author:** ![Architector\_4](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/architector_4/32/813_2.png) [@Architector\_4](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Architector_4)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2018, 8:29pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/error-problem-while-trying-to-get-the-sketchbook/6956/4 "2018-12-28T20:29:27Z")

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Try deleting or moving the sketchbook folder so it creates a new one!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hillskiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@Hillskiller](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Hillskiller)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 8:39am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/error-problem-while-trying-to-get-the-sketchbook/6956/5 "2018-12-29T08:39:38Z")

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where i find the folder?

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**Author:** ![Pr0tonX](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/pr0tonx/32/2590_2.png) [@Pr0tonX](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Pr0tonX)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 11:47am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/error-problem-while-trying-to-get-the-sketchbook/6956/6 "2018-12-29T11:47:19Z")

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It’s the folder called “Processing” wich is normally on your folder “Documents” ( or equivalent folder for Mac / Linux ).  
Try first to verify the path of your sketchbook :  
Files --\> Preferences --\> Emplacement of your sketchbook  
I put it in the root of my OS, so I have that for example :  
 ![Capture](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/2X/4/4758bc46e6af5f03356e8ef0d29bf27f2f390038.jpeg)

The path needs to lead to your folder “Processing”. So if you move it, you have to fill the new directory in order that Processing find your sketchbook.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hillskiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@Hillskiller](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Hillskiller)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/error-problem-while-trying-to-get-the-sketchbook/6956/7 "2018-12-29T20:30:14Z")

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i already fixed it 😃 the problem was on the newest version it got errors i download one old from it and it worked fine and thanks for helping too lol

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**Author:** ![bendtsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@bendtsen](https://discourse.processing.org/u/bendtsen)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2019, 11:53am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/error-problem-while-trying-to-get-the-sketchbook/6956/8 "2019-06-17T11:53:33Z")

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Had a similar problem where a new Processing-installation crashed at every startup: “The sketchbook folder no longer exist. Processing will try to recreate…”. The problem was that during the install, Processing for some reason had chosen the drive D instead of drive C.

**Solution: change the path in preference.txt file:**

_sketchbook.path.three=C:\Users\ [Username] \Documents\Processing_

**How to find preferences.txt**

- Windows XP: Documents and Settings -\> [username] -\> Application Data -\> Processing -\> preferences.txt
- Windows Vista and 7: Users -\> [username] -\> AppData -\> Roaming -\> Processing -\> preferences.txt
- Mac OS X: ~/Library -\> Processing -\> preferences.txt
- Linux: ~/.processing -\> preferences.txt

Note: Because AppData and Application Data may be considered hidden or system folders on Windows, you’ll have to ensure that they’re visible in order to get at preferences.txt!